Child and Adolescent Mental Health
The CAMH subject specific award originates from a recognition that individuals working in the field of health care may need to and may wish to enhance their own personal and professional development within the field of child and adolescent mental health. Whilst being underpinned by the wider Learning Beyond Registration / Continuing Professional Development philosophy, the subject specific award recognises that you do not need to be a mental health nurse to have an interest and a desire to work with those individuals experiencing a mental health issue and to want to raise your knowledge base regarding current factors surrounding this group of young people.
The subject specific award recognises the wealth of experience that its students can bring to the classroom and it invites students to engage in critical reflection and discussion in subject matters that pertain to the current climate of child and adolescent mental health. The subjects that can be accessed on the subject specific award reflect current clinical trends and domains within child and adolescent mental health that will enhance the practitioner's ability to engage with a complex often vulnerable group of young people. The subject specific award overarching aim is to enhance practitioners knowledge base within the field of child and adolescent mental health, encourage development of self and cultivate a more critically reflective approach to care.
Module Information
Year 1:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- The Emotional and Psychological Concepts of Abuse/Trauma and Loss
Year 2:
· Diversity and Equality
· Introduction to Evidence Based Practice
· A choice of either two singles of one double module from any of the CPD programmes that have modules running at the appropriate time
Main Features
- Direct applications
- Up to 5 years part-time
- City Southcampus
- Commences September
Entry Requirements
- To be practicing in an area relevant to your study 1 day per week and this could be voluntary or paid employment.
- To gain a BSc (Hons) Mental Health Studies degree, Students must have the equivalent of a Dip HE leading to professional registration, a Dip He or 240 credits of which at least 120 are at Level 4 and a 120 are at level 5 as recognised by this university.
Under this programme there are further awards to be gained dependent on your entry level credits. If you are unsure whether you meet the academic requirements, please contact our Personal Development Centre. Applicants can access modules as stand alone or subject specific award only.
Download the course information
Why should I study Mental Health?
The Mental Health Studies Programme recognises the complex and diverse nature of mental health issues that confronts practitioners on a daily basis. The programme strives to offer students a learning environment that represents the diverse and complex nature of mental health, offering subjects that are appropriate and applicable to the current climate in mental health, where the subjects are taught not only by lecturers skilled in their field, but by practitioners, service users and carers that have firsthand experience of the services and issues being taught.
The programme invites students to engage in critical discussion, sharing their wealth of experiences in the classroom recognising that as much can be learned from each other as from the teacher. The programme supports students in enhancing their knowledge base, encourages development of self and cultivates a more critically reflective approach to care.
- The course is designed to help you build on the Qualifications/experience you already have. If you have the required amount of previous credits at certificate and diploma level, it offers the opportunity to study at degree level.
- How much you study is up to you. You can opt to study for the whole degree course, individual subject specific award or even single modules on a part-time basis.
- The timescale is flexible too. Once you've enrolled, you have up to five years to complete the course.
- The course has been devised to give you a real breadth of choice - with a range of popular clinical modules to choose from, as well as the wider generic subjects of the compulsory modules.
What's the aim of the course?
- To develop the student's expertise (including specialist knowledge and clinical skills) in the planning, delivery and evaluation of evidenced based care to address people's complex health and wellbeing needs in relation to Mental Health studies degree.
- To facilitate an educational programme that meets the individual student's needs and will contribute to their own development (and their development of others) as practitioners in Mental Health Studies.
- To enhance the student's ability to gather, analyse and present extensive and/or complex data and information that informs evidence based health care within their area of clinical practice.
- To further develop the student's ability to work in partnership with others in developing and appraising quality and service improvements.
- To promote equality and value diversity.
What are my options?
You can choose to study in the way that suits your life and aspirations with this extremely flexible course. Choose from the following:
- BSc (Hons) Mental Health Studies
For the full degree (with honours) you will need to meet the specific entry requirements and complete:
- In the first Year; a selected subject specific award from the Mental Health Studies Programme, or pick and mix 2 double modules from any subject specific award on the mental health studies programme (60 credits)
- In the second year; two compulsory modules (30 credits) and, two single or, one double module of own choice from any CPD Programme that will enhance your clinical practice (30 credits). In total this equates to 120 credits at level 6.
- BSc Mental HealthStudies
If you want to gain a degree but can't commit to the full degree with honours, you will need to meet the specific entry requirements and then take the shorter route of a degree without honours by completing a subject specific award or four single or two double modules from any of the Mental Health Studies subject specific award the equivalent of 60 credits at level 6.
- Graduate Certificate Mental Health Studies
If you enter the programme with a degree as recognised by this university and choose to complete one year of the programme (60 credits at level 6) you can exit with a Graduate Certificate. The same options are on offer as those for the BSc i.e. specific subject specific award or pick and mix approach from all subject specific award on the Mental Health Studies Programme is available to you.
- Graduate Diploma Mental Health Studies
A graduate diploma can be gained if you enter with a degree and you complete the full 120 credits (subject specific award, compulsory and choice modules) as with the BSc honours award.
- Advanced Diploma in Professional Studies, Mental Health
This is for students who do not meet the entry requirements for the other awards above. To gain an advanced diploma you need to complete either one Mental Health Studies subject specific award or pick and mix approach from all the Mental Health Studies subject specific award. This is the equivalent of 60 credits at level 6.
How will I be taught?
There is a mixture of teaching, self-directed study and clinical placements. Supporting our students is high on the course team's agenda, which is why you can expect plenty of personal and professional support and guidance from the programme director and the subject specific award leader. Electronic support through Moodle allows students to access material outside of the University.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment is both formative - whereby students are not formally assessed, and summative (formal assessment).
This takes the form of simulations, seminar presentation, peer groups, role play and essays which are all closely related to your practice.
How much study is involved?
Modules are taught over a specific period of weeks and attendance is usually one day per week. Maximum module 'contact time' at university is 30 hours. You will be required to study in your own time for a further 90 hours per module. In addition you will gain experience in your own environment appropriate to your chosen area of study.
Standalone Modules
All modules on all subject specific award can be accessed as standalone modules. For further information on each of the modules please contact the subject specific award leaders or programme director who will be able to either provide the information requested or put you in contact with the actual module leader.
To find out more about the course
For an overview of the course or subject specific award please feel free to contact the Programme Director, Nicola Clarke on 0121 331 7174 or email nicola.clarke@bcu.ac.uk . Alternatively, please contact the Department Office on 0121 331 7124/6165.
subject specific award Leader
Paul Millwood
How to apply
To apply for a place on this course please contact our Admissions Team on 0121 331 5500 or email health.admissions@bcu.ac.uk.
Mental Health Pathways