Forensic Mental Health

A flexible postgraduate programme with a wide range of optional modules designed for students with a professional and/or academic interest in forensic mental health, taught by a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and researchers. Ideal step towards clinical psychology training or a PhD. Students enrol on a specified pathway or for maximum flexibility take the generic programme.

Watch the video here, or access the 'interactive' tab to view at a larger size and see any alternative films playOverviewVideo('/prospectus/images/home.jpg','http://podcast.ulcc.ac.uk/accounts/kings/KCL_Marketing/Psychiatry_21Dec.flv','true','details_105'); KEY BENEFITS

• Excellent links with clinical services and researchers with teaching from a distinguished multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and developing the critical skills to evaluate new research.
• Wide range of optional modules and flexible structure, leading to PG Diploma/MSc depending on modules chosen.

PURPOSEThis programme is designed to develop academic and clinical skills specific to the assessment and treatment of persons with mental disorders who engage in antisocial and/or criminal behaviour. You will study alongside students from a wide range of professional and academic disciplines from all over the world.

DESCRIPTION

The programme aims to provide students with the knowledge and advanced skills necessary for a career that will involve clinical work and/or research with mentally disordered offenders. All teaching is at the Institute of Psychiatry, and includes training on assessment and treatment of mentally disordered offenders and on actuarial risk assessment tools (HCR-20 and PCL:SV). Throughout the programme there is an emphasis on the clinical relevance of research findings. Students will develop the critical skills necessary to assess and manage risk of antisocial and criminal behaviour and to establish, manage and evaluate programmes for reducing such behaviour as well as co-ordinating treatment and service programmes in a variety of settings. Much teaching is provided by practising clinicians.

All students apply to and enrol on the MSc/PGDip Forensic Mental Health, available full-time or part-time. Most students then follow one of three ‘pathways’ through the programme. This simply means that the combination of modules chosen will lead to a qualification which reflects the student’s chosen focus of study. There are specific entry criteria for each pathway. The three pathways are:

• MSc/PGDip Clinical Forensic Psychiatry
• MSc Forensic Mental Health Research
• MSc Clinical Forensic Psychology (full-time only)

All students will take the compulsory module on Associations between mental disorders and antisocial and criminal behaviours. Students will then choose from a range of optional modules, including mental health law, risk assessment, criminal justice mental health and forensic psychology practice.

Students on the Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway will be allocated to a 75-day clinical forensic placement working at the level of an assistant clinical psychologist.

EXTRA PROGRAMME INFORMATIONStudents on the Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway will be allocated to a 75-day clinical forensic placement working at the level of an assistant clinical psychologist. Clinical attachments can be arranged for overseas students who are qualified clinicians to complement the academic programme.