Lifelines Scotland

Training

We have a vision to make training in wellbeing and resilience, peer and post trauma support mainstream within the emergency service community.

Read our Evaluation report to hear how our training is being received.

Our advisors are working with training colleagues in the services and with NHS Education for Scotland and Public Health Scotland to provide an integrated national training plan.

From recruitment to retirement, promotion to specialist role, our training has the information and skills you need to look after yourself, your colleagues and the public.

Our courses are designed to meet the needs of the emergency service community in Scotland and are listed below.

Our Learning Toolkit provides information about other mental health related courses available through national health services.

Our Courses

Our courses are designed to meet the needs of the emergency service community in Scotland and our Learning Toolkit provides information about other mental health related courses available through national health services.
Lifelines Scotland – An introduction to the project
Duration: 1 hour
Audience: Aimed at all staff/volunteers/families
Delivery method: Online or face to face
Delegate numbers: Online – 16 / Face to face - 30
Pre-requisite: None

Session Overview 
In this session we describe the Lifelines Scotland project and what the project provides for people working or volunteering in the emergency service community in Scotland and their families.

To arrange an introduction session please contact one of our Advisors.
Staying Well Road Trip - A guide to resilience for responders in Scotland
Duration: 30-40 minutes 
Audience: Aimed at all staff/volunteers/families
Delivery method: Online via the website

Session Overview 
Interactive, self-directed course that covers the factors that protect or threaten wellbeing, how to recognise the warning signs we’ve been injured and what we can do to look after our physical and mental health.

This course can also be run in a group session and we have provided some tips on how to do this.
Staying Well – Understanding Resilience and Self-Care
Duration: 3 hours (with short break)
Audience: Aimed at all staff/volunteers/families
Delivery method: Online or face to face
Delegate numbers: Online – 16 / Face to face - 24
Pre-requisite: We encourage all delegates to complete the Staying Well Road Trip before attending this course.

Session Overview 
This session is an opportunity to meet with others and to learn more about what keeps us well. We discuss the things that threaten our wellbeing in our roles and what protects us, and how to stock our Psychological 1st Aid kits. We learn about the impact of trauma and stress so we can recognise when we might need some help and where we can find this.

Course Bookings
  • If you are Police, Fire or Ambulance please contact your service training team for course availability and bookings.
  • Volunteer emergency responders in Scotland can view course dates and book a course here.
  • If you require further information then please contact our Advisors.
Supporting your Colleagues
Duration: 6.5 hours (includes 30 minute break for lunch)
Audience: Aimed at all staff/volunteers
Delivery method: Online or face to face
Delegate numbers: Online – 16 / Face to face - 24
Pre-requisite: Completion of Staying Well – Understanding Resilience and Self-Care

Session Overview 
We know that relationships based on camaraderie, trust and respect act as a buffer against the challenges of working / volunteering for an emergency service. This workshop looks at what we can do to strengthen these supportive relationships. You will learn how to have helpful conversations with colleagues, how to recognise signs that someone may be struggling and what to do when you are worried about someone. 

Course Bookings
  • If you are Police, Fire or Ambulance please contact your service training team for course availability and bookings.
  • Volunteer emergency responders in Scotland can view course dates and book a course here.
  • If you require further information then please contact our Advisors.
Supporting your Team (for managers)
Duration: 6.5 hours (includes 30 minute break for lunch)
Audience: Aimed at all staff/volunteers
Delivery method: Online or face to face
Delegate numbers: Online – 16 / Face to face - 24
Pre-requisite: Completion of Staying Well – Understanding Resilience and Self-Care

Session Overview 
Good leadership is associated with staff wellbeing, morale and good mental health. Strong teams and peer support keep people well. This workshop looks at what we can do to build strong teams and strengthen these supportive relationships. You will learn how to have helpful conversations with colleagues, how to recognise signs that someone may be struggling and what to do when you worried about someone. 

Course Bookings
  • If you are Police, Fire or Ambulance please contact your service training team for course availability and bookings.
  • Volunteer emergency responders in Scotland can view course dates and book a course here.
  • If you require further information then please contact our Advisors.
Post trauma support: Providing Psychological First Aid 
Duration: 6.5 hours (includes 30 minute break for lunch)
Audience: Aimed at all staff/volunteers
Delivery method: Online or face to face
Delegate numbers: Online – 16 / Face to face - 24
Pre-requisite: Completion of Staying Well – Understanding Resilience and Self-Care and Supporting your Colleagues / Team 

Session Overview 
Emergency service staff and volunteers are frequently exposed to potentially traumatic experiences in the course of their work. This workshop will help you understand trauma and traumatic stress so you can recognise when you and your colleagues may be at risk of psychological injury. It will equip you to give Psychological First Aid, the international best practice model for supporting people following trauma exposure.

Course Bookings
  • If you are Police, Fire or Ambulance please contact your service training team for course availability and bookings.
  • Volunteer emergency responders in Scotland can view course dates and book a course here.
  • If you require further information then please contact our Advisors.
Lifelines In Action
Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Audience: Multi-agency, anyone who has previously attended a Lifelines course
Delivery method: Online
Delegate numbers: 16 per session
Pre-requisite: Attending a Lifelines course

Session Overview 
Since we started running our courses in May 2021, we’ve trained 1,780 people. We’re keen to see you again, to hear how you’re using what you learned, what difference (if any) it’s made to how you take care of yourselves and your colleagues, and what else you need from us. Book now via the online form.

N.B. Your feedback will form part of the evaluation of our project, so we will be recording some of the discussion to analyse it later. We need your written consent to do this. Please be assured, that the only people who will see the recordings are the Lifelines team and no identifiable information will be shared. Find out more about how we will use this information.

Our advisors

James Evett
Training Advisor Police/Ambulance
Email James
Eliz MacIntosh
Training Advisor Ambulance
Email Eliz
Stephen Penny MBE
Training Advisor Volunteers
Email Steve
Leni Rademacher
Training Advisor Police
Email Leni
Paul Weatherburn
Training Advisor Fire
Email Paul

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