MSc / Postgrad Diploma Child and Adolescent Mental Health (Contemporary Studies)

• Introduction to research methods and applied data analysis (30 credits)
• Critical approaches to advanced practice (15 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits).

Early Identification and Psychological Development (15 credits)

In this module, you will examine key developmental theories concerning psychological development, in conjunction with the concepts of early identification, to promote effective intervention, for optimum mental health in children, adolescents and their families. A range of factors drawn from genetic, cognitive and environmental influences will be critically evaluated.

Child Protection: Working with Risk & Resilience (15 credits)

This child protection module is aimed at any student working professionally with children, young people and/or their families and carers. The main learning objectives will focus on developing student’s knowledge and awareness of the safe and ethical implementation in practice of safeguarding policy and legislative frameworks to promote effective interagency and collaborative practice in the statutory and voluntary sectors in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government, 2006).

You will examine and evaluate knowledge and skills to understand and identify risks and vulnerability and to consider the concept of resilience and its promotion in line with the emotional well-being of the child and its family. The module will be delivered collaboratively from a child health and a child and adolescent mental health perspective.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Therapeutic Approaches & The Evidence-Base (15 credits).

Through seminars and clinical presentations this module will examine the evidence base and efficacy of contemporary psycho-therapeutic approaches and interventions. These approaches will be further examined within reflective practice, where an emphasis on working safely and collaboratively with difference, vulnerability and complex needs will be explored. The importance of the professional relationship, its boundaries and limitations will be central to these seminars. Some experience of working within this area of practice is required.

Two elective modules must be chosen from the following:

Risk Assessment and Management across the life span (15 credits)

In this module, you will critically examine the evidence-base surrounding risk assessment that identifies predictability; systemic approaches; vulnerability for the child, adults and older adults; dangerous and suicidal behaviours; and person-centred interventions.

A significant emphasis within this module will focus on:

• Positive risk management.
• Collaboration with the service user and others involved in care.
• The importance of recognising and building on the service users’ strengths.
• The organisation’s role in risk management alongside the individual practition

Liaison Mental Health Care (15 credits)

This module will provide an inter-professional course which develops and/or enhances the knowledge and skills of those working or planning to work in the field of Liaison Health Care.

You will look at:

• Models of liaison care and team working.
• Current practice and care of the client with severe mental illness.
• Risk assessment and management of deliberate self-harm and suicide.
• Liaison mental health care in relation to older adults.
• Liaison mental health care in relation to the child and adolescent.
• Legislation and liaison mental health care, including capacity and consent.
• Liaison mental health care in relation to mental health and physical illness.
• Liaison mental health in relation to substance misuse.
• Evaluating liaison mental health care.

Professional Leadership (15 credits)

The delivery of successful health and social care services relies on effective leadership. This module takes a perspective that leadership is to be found in the many rather than the few. We are all leaders. Therefore, the aim of the module is to help you recognise and develop your inherent leadership qualities, and have regard for the leadership qualities of others, whether peers and working colleagues, or those in formal positions of leadership responsibility.

Rather than emphasise leadership generally, or histories and typologies of leadership theory, the approach is practical and straightforward. Looking at leadership in health and social care from this perspective will make you more effective in your role, and more prepared for future leadership responsibilities.

Contemporary issues in mental health (15 credits)

This module is specifically designed to provide mental health practitioners, researchers and managers with critical awareness of contemporary debates in the field of mental health. This will include mental health policy, human rights, the political and practice landscape, influence of key consumers groups, patient safety methodology, legal aspects of mental health and novel practice initiatives.

Psychology for health and social care (15 credits)

This module looks at psychological and social factors associated with physical illness, the impact of illness on individuals, psychological intervention, and how this knowledge can be used in healthcare and social care practice.

Assessing and understanding mental health problems (15 credits)

This core elective module is designed for those involved in mental health services as clinicians, managers, and researchers. The module will link knowledge of condition distribution and risk factors with approaches to problem assessment, and will maintain a clinical and service user informed approach, which will assist participants’ abilities to contribute to the development and direction of service provision.

You will develop your understanding of the distribution and impact of mental health problems at a global, national, and local as well as an individual level. You will explore the epidemiology of mental health problems in relation to social and environmental factors, and examine the relationship between mental and physical health