Making Every Contact Count (MECC) in Kent

**We are now fully booked for our Tier 1 sessions but please read more info about our upcoming Train the Trainer sessions below**

What is Making Every Contact Count (MECC)?

We all meet and interact with people every day at work, at home and in our communities. ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC) uses these interactions to support people in making positive changes to their physical health, mental health and general wellbeing.

The fundamental idea underpinning the MECC approach is simple. It recognises that staff across health and care, local authority and voluntary sectors have thousands of contacts every day with individuals and are ideally placed to support health and wellbeing.

Whether you have brief, direct or frequent contact with service users, you can help us have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of individuals by signposting to local health services, engaging them in health and lifestyle related conversations or both.

There are many benefits to applying MECC principles to your work including:

• Residents of Kent will be supported to make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices and health

• Residents of Kent will have improved access to information about established pathways to local public health and wellbeing services

• Awareness and utilisation of MECC approach will increase among the wider workforce in Kent which means more residents will benefit from support

What training is available to me?

MECC training is available to employees and/or residents of Kent across the county both in-person and online.

We are offering a half-day MECC training session (Tier 1).

Or if you would like to become a MECC Trainer you can express an interest in our Train the Trainer course. This training is delivered over 2 full days.

How do I sign up?

To sign up for Kent County Council (KCC) Making Every Contact Count (MECC) Tier 1 please complete the booking form at the bottom of this page.

To express an interest in Kent County Council (KCC) Making Every Contact Count (MECC) Train the Trainer please complete the Expression of Interest form (located on the top right of your screen) and send it to phworkforcedevelopment@kent.gov.uk(External link).

If you have any questions or would like further information on the MECC offer please contact NHS SCW at scwcsu.mecc@nhs.net(External link)

Please Note

Sessions are on a first come, first serve basis.

It is recommended, but not mandatory, that people doing MECC Tier 1 complete the MECC eLearning before attending the training.

Completing the MECC eLearning is a pre-requisite for all people wanting to become KCC MECC Trainers.

A link to the MECC eLearning will be sent to you in your booking confirmation email that you will receive from the training provider, NHS SCW.