Postgraduate Certificate Mental Health Social Work

The Postgraduate Certificate Mental Health Social Work is a part-time program designed to train social workers for the role of Mental Health Officer (MHO) in Scotland. The program is delivered by the University of Strathclyde in partnership with 12 local authorities in the West of Scotland, represented by the Scottish Social Services Council Learning Network West.

Key Facts

• Start date: August
• Accreditation: Scottish Social Services Council
• Study mode and duration: Part-time, August to June

Program Overview

The program prepares experienced and qualified social workers, registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), to undertake the statutory role of Mental Health Officer (MHO). The program is only available to qualified social workers currently employed by local authorities.

Course Content

The course is taught over the period of an academic year, normally August to June. Students complete three modules, with 30 days of teaching/contact time and a minimum of 600 hours of study, practice learning, and assessment over the course of the year.

Modules

• Semester 1 – Class 1: Mental Disorder, Mental Health Legislation & Human Rights
  • Enables students to apply critical knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing and mental disorders.
  • Students learn to make a comprehensive assessment of complex need and manage risk within the relevant legislative and policy frameworks in collaboration with other disciplines and organisations.
• Semester 2 – Class 2: Capacity, Incapacity & the Law in Scotland
  • Students apply critical knowledge and understanding of mental wellbeing and mental disorders to the potential outcomes for vulnerable people at risk of being subject to the powers of the relevant legislation.
• Semester 3: Working with individuals with a mental disorder & criminal proceedings
  • Students have the opportunity to apply critical knowledge and understanding to MHO practice of working with mentally disordered offenders.

Learning and Teaching

• Students attend 30 days of direct teaching/contact time during term time and have agreed study time outwith term time to complete the course.
• Additional work and self-directed learning are completed as directed.
• The course content is provided through a range of teaching approaches, including direct learning, directed learning, and independent learning, as well as the practice experience.

Guest Lectures

• External specialists provide input to the course, including medical staff, lawyers, representative organisations, and currently-practising MHOs.
• Service-users and carers also provide input, both as guest lecturers and by contributing to the design of the course content.

Assessment

• Each module features a combination of assessment elements, including practice assessment, assessment of knowledge and understanding, critical analysis of practice, law exam, and presentation task.
• Students are required to pass each element to successfully complete the module.

Entry Requirements

• Applicants must:
  1. Be nominated by their employing local authority, be supported by their employing local authority, and be provided with appropriate learning opportunities.
  2. Hold a professional social work qualification recognised by SSSC.
  3. Normally have a minimum of two years post-qualifying experience.
  4. Satisfy the programme provider that they have the capacity to achieve the Mental Health Officer standards.

Fees and Funding

• All fees quoted are per academic year unless stated otherwise.
• All candidates on the course are directly funded by their local authority.
• Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy.

Careers

• Successful graduates from this programme will immediately be appointed as Mental Health Officers (MHOs) by their local authority.
• The appointment can lead candidates into promoted posts, such as senior practitioner and management roles.
• The MHO workforce is currently under-resourced, and qualified MHOs are in high demand across Scotland. Obtaining the award enhances the employability of all graduates.

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Outline:

• The course is taught over the period of an academic year, normally August to June.
• You’ll complete three modules.
• There are 30 days of teaching/contact time and you'll need to commit to a minimum of 600 hours of study, practice learning and assessment over the course of the year.
• Work placement
• An assessed period of practice is integral to all three modules.
The assessed practice runs from September to December in Module 1 and January to May in Module 2 & 3. The practice experience can only be undertaken in the candidates’ employing local authority supervised by a suitably qualified member of staff (Practice Assessor), supported by the course team.

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Assessment:

• Each module will feature a combination of the following assessment elements:
• practice assessment – report of competence to practice by practice assessor
• assessment of knowledge and understanding – 2,000-word assignment (Module 1 and 3 only)
• critical analysis of practice – 3,000-word assignment (Module 1 and 2 only)
• Law Exam (Module 2 only)
• Presentation task (Module 3 only)

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Teaching:

• You'll need to commit to a minimum of 600 hours of study, practice learning and assessment within an academic year.
You’ll attend for 30 days of direct teaching/contact time during term time and have agreed study time outwith term time to complete the course. Additional work and self-directed learning will be completed as directed. You’ll also be required to undertake programme-directed assessed practice learning in each module.
• The course content is provided through a range of teaching approaches including direct learning, directed learning and independent learning as well as the practice experience.
• Skills workshops are an integral part of the course content, preparing you for a complex role in practice.
Much of the focus is on ensuring you're able to directly apply the knowledge from lectures and directed learning (specified reading) into practice.
• Guest lectures
These include:
• medical staff, including psychiatrists and psychologists
• lawyers
• representative organisations such as the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland and the Mental Health Tribunal Service
• currently-practising MHOs who provide skills workshops
• Service-users and carers also provide input, both as guest lecturers and by contributing to the design of the course content.

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Careers:

• Successful graduates from this programme will immediately be appointed as Mental Health Officers (MHOs) by their local authority, avoiding the requirement to seek employment as an MHO.
• This appointment can lead candidates into promoted posts, eg senior practitioner and management roles.
As the role of the MHO is a statutory requirement for local authorities, graduates become members of a small but essential workforce that aims to promote the rights of people with mental disorders as well as ensuring appropriate access to treatment when required.
• The MHO workforce is currently under resourced and qualified MHOs are in high demand across Scotland.
Obtaining the award, therefore, enhances the employability of all graduates.

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Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

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Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

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Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation