PgCert Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders

Overview

This multi-disciplinary programme is designed to enable substance use professionals, mental health workers, social workers, nurses and workers from allied health and social care sectors to gain an understanding of substance use disorders, including definitions, UK and international contexts and the application of theory in practice.

The overarching aims of the PG Cert, PG Dip and Masters in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders is to enable professionals from a range of sectors working in substance use, mental health and related fields to build on their existing knowledge and skills and to use them effectively within their current work environment. It also aims to develop the participants’ understanding of the range of theories informing substance use, and to assist workers to translate these theories into effective practice.

The programme will have a pragmatic focus and this will enable practitioners to learn about a range of multi-disciplinary assessment tools, methods of interventions and the necessary skills to work with substance use across a range of settings. Substance use problems permeate work with a range of service user groups, from the more obvious groups, i.e. working with substance use and mental health, to working with children and families, learning disability offenders and older people.

You can study flexibly by working around your professional duties. These programmes have been accredited by the Northern Ireland Professional in Practice Education and Training Partnership.

Candidates will be afforded the opportunity to take each of the three modules of the programme of study as a stand-alone module (20 credits) or collectively to obtain the PG Cert in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs).

These will include:

• Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders: Prevalence, Legislation and Theoretical Concepts
• Substance use Disorders and Co-morbid mental health disorders
• Substance use and Substance Use Disorders: International Contexts.

Please note that this course is not eligible for a Tier 4 visa.

Career Development

Professional Development For multi-disciplinary students. the programmes offer relevant CPD opportunities as well as recognised qualifications accredited by the University which will augment their professional development and enhance the development of further opportunities in their chosen field of practice. For Social Work students only, the Certificate meets all six of the professional requirements in the ‘Specialist’ category in the Professional in Practice framework, and on completion candidates will be conferred with the Specialist Award. For all students, the programme provides the opportunity to enhance special substance use and substance use disorders skills within a multi-disciplinary teaching environment.

Normally a 2.2 Honours degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a relevant subject. Equivalent qualifications include the Pre-2007 Post-Qualifying Award in Social Work. Social workers seeking entry to the programme must: Be registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC); Hold an Honours Degree in Social Work (2.2 or equivalent), Diploma in Social Work, CSS, CQSW or predecessor equivalent. Social Workers trained outside of NISCC jurisdiction must produce a letter of comparability with these awards or a letter of verification issued by NISCC; Have completed the Assessed Year in Practice or have at least one year post- qualifying experience if graduated prior to the AYE implementation. Non social workers seeking entry to the programme must: Have two years’ experience of working with clients who have experienced substance use or mental health issues. Applicants who do not satisfy the above but who are holders of an equivalent approved professional qualification or work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.