Certificate in Higher Education & Foundation Degree in Mental Health

University of Worcester and Herefordshire & Ludlow College.

This Foundation Degree explores evidence-based approaches in the management of common and severe and enduring mental health difficulties. The course supports students to develop skills such as reflective practice, self-awareness and interpersonal skills essential for a career within mental health[UKJ1] . The Foundation Degree in Mental Health is a full time, 2-year course designed to support students who want to work in Mental health, as well as those currently practicing in the in the field and looking for career development and promotion to higher levels of responsibility. Students will be able to work in a variety of different settings for example, schools, forensic services, community centres, police and other mental health services.  In addition, this course can enable students to progress to other professional courses. Herefordshire and Ludlow College has excellent links to a variety of community organisations, to support students to identify and undertake placement learning.

Key Features

• You will be working with a team of academics, practitioners and work-based learning tutors who hold a range of expertise and experience relevant to mental health.
• You will identify a suitable placement to complete two practice placement modules to apply your skills and knowledge in an area of practice that interests you. As part of this you will complete a minimum of 150 hours a year in placement to enhance your employability.
• You will examine evidence based mental health approaches and apply this to your work-based learning experiences and assessments.
• You will develop and enhance your self-awareness and interpersonal skills alongside gaining an insight into the importance of evidence-based practice within mental health.
• Progression routes exist on to the BA Applied Health & Social Care or Child and Adolescent Mental Health top-up degree programme. In addition, students can apply to progress onto professional courses, such as nursing (adult or mental health), Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Criminology.   

Entry Requirements

• The normal minimum entry requirement for Foundation Degree courses is the possession of 4 GCSEs (Grade C/4 or above) and 1 A Level (or equivalent Level 3 qualification).

• The current UCAS Tariff requirements for entry to this course are on the UW website https://www.worc.ac.uk/journey/a-z-of-courses.html

• Details of acceptable level 3 qualifications, policy in relation to mature students or applicants with few or no formal qualifications can be found in the prospectus or on the University webpages. See the University’s Admissions Policy for other acceptable qualifications and the section below specific to recognition of prior learning.

• Candidates with non-standard entry applications will be considered on the basis of relevant work experience and attainment of skills. They will be invited to complete an essay, which will demonstrate an ability to study at this level.

• Students whose first language is not English must have a minimum standard of English at IELTS 6.0

• All places are conditional upon a UW Occupational Health Clearance. 

• Students will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check carried out by the University. Click here for further details about DBS. Students will not be able to commence practice until clearance is confirmed.  

Course Content

Our courses are informed by research, current developments in the discipline and by feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course.  If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative.

Certificate in Higher Education (Mental Health) Year 1, Level 4

• Ethics, values and use of self in practice 
• Communication skills for practice 
• Preparing for practice in mental health 
• Contemporary issues in mental health and wellbeing
• Human development across the Life course 
• Introduction to anatomy and physiology (Optional module) 
• Working with intersectionality in social care (Optional module) 

Foundation Degree in Mental Health Year 2, Level 5

• Applied Research and Evidence Based Practice
• Understanding Teamwork in Professional Practice
• Individual Project in the Mental Health Workplace
• Conditions in Mental Distress
• Reviewing Academic Literature (Option module)
• Applied Biology and Managing Health Conditions (Option module)

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures and seminars. Each work-based learning module requires the completion of a minimum of 150 hours of work-based learning. Students will identify and apply for placement in an area of relevant practice that interests them.

Contact Time

In a typical week, students will have around 10 hours of contact teaching, of this, 7 hours will be delivered on-campus and 3 hours will be delivered online.

A minimum of 7 hours in a placement, work-based learning setting is also part of your learning contact time.

In a typical week, for part-time student studying 60 credits, they will have around 4 hours of contact teaching, of this, 3-4 hours will be delivered on-campus and 1-2 hours will be delivered online.

Typically, on-campus contact time will be structured around: 

• Lectures and seminars
• Workshops
• Group work

Online contact hours will be structured around:

• Tutorials
• Assessment workshops
• Problem based learning
• Skills development workshops

Independent self-directed study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 18 hours of personal self-study per week. Typically, this will involve completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and online, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including The Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources. 

Duration

The Foundation Degree in Mental Health runs over 2 years full time. The Certificate in Higher Education (Mental Health) is 1-year full time.

Employability

Career Opportunities & Links with Employers  

The course provides clear progression routes for individuals in mental health and social care work. Service integration collaboration and multi-disciplinary working in health and social care settings has informed the emerging context for this programme. In consultation with employers the course seeks to prepare students for future careers in a range of operational contexts as identified in the section graduate destinations below. 

Graduate destinations 

Graduates are expected to seek employment working in statutory, voluntary and commercial organisations. Examples of the types of paid employment in mental health contexts include: 

• Care services 
• Advice and guidance services 
• Police and probation 
• Advocacy and rights-based services 
• Preventative health, care and welfare services 
• Housing support services 
• Health care provision 

Service user involvement is key to the development of the curriculum content.  Service user and carer involvement will continue through established contacts and through the University IMPACT group. In addition, employer ‘liaison’ and mentor groups will be used to monitor on-going evaluation and provide support for the course. 

Course Fees

£9,250.00 per year - University of Worcester fee policy applies. All fees are subject to change; please check with the relevant provider.

A Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for this course and will incur an additional cost (£44 plus a yearly update service of £13 per year).

Any transport costs for work placements would need to be met by students.

Contact

Telephone: 01905 855111
Email: admissions@worc.ac.uk

For further information and how to apply through UCAS, please contact course tutor Kate James via email jamesu@hlcollege.ac.uk