BSc Honours Mental Health Degree Top Up

Overview & facilities

This innovativecourse provides a framework which will enable mental health practitioners (full or part-time or unpaid) in the NHS, Social Services, Voluntary or Independent sector, to combine mental health related modules to form an individualised programme of study. This is identified through reflection and self assessment, which meets personal, professional, practice development needs, the needs of service users and carers, and the needs of services-employers.

The course is studiedone to three years part-time.

The focus of study should meet personal and professional development needs, as well as the needs of service users and employers.It is negotiated and agreed between the student, employer and university during the first compulsory module after enrolment on the programme.

Who is it for?

Thecourse will appeal to those who are already working or involved in mental health care and delivery. It is relevant to mental health workers from all professional backgrounds, as well as to generic mental health workers such as non-professionally affiliated workers or Support, Time and Recovery (STR) workers.

Please note thatthis is not a professional nursing course which can be registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK). It is an academic qualification to support those who work or intend to work in the mental health settings.

Content & modules

Programme structure

• The programme includes two multi-disciplinary compulsory modules; one is undertaken at the start of the programme.
• The second is the final module at the end of the programme. Participants also take further modules from a range of option modules.
• Students entering the programme with Diploma (Advanced) will be required to complete either a compulsory Dissertation or Work Based Project (30 credits) and one or two optional Mental Health modules at Level 3 (total - 30 Credits).

 Compulsory modules

Review and Development of Work Based Learning (30 Credits)
Participants reflect on and critically review their previous experience and current practice in order to develop a personal development plan. This plan will form the basis of a learning agreement. It also explores the role of a mental health practitioner.

Work Based Project (30 Credits)
During this module the participants undertake work based research related to their own needs and interests, as well as those of the employer. This is the final compulsory module.

Students with the Dip HE (Advanced) award
Students entering the programme with Diploma (Advanced) will be required to complete either a compulsory Dissertation (MHR 3330) or Work Based Project (each worth 30 credits) and one or two optional Mental Health modules at Level 3 (total worth - 30 Credits).

 Option modules

Participants select modules from the following:

• Introduction to Family Work (30 Credits)
• Medication  Management (15 Credits)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (15 Credits)
• Risk Assessment and Management in Mental Health (15 Credits)
• Social Inclusion and Recovery (15 Credits)
• Physical Care Skills for mental Health Professionals (15 Credits)
• Facilitating Physical  Health and Wellbeing in Mental Health Settings (15 credits)
• Developing Counselling and Helping Skills(15 credits)
• Enhanced Counselling in Practice (15 Credits)
• Understanding and Implementing Person-centred  Dementia Care and Practice (15 Credits)
• Partnership Working in Dementia Care and Practice (15 Credits)
• Evidence-based Therapeutic Approaches in Dementia Care and Practice  (15 Credits)
• Challenge and Diversity in Dementia Care and Practice (15 Credits)
• Foundations in Working with Dual Diagnosis  (30 credits)
• Assessment and Interventions in Dual diagnosis (60 credits
• Legal issues in Professional Practice (30 Credits)
• Mentorship Preparation (15 Credits)
• Practice-based Learning (negotiated title) (15 credits)
• Workplace Mentoring/Coaching (20 credits)
• Infancy, Child and Family Mental health. (30 Credits)
• Promoting Mental Health in Young People (11-21 years) (30 Credits)

 For this award, a maximum of two practice-based learning modules may be undertaken.

Assessment

Each module has an individual assessment, and there is a range of assessment types including essays, exams, case studies and action plans. Successful completion of attendance and assessment in the module is necessary for the award of academic credits. 

Example pathway

The example below is a fictitious example of how a ‘typical’ student might gain a BSc Honours Mental Health (Top-Up)

Mercy is a residential support worker in a voluntary sector mental health service for people with enduring mental health problems. She has 10 years experience working in hospital (acute mental health care) and in residential services. She has an overseas degree in Psychology and a Certificate in Community Mental Health. She wants to complete a mental health degree with a focus on developing her practice with people with enduring mental health problems.

Stage 1

Mercy has a total of 180 credits at level one (120 are required), and 120 credits at level 2, giving the 240 credits required for entry to the BSc, and at the correct academic levels.

Stage 2

Mercy undertakes her first compulsory module: In her learning agreement she presents a rationale for her studies and charts the rest of her degree programme.

Stage 3

Mercy successfully completes her planned modules and has a total of 360 credits, 120 credits at levels 1, 2 and 3. The title of her award is BSc (Hons) Mental Health.

 Download the course specification

Entry & applying

Applicants must be currently working in mental health full or part-time or unpaid , in the NHS, Social Services, Voluntary or Independent Sector Entry requirements: individuals require 240 academic credits of which a minimum of 100 must be at level 2. Experienced mental health workers without sufficient credit may be able to enter the programme on the production of a portfolio for accreditation.

Entry requirements
Applicants must be currently working in mental health (full or part-time or unpaid), in the NHS, Social Services, Voluntary or Independent Sector.

Individuals require 240 academic credits (a diploma level qualification e.g. DipHE, Diploma (Advanced) DipSW or an equivalent of a minimum of 120 credits at level 1 and 2). Experienced mental health workers without sufficient credit can take either work based learning modules and/or recognition and accreditation of prior learning/experience to gain entry to the course.

Please apply directly to the University - contact Health Admissions at healthadmissions@mdx.ac.uk or 020 8411 4208 for an application form.

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk.

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

To begin the course you must also complete a satisfactory enhanced CRB check, Occupational Health Check, and provide suitable references.