Pg Cert Applied Mental Health Practice

University of Hertfordshire

The PG Cert Applied Mental Health Practice Programme is designed to enable students to demonstrate they have the necessary knowledge and skills, ensuring that they have demonstrated that they can meet the Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) competencies in Schedule 2 of the AMHP Regulations (England) by the end of their course. Qualified social workers, mental health and learning disability nurses, occupational therapists, and psychologists, registered with their respective regulators, may train to become an AMHP. This course ensures that AMHP trainees are trained and assessed to the highest of standards, through strong partnerships with a range of key stakeholders including students and people with lived experience. Local authorities are centrally involved in the course design, delivery, and management in order to ensure that their responsibilities under legislation are addressed and the training course remains fit-for-purpose. Successful completion of this approved course makes an individual eligible to be approved to act as an AMHP by a Local Authority in England and to perform the functions of an AMHP and helps to meet the legal requirement for Local Authorities to ensure that a sufficient number of AMHPs are available to meet the needs of the local area. Indicative Course Structure/Course Notes Transferable skills are developed through a combination of lectures/ seminars, individual and groupwork, formative tests and assignments. Practice examples and case examples will be used to help make the necessary links between the academic and practice elements and to support the learning process. The practice placement is a central part of the programme. It provides the opportunity to put theory into practice and for trainees to develop and demonstrate in practice the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills required to be an AMHP. It includes formal supervision sessions to contribute to the learning and development of the trainee. The supervision will help facilitate reflection and discussion of practice, including decision-making and evidencing of competencies. The design of the programme with integration of taught sessions amongst practice placement supports trainees to bring practice experiences back into the classroom environment for discussion and critical reflection. It also supports trainees being able to put what they learned in the classroom into practice and to consider its application in the placement setting. Throughout, the learner is encouraged to develop transferable skills by maintaining a record of evidence and completing a personal development plan. The programme is offered in full-time (approx. 4 months) and part time modes (approx. 6 months at 3 days a week – Mon-Wed) and leads to the award of a Post Graduate Certificate in Applied Mental Health Practice. Intake is normally at Semester A (September) and Semester B (February). Both modules that make up this programme (Applied Mental Health Law – 7HSK2205 and Managing Mental Health Act Assessments – 7HSK2206) must be completed. Professional and Statutory Regulatory Bodies The programme is approved by Social Work England (SWE) and on completion of the programme students are eligible (though not guaranteed) to be approved by a Local Authority to act in the role as an Approved Mental Health Professional. Who teaches on this course? The Programme Leader is an AMHP and is involved in teaching on the course alongside other suitably qualified professionals including AMHPs. Other university and visiting speakers are involved in course delivery including people with lived experience and carers, mental health solicitor, psychiatrists and other professionals with specialist knowledge and experience relevant to the AMHP role.