Child and Family Mental Health Work Advanced Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate

Dates: October. 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.
Times: Fridays, alternate weeks. 12 study days between October and April.
Lecturer: Daniel Middlehurst (MHR 3626/MHR4626), Janet Holmshaw (MHR 3630/MHR4630)

Location:

Fees:

Course overview:

This is a specialist award focusing entirely on infancy, child and family mental health and can be undertaken at Level 6 (for the Advanced Diploma) or Level 7 (for the Postgraduate Certificate). The award is 60 credits in total.

Aims and Content

This course includes two 30 credit modules: MHR 3626/4626 Infancy, Child and Family Mental Health: Working with Children and Families from 0-11 years and MHR 3630/4630 Practice Based Learning Project. 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 gives 60 credits - these two Level 6 modules also form optional modules for the Graduate Diploma Specialist Social Work Award (Children and Families), a postqualifying award within the GSCC Postqualifying framework) or BSc Mental Health.

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

WHO IS IT FOR?
For anyone who has experience of working with infants, children and families who wishes to develop and enhance their existing skills and capabilities (MHR4626) or new to this area of work who wishes to increase their knowledge and skills in child and 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. Newly qualified nurses (RMNs or RSCNs), possibly nursery nurses, Sure Start workers, Child and Adolescent Counsellors, Workers in Tier 4 and Tier 3 CAMHS, Children’s Centre workers, Family support workers, Social workers, Youth Workers.

BENEFITS
Development and updating of knowledge and understanding of early infant, childhood and family 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 later difficulty and or how to refer on appropriately to others agencies. An exploration examination and evaluation of the contemporary health and social policy initiatives which support such work.

A development of capabilities required for all those working with children and families to confidently and safely realise, that children’s mental health can both be their business and that they feel capable to address it and for those in more experienced roles to develop authoritative clinical leadership and professional practice capability in the field of child and adolescent mental health (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 early mental health difficulties in childhood and critically undertake brief work with children and families, aimed at promoting mental health.
Develop knowledgeable capable practitioners for child and family 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 on current practice and to develop current practice within the students own work environment and the means of improving this.

CONTENT
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and policy in relation to children and families; Normal child and adolescent behaviour; Assessment of children and families and subsequent care planning; Social and political influences in working with children & families; Effects of neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse on the children; Risk and resilience factors, risk assessment and management and child protection; Common mental health problems in infants and children; Evidence based interventions; Parenting interventions, Systemic interventions, CBT interventions, Children at greater risk – refugee groups, children with learning difficulties, looked after children, Black and Minority Ethnic Communities; The impact of parental substance misuse and mental illness on children; Communication and communicating; Therapeutic use of self; Multidisciplinary interventions.

Pre-requisites:

Evidence of previous ability to study at UK higher education Level 5 for Level 6 module, or at Level 6 for Level 7 module. If a non-mental health professional, one year experience in child, adolescent and family work where mental health issues are present and be currently working with children, adolescents and families experiencing mental health issues. To have Basic IT skills. Access to the Internet.

Barred combination:

None

Assessment:

For MHR 3626/MHR4626 - 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].