Mental Health Practice

The next delivery of the AMHP training programme will commence with a study block running 17-21 February 2014. Why study with us? The University of Cumbria is a recognised provider of initial and post-qualifying training in social work, nursing and the allied health professions. It has well-established programmes in psychosocial therapeutic interventions, and a growing provision of courses in forensic mental health. Academic team members hold professional qualifications within the fields of mental health, forensic, learning disability, health, health and social care management, within the disciplines of Social Work, Nursing and Psychology. Programme outcomes include:

Knowledge and understanding of standards of professional competency

A comprehensive and critically reflective understanding and application of the concepts, values, theories and knowledge base underpinning the student’s specialist area of mental health practice in order to promote effective engagement with service users and carers, utilising participative approaches, anti-oppressive practice and the principles of social inclusion

The continual development of the student’s own and others’ practice through systematic critical reflection and self-evaluation

A comprehensive and critical understanding and application of the statutory roles of Best Interest Assessor (BIA) within the legal, policy and values framework of mental health

Rigorous adherence to professional values, principles, codes of conduct and ethics, their critical ability to practice ethically and to manage the implications of ethical dilemmas

Critical evaluation of research and the advancement of scholarship in mental health theory and practice. Resources and facilities All Practice Assessors are required to complete a pro-forma detailing their relevant experience and will have an induction session with the Course Team regarding the requirements of the programme. Practice Assessors will be offered annual refresher workshops to facilitate their continual professional development in this role.

Service user, carer and employer participation and involvement is a feature of this programme's development, delivery, assessment and review. Entry requirements

1st or 2nd class honours degree

Students with other qualifications may be admitted to the course via APL procedures

More about levels and credits

Credit and UCAS requirements Credit: 120 credits Selection criteria To be eligible for entry to this programme candidates must be employed either as-

A first level nurse registered in Sub-Part 1 of the Nurse’s Part of the Register established and kept by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, whose field of practice is mental health or learning disabilities nursing

An occupational therapist registered with the Health Professions Council

A chartered psychologist, who is listed in the British Psychological Society’s Register of Chartered Psychologists and who holds a relevant practising certificate issued by that Society

And have-

Successfully completed a pre-selection pro-forma of experience and skills verified by their line manager or employer representative, to demonstrate that they have achieved the level of professional competence, capacity and ability to complete and Best Interest Assessor (BIA) training programme

Provided an endorsement from their employer in support of their application

Have an agreed practice placement or component and Practice Assessor

For entry requirements relating to AMHP (Higher Specialist Social Work) please refer to the Higher Specialist Social Work web page.

For entry requirements relating to Best Interest Assessor (BIA), please refer to the BIA web page.

Applicants outside the Cumbria area should contact Health Admissions for further details. UCAS Link

Visit UCAS

Modules SWAM7001: Foundations of AMHP Practice in a Specialist Mental Health Setting (20 credits at level 7)
SWAM7002: Values and Principles of AMHP Practice (20 credits at level 7)
SWAM7003: Legal And Policy Context of AMHP Practice (20 credits at level 7)
SWAM 7004: The AMHP Role (20 credits at level 7)
SWAM 7005: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Role of the Best Interest Assessor (20 credits at level 7)
HEPP 7001: Foundations of Academic Practice (30 credits at level 7)

SWAM 7001 must be taken by all students before progressing to other modules.

SWAM 7005 and HEPP 7001 can be taken as stand alone modules. Course summary This programme provides students with the opportunity to apply the key skills of BIAs as determined by the Department of Health in the context of a dynamic legislative and policy framework; communicate effectively and collaboratively in partnerships with service users and carers and other professionals, and to use independent critical judgement in complex and unpredictable situations; integrate an understanding of ethical issues, codes and values of practice within decision-making in complex situations; act independently and autonomously in the planning and implementation of statutory BIA tasks; become independent and critically reflective learners in support of continuing professional development. Students who are successful in all academic and qualificatory practice components of the course will be issued with a transcript which will provide evidence of their eligibility to be considered for approval to act as a BIA.