Self-harm can be a sign that someone is experiencing significant emotional distress. People may self-harm for different and complex reasons, and their experiences should always be approached with compassion, respect and without judgement. This online awareness course helps health and social care workers understand self-harm, recognise possible signs and respond appropriately when a person discloses self-harm or when a concern is identified. The course is suitable for care workers, healthcare assistants, support workers and other staff who may support people affected by self-harm.
Who should attend?
This course is suitable for:
• Care workers and healthcare assistants
• Support workers and personal assistants
• Residential and domiciliary care staff
• Mental health and recovery-support staff
• Managers and supervisors
• Other workers who may encounter or support someone affected by self-harm
The course provides awareness training. It does not qualify learners to diagnose, assess or treat self-harm.
What you will learn?
This course aims to help learners:
• Understand what self-harm means
• Recognise that people may self-harm for different and complex reasons
• Challenge myths, stigma and judgemental attitudes
• Recognise possible physical, emotional and behavioural signs
• Understand the importance of listening calmly and respectfully
• Respond appropriately when someone discloses self-harm
• Recognise when urgent medical or emergency assistance may be required
• Follow workplace safeguarding, recording and reporting procedures
• Encourage access to appropriate professional support
• Understand the importance of professional boundaries and worker wellbeing
Responding to Self-Harm Concerns:
When a person discloses self-harm, workers should listen carefully, remain calm and avoid judgement, blame, threats or dismissive language.
The person should be asked how they would like to be supported and encouraged to access appropriate professional help. Workers should follow their organisation’s safeguarding, confidentiality, recording and reporting procedures.
Workers should not promise absolute confidentiality, attempt to provide therapy or investigate the situation beyond the limits of their role. Any immediate medical need or risk of serious harm must be responded to according to emergency and workplace procedures.
This aligns with NHS advice to approach the subject carefully, listen without judgement and encourage professional support. NHS guidance on helping someone who self-harms.
Urgent Help:
This course is an educational resource and is not an emergency or crisis-support service.
If someone is seriously injured or there is an immediate risk to life, follow your organisation’s emergency procedures and contact the emergency services.
Anyone experiencing self-harm or thoughts of self-harm should be encouraged to speak with an appropriate healthcare professional. Current support information is available through the NHS self-harm help page.
Important Information:
This course provides introductory awareness of self-harm. It does not qualify learners to conduct clinical assessments, evaluate suicide risk, provide psychological treatment or make decisions outside the limits of their role.
Employers remain responsible for providing appropriate workplace procedures, safeguarding training, supervision and role-specific instruction.
Assessment
After completing the online learning materials, learners must complete a multiple-choice assessment. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass. Results are provided automatically after submission. Learners who do not achieve the required score may review the course materials and attempt the assessment again, subject to the current retake policy.
Course Duration
• The online care course needs a minimum of one hour to complete. This can be a guide to the educational hours needed, and it depends on how quickly an individual can understand the course. The training is online. It may be displayed over multiple sessions or done in one session.
• Learners will have access to the present course for up to nine months from the date of joining. There's no pressure to finish the course in a short time.
Certificate
Our nationally acclaimed online social care courses are approved by the Continuing Professional Development (CPD). You will receive a recognised certificate in PDF format as soon as your evaluation is finished, and it will be instantly available. Hard copies of the certificate are offered at a higher cost. For your future reference, all proof of completion and certification will be kept on file in our system.
online
Variable
Intermediate
Certificate of Completion