Course description
Programme description
- Located in the Institute of Psychiatry, which has an international reputation for both research and teaching in the sciences relevant to mental health, the programme draws on a wealth of expertise to give students up-to-date knowledge of the latest research relevant to mental health social workers
- The Section of Social Work & Social Care has over 25 years experience of providing graduate post-qualifying programmes in mental health social work
- The programme uses a unique method of advanced case consultation involving insights from a range of therapeutic traditions and has a strong track record in developing confident and advanced practitioners
Students learn advanced and innovatory practice skills, how to conduct their own supervised research, and how to present their findings. They are taught how to critically appraise research studies to inform evidence-based practice and develop a clearer understanding of the changing mental health scene.
Through one weekly small group seminar, students learn about psychosocial influences on mental health, responses of society to mental ill health and about legislation affecting both children and adults with mental health problems. Students are encouraged to reflect on both their current and future social work practice and learn about cultural, racial, gender and class differences in relation to mental health, as well as advances in anti-discriminatory ways of working.
Practice consultation sessions run by an experienced psychotherapist throughout the first year of the programme are an invaluable aid to students’ work in their agencies, and enhance their supervision skills.
Programme format and assessment
One day a week format with small group seminars. Assessment is continuous throughout the programme and comprises assessment of a critical appraisal of three research papers; a research protocol; practice portfolio; practice viva; presentations; research thesis.
Programme modules for MSc, PG Dip Mental Health Social Work with Children & Adults
Practice Portfolio (60 Credits) (Core Module)
The Educational aims of this module are: to develop students' ability to work as advanced social work practitioners through a critical evaluation of their values, skills and practice abilities; to develop students' critical appreciation of the links between mental health social work theory and practice; to enhance students' understanding of cultural, racial, gender and class difference in relation to mental health and the importance of an anti-discriminatory model to mental health social work practice; to develop students' confidence in contributing towards the development of new or existing services within their agency to meet the needs of its users. By the end of the module, students will be able to: understand the agency context of their work and policy developments and analyse their impact on their professional functioning; explore which value positions underpin their work; analyse their practice and give evidence of advanced skills; make comprehensive assessments and demonstrate why a specific method of intervention has been chosen; make constructive use of supervision / consultation; enhance the competency of others; analyse the benefits and obstacles in multi-professional collaboration working; evaluate work by eliciting client feedback; acknowledge 'difference' and 'sameness' between client and worker and reflect on how this influences the professional work and demonstrate a high standard of anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice; demonstrate links between theory and practice; link individual case needs to the management of developments in service delivery for this client group. Assessment is by a 250-word agency context (student's workplace) report (10% of module grade), a 2,500 case management report (case material from student's case load) and a 1,500-word work development report (each worth 30% of the module grade). Students will have a 45 minute practice viva (30% of module grade), and are required to complet a 500-word viva case report and 4,000 word transcript of casework presented in viva.
Research Methods & Critical Appraisal (30 Credits) (Core Module)
The educational aims of this module are to: develop students' advanced skills in the critical appreciation of empirical research related to mental health social work; develop students' ability to use research to enhance practice skills to an advanced level; to enhance students' capacity to influence policy and procedures within their local agency through the implementation of findings from empirical research related to mental health social work. By the end of the module, students will be able to: summarise, assess and compare the strengths and weaknesses of empirical research studies of relevance to mental health social work; present and review studies in a logical and coherent fashion; make an assessment of the findings of studies independently of the author's conclusions; relate findings to implications for mental health social work policy and practice and further research; apply an anti-discriminatory framework to the assessment of research projects; influence policy and procedures within their local agency using the findings of research relevant to mental health social work. Assesssment is by: a 4,000-word critical appraisal of 3 empirical research papers (80% of the final module grade) and a 1,000-word letter to a senior manager outlining implications for agency's policies and procedures (20% of the final module grade).
Research Protocol (30 Credits) (Core Module)
The Educational aims of the module are: to develop students' ability to convert practice-based hypotheses into researchable questions; to develop students' skill in writing a research protocol that will stand up to the scrutiny of peer review, ethics and R&D committees, and will be of the required standard to produce original data for a MSc research thesis; to enhance students' capacity and confidence in undertaking research at an advanced level within their local agency. By the end of the course, students will be able to: develop hypotheses and researchable questions in response to practice-based questions and issues; write a research proposal to answer a practice-based question that includes background literature, a research question or hypotheses, a method of study and a plan of analysis; identify ethical issues in mental health social work research and take these into consideration in the design of their research proposal. Assessment is by a 2,500-word research proposal and a 30-minute presenation of a draft proposal to the group - both account for 50% of the total module grade.
Research Thesis (60 Credits) (Core Module)
Students are required to complete a 10,000 word research thesis, which accounts for the total grade for this module. The Educational aims of the module are: to enhance students' capacity and confidence in undertaking research at an advanced level within their local agency by completing a piece of original research of relevance to mental health social work practice; to develop students' ability to apply appropriate statistical tests to quantitative data to test hypotheses; to develop students' understanding of how to present the findings of original research; to enhance students' ability to provide leadership within their agencies that is informed by research. By the end of the module, students will be able to: undertake a critical review of relevant UK and international empirical literature, within an anti-discriminatory framework; collect data to answer a specific research question; understand and apply statistical tests to their data; present their findings logically and coherently; make appropriate conclusions and recommendations for policy, practice and future research.
Duration
Two years PT, September to September (MSc), One year PT, September to July (PGDip exit award)
