Mental Health and Well-Being: Multidisciplinary Practice With Young People and Adults (D24A)

Course overview

This innovative, multidisciplinary course is validated by the University of Essex, accredited by the Association of Family Therapy and is for professionals working with adolescents, young people and adults. It will give you enhanced professional expertise and enable you to put the service user perspective at the centre of your practice.

Course outline

This course has development throughout the lifespan at its core and is informed by both psychodynamic and systemic theory-based practice models. It introduces the fundamental aspects of young people and adult mental healthcare and practice and is specifically designed to enable those working in this field to improve the experience and outcomes for adolescents and adults. This course will develop your knowledge, skills and practice in working therapeutically with adolescents and adults facing emotional or mental health difficulties.

You will learn through theoretical seminars and lectures, undertaking an observation and also work discussion.

Theory lectures and seminars will focus on development theories and research from prenatal life through to adulthood, including issues that affect mental health and wellbeing in young people, adults and families.

You will undertake an infant, family or institutional observation and participate in observational seminars. These are delivered in small learning groups and draw upon psychodynamic and systemic theory. They are designed to both deepen your understanding, develop your observational skills and enhance your work capabilities. The work discussion group lead will be your personal tutor on the course.

You will also participate in professional practice group seminars. These small work discussion groups will draw on your practical work experience and develop your capabilities in thinking and practice. They are designed to facilitate the integration of relevant theoretical ideas and research to enable the development of advanced therapeutic practice skills in working with young people and adults.

As part of the course you will attend a weekly experiential group and will be required to attend a four-day multidisciplinary Group Relations Conference.

Is this course for you?

This course is for you if you are working in the field of adolescent or adult mental health, and wish to improve your knowledge, capabilities and your practice. You may be working as a practitioner in social work, nursing, education, psychology, primary mental health, counselling, community mental health, drug and alcohol services in statutory, voluntary or private sectors.

In order to undertake this course, we ask that you: hold an appropriate professional qualification relevant to your chosen career (or equivalent); have at least two years’ practical experience in work with young people or adults since qualification; have an undergraduate degree, degree equivalent, or evidence of other relevant post-registration education/experience; be in a full-time or part-time post (paid or voluntary) in which you are working with young people and/or adults experiencing difficulties, be they behavioral, emotional or psychological (this may include managing, teaching or supervising staff) where you have a remit to make a difference in your work.