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

Course overview

This innovative, multidisciplinary course is validated by the University of Essex 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.

Why study this course with us?

This course will enable you to develop a theoretical framework for understanding adolescent and adult development and family functioning. You will gain enhanced professional expertise, particularly in working with unconscious and systemic processes in families and organisations. You will enrich your capability to undertake informed assessments, skilful and effective interventions and know how and where to refer young people and adults for more specialised treatment from other services.

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.