MECC Training

MECC Training In The Thames Valley 

Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training is available across the Thames Valley to support staff to gain the skills and confidence needed to have conversations with others about health and wellbeing and signpost to support services. 

MECC works through opportunistic conversations in everyday life to talk about health and involves responding appropriately to cues from others and encourage them to think about their lifestyle, changing behaviours and take the steps to improve their health and wellbeing.

Within your role, and in your personal life, you may be having brief conversations that offer an opportunity to have a MECC styled conversation as part of your day-to-day interactions.

MECC skills and frameworks will help your conversations with those you support and care, as well as with neighbours, family, friends and colleagues.

A MECC interaction takes a matter of minutes and is not intended to add to existing busy workloads, rather it is structured to fit into and complement existing conversations. You don’t need to become an expert in the topic of conversations or the services you might be signposting people to. It’s about being more effective during the conversation and taking an opportunity to help someone.

The nationwide MECC initiative is led by NHS England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (formerly known as Public Health England).

Training for the BOB region is co-ordinated by the Local Authorities’ Public Health teams and various volunteers and community support services. For more information about MECC training in each local authority, please see below.

MECC e-learning

E-learning for Health have a MECC e-learning course that is nationally available. The e-learning is composed of four e-learning modules and can be accessed by simply clicking play on each module. No account is needed unless you would like a record of your learning. The e-learning is intended for anyone who has contact with people to Make Every Contact Count and develop public health knowledge.

The e-learning has been developed to ensure learners gain the underpinning knowledge and understanding of the importance of supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing and introduction to the practical skills to do so. It is a good idea to complete interactive MECC training with a MECC trainer after completing the e-learning so you can put your new MECC skills into practice.

Oxfordshire MECC Training

In Oxfordshire, MECC Training is freely available to support people to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to have brief conversations with the public about health and wellbeing and gain information to help signpost people to services they may require for more specific health related support.

MECC training covers:

  • What MECC is and who it is for
  • An introduction to Behaviour Change and the COM-B and Stages of Change behaviour change models
  • How to have a MECC conversation using a three-step approach - The 3A’s
  • Using open discovery questions to have supportive conversations about health
  • What to consider when providing information or promoting a support service to an individual

In Oxfordshire, there are various MECC training models to choose from (all are free):

  • A MECC practice training session with a MECC trainer (3 hours and can be delivered online or in-person)
  • MECC Train-the-Trainer courses for those who are interested in cascading training to their own team and would like to become a MECC trainer. These courses are run online and in-person. The in-person course is 2 full days, and the online course consists of four 2-hour online interactive sessions.

If you would like to find out more about MECC in Oxfordshire, please contact MECC@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

Buckinghamshire MECC Training

Buckinghamshire offer a FREE, 1 hour ‘Introduction to Making Every Contact Count (MECC)’ training. The training is available to anyone working or volunteering in Buckinghamshire in the volunteer and community sector, council and health care partners.

What does the training cover?

  • Define Making Every Contact Count
  • Review the principles of MECC
  • Discuss how conversations about health can fit into everyday life
  • Apply healthy conversation skills and practice

The interactive training is delivered online.  Each session is unique, as it will involve participants’ own experiences and beliefs which prompt discussion and reflection, allowing for practical skills to be used immediately in conversations following the session.

How can I book?

There are monthly sessions scheduled, take a look and book on to the most convenient date & time here: Introduction to MECC Course Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

Other training options:

There might be instances where having a bespoke session delivered might be of interest to incorporate MECC within an organisation/team.

Free, tailored sessions can be arranged for your organisation. Contact us directly to discuss options: MECC@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.