Course Resources Archive

The module is concerned with the key components of mental health care in the community and will focus on knowledge, skills and competencies required in day to day mental health work.  In particular this module is provided in recognition of the diversity of the mental health workforce and the culture of involving service users and carers to influence and improve mental health services. It will also examine communication skills and supporting relationships with mental health service users and carers; enabling service users and carers to manage change, and an examination of team and joint working in mental health services.

This module allows students to explore a variety of interventions and assessment approaches in mental health care in a culturally diverse population. In particular it will examine the developing culture of the inclusion of service users and carers to develop and improve services, along with issues of engagement with vulnerable adults. This will be closely examined in the light of the current mental health law, including impending amendments to the legislation.  Of particular importance for mental health services is the development of National Service Frameworks for mental health. These topics will be fully examined from a number of different perspectives to ensure an inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to mental health work. The module also explores key principles in relation to communication with mental health service users and their carers, family, and friends. Emphasis will be placed upon the importance of relationships and factors that can impact upon them. It will also examine how positive working environments may be created, and a discussion of how to promote effective working between agencies.

i  Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the module students should be able to:
a)  Understand and critique definitions of mental illness in the context of a multi-cultural society
b)  Demonstrate the capacity to construct an assessment of mental health needs
c)  Show a critical understanding of a range of possible causes of mental ill-health
d)  Critically review the importance of including service users and carers to develop and improve services
e)  Describe and analyse the key sections of the Mental Health Act 1983 and impending developments to legislation, and their implications for practice
f)   Critically review a number of policy initiatives and their implications for practice
g)  Describe and analyse a variety of interventions in mental health work
h)  Identify and critique models of excellent practice in care planning, including risk assessment and management
i)   Analyse and review the importance of relationships in mental health work
j)   Critically review ways to promote effective working between agencies

ii. Skills
By the end of the module students should be able to demonstrate the ability to:
a.  Construct an assessment of signs and symptoms of mental illness and their implications for people living with various conditions
b.  Distinguish between mental illness and various life events, poverty, and stages (e.g., bereavement, adolescence, trauma, etc.)
c.  Articulate relevance and applicability of mental health law and policy on behalf of service users
d.  Write effective, inclusive and holistic assessments and care plans
e.  Effectively contribute to multi-disciplinary teams and inter-agency working

Staff / student contact: 20% (lectures, tutorials)
Student directed learning: 80%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.