Promoting Mental Health in Adolescents and Young People Advanced Diploma/ Postgraduate Certificate (TBC)

Dates: October
Times: Fridays, alternate weeks. 12 study days between October and April. The practice based learning modules can be commenced in either January or September but the taught module has to be begun prior top commencing either of these modules.
Lecturer: Martin Smith (MHR3627/MHR4627), Janet Holmshaw (MHR 3630/MHR4630)

Location:

Fees:

Course overview:

This is a specialist award focusing entirely on the mental health of adolescent and young people. The award is 60 credits in total comprising of two 30 credit modules at Level 6 (for Advanced Diploma) or Level 7 (for Postgraduate Certificate).

Aims and Content

This course includes two modules: MHR 3627/MHR 4627 Promoting Mental Health in Young People from 11 to 21 years of age and MHR 3630/4630 Practice Based Learning Project. Please see individual module descriptions for further details. Please see individual module descriptions for course content and entry requirements.

These programme awards will allow for students to undertake one taught module, and then pursue their own studies in their workplace and develop their own (and or their colleagues') practice further, and gain either an Advanced Diploma award or a Postgraduate Certificate award.

At Level 6, this award provides 60 credits - these two Level 6 modules also form optional modules for the Graduate Diploma Specialist Social Work Award (Children and Families, a PQ award within the GSCC Postqualifying framework) or BSc Mental Health.

At Level 7, this award provides 60 credits counting towards Postgraduate Diploma / MSc.

WHO IS IT FOR?
For anyone who has experience of working with adolescents and young people who wishes to develop and enhance their existing skills and capabilities(MHR4627) or those perhaps new to working with adolescents or young people who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in adolescent mental health work in a variety of settings (i.e. health, local authority, educational settings and or within the voluntary and independent sector) i.e. Youth Workers, Newly Qualified Nurses, Child and Adolescent Counsellors; Workers in Tier 4 and Tier 3 CAMHS, Community Psychiatric Nurses, Substance Misuse Workers, Social workers, Residential workers, Emergency service staff.

BENEFITS
Development and updating of of knowledge and understanding of adolescent and young adult emotional and mental development and of the common issues that can impact adversely upon this.

A knowledge of assessments and early work that might ameliorate difficulties and or how to refer on appropriately to other agencies. An exploration, examination and evaluation of the contemporary adolescent culture and of the health and social policy initiatives which influence such work.

A development of capabilities required for all those working with adolescents and young people to work safely and sensitively with the emotional and mental health difficulties that arise and for those in more experienced roles to develop authoritative clinical leadership and professional practice capability in the field of adolescent and young peoples mental health work (Government response to CAMHS review DCSF 2010).

A review and reflection upon the learning students have achieved during the taught module and the opportunity to facilitate the further development of learning in practice and practice development in the workplace.

AIMS
Enable students to identify mental health difficulties in adolescence and young adulthood and critically undertake brief work with adolescents and families, aimed at promoting mental health.

Develop knowledgeable capable practitioners for adolescent mental health work, whatever their sphere of practice and at whatever level of tiered provision.

Develop an awareness of the different disciplines and agencies involved in such work and of some of the difficulties complex interdisciplinary and agency work can generate.

Address and explore issues of equality and inequality, diversity, ethnic and cultural difference, ethical considerations in relation to practitioners work with service users and carers in child, adolescent and family mental health work.

Provide the opportunity to reflect upon and to develop current practice within the students own work environment and the means of improving this.

CONTENT
Contents: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and policy in relation to adolescents, families and young people; Normal adolescent behaviour; Assessment of adolescents and young people and subsequent care planning; Socio cultural and political influences in working with children & families; Risk and resilience factors, risk assessment care management and legal issues; Common mental health problems in adolescents and young people; Evidence based interventions; Adolescents at greater risk – refugee groups, adolescents with learning difficulties, looked after children, Black and Minority Ethnic Communities; The challenges of dual diagnosis and young people; Communication and communicating; Therapeutic use of self; Multi-disciplinary interventions.

Pre-requisites:

Barred combination:

None

Assessment:

For MHR 3627/MHR4627 - a 3000 word critical review of practice, and a 3,000 word case study and analysis. For MHR 3630 - students are expected to produce a 6,000 word portfolio comprising:

Critical review of learning relevant to the project work
Project report
Evaluation of the project’s usefulness and application

How to apply:

Download the application form [PDF].