
Opleiding: Mental Health Studies, MSc/PGDip/PGCert
Learning purpose
It provides practising mental health professionals with the theory, clinical skills and values necessary to provide effective care to people with a variety of mental health problems. It covers many of the skills specified in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health and Key Skills Frameworks (KSF). Multidisciplinary in nature, our students come from nursing, social work, occupational therapy, management, teaching and training backgrounds.
This innovative, flexible and unique programme is designed to allow students to build upon previous knowledge and experiences in mental health. You will develop and demonstrate mastery in mental health related skills and knowledge in order to contribute to enhanced professional mental health practice, research and service development.
The programme includes two compulsory modules: a research methods module and a research dissertation or workbased learning project module. The rest of the programme consists of an individualised degree study pathway in which credits from prior study may be used. The study pathway can be tailored to current and future learning and development needs.
Programme
One day a week over three years, either Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
Includes taped interactions with service users, essays, service plans, and a research proposal, plus the research dissertation.
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- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (15 Credits) - Compulsory
- The aim of the module is to develop the students knowledge and mastery of skills in cognitive behavioural therapies, based upon critical examination of theory and practice as applied to their own work with individuals and families. The focus will be upon applying the techniques of cognitive behavioural therapy with mental health service users and critically reflecting upon their practice.
- Leadership in Mental Health (15 Credits) - Compulsory
- The learning associated with this module will provide participants with an opportunity to explore the theoretical concepts of leadership and management and their relationship to leading change. On the basis that the delivery of contemporary mental health services will be through multi-disciplinary teams, the module also focuses on using the Ten Essential Capabilities and KSF framework to enhance service user involvement both in the delivery of care and in the review of team performance. For this reason this module will be co-taught both by service users and by experienced practice team leaders.
- Medication Management (15 Credits) - Compulsory
- This module will offer the opportunity for critical reflection on some of the fundamental concepts underlying the promotion of medication concordance and prevention of relapse in the severely mentally ill. It will explore the theories underpinning the clinical skills of medication concordance, relapse prevention, stages of change and models of motivation. It will promote the philosophy of evidence-based practice by focusing on the application of these theories to clinical practice, and reflect in a critical way upon the outcomes.
- Methods of Critical Enquiry in Healthcare Settings (30 Credits) - Optional
- This module is designed to provide a critical overview of the main methods and approaches used for research into topics areas related to health care, and to equip the student to apply this knowledge in the planning a research proposal. The module affords students opportunities to appraise the strengths and weaknesses of published work in their specialist area, or in health care in general. Students will learn in groups and will explore philosophical, ethical and methodological differences which underpin various approaches to knowledge generation that can inform health care work. Interprofessional workshops will allow the student to develop a research proposal, to consider its adequacy and limitations, and justify the approach taken.
- MSc Dissertation (60 Credits) - Optional
- To support students to undertake research, with a focus appropriate to their programme and area of practice and building upon the research proposal formulated in IPH 4012/MHR 4020. To create a peer learning community for students to critically support each other in the research process To provide guidance, additional to that provided by the students supervisors, on matters of ethical application, research methods, data collection, analysis and writing-up.
- Risk Assessment and Management (15 Credits) - Compulsory
- This module has been developed to assist mental health practitioners to enhance the knowledge and practice required for reducing the risks that may be encountered when working with users of mental health services. The module will take a multi-factorial approach in examining risk assessment and management in mental healthcare - exploring clinical, social and organisational contexts of risk. It will also encourage students to explore risk assessment and management within a range of mental health settings, but also within the context of service user issues all underpinned by contemporary theoretical evidence. It also introduces the knowledge and practice of risk assessment and management, strategies for reducing risk and the concept of positive risk taking.
- Service Developments in Mental Health (15 Credits) - Compulsory
- This module is designed to provide a critical overview of mental health services and how they fit into the ever-changing policy framework. Students will focus on their own service and introduce a change with reference to management of change theories. Throughout this module, the values that underpin anti-discriminatory practice are paramount and students will be expected to consider the needs of service users and carers in their service change.
- Social Inclusion and Recovery in Mental Health (15 Credits) - Compulsory
- Promoting social inclusion and recovery lies at the heart of current mental health services and care. This module will review contemporary theory, research, policy and service developments with regards to social inclusion and recovery in mental health. It will facilitate students to critically review these developments; carry out a service review/ evaluation within their current work environment; and synthesise information and ideas from the service review/ evaluation and the relevant theory and policy context.
- Work Based Learning - Triple Module 1 (60 Credits) - Optional
- The rationale, aims and objectives of this module are drawn up by students in the learning agreement. It follows that each WBS 4861/2 module will be unique in terms of its aims. Students will be required, however, to demonstrate that the project leads to a product which has useful outcomes for specific work-based activity. All students will be required to maintain a personal learning log for reflection on practice.
- Work Based Research Methods (30 Credits) - Optional
- To develop critical awareness of research and development issues in the workplace. To reflect upon the position of the worker-researcher and the ethical issues involved. To develop a work-based research project proposal supported by a critical commentary and other output demonstrating engagement and developing understanding of work-based research.
Entry Requirements
We welcome applications from graduates with a good honours degree, or equivalent qualification, in an appropriate subject. We also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications and individuals with a minimum of three years' work experience. Those without formal qualifications need to demonstrate relevant work experience and the ability to study at postgraduate level.
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 7.0 or TOEFL (paper based) 550 or TOEFL (internet based) 79 with specified minimum scores for each component.

