Program Overview

Postgraduate Certificate Mental Health Social Work

The Postgraduate Certificate Mental Health Social Work is a part-time program designed to train social workers for the role of Mental Health Officer (MHO) in Scotland. The program is delivered by the University of Strathclyde in partnership with 12 local authorities in the West of Scotland, represented by the Scottish Social Services Council Learning Network West.

Key Facts

• Start date: August
• Accreditation: Scottish Social Services Council
• Study mode and duration: Part-time, August to June

Program Overview

The program prepares experienced and qualified social workers, registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), to undertake the statutory role of Mental Health Officer (MHO). The program is only available to qualified social workers currently employed by local authorities.

Course Content

The course is taught over the period of an academic year, normally August to June. Students complete three modules, with 30 days of teaching/contact time and a minimum of 600 hours of study, practice learning, and assessment over the course of the year.

Modules

• Semester 1 – Class 1: Mental Disorder, Mental Health Legislation & Human Rights
  • Enables students to apply critical knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing and mental disorders.
  • Students learn to make a comprehensive assessment of complex need and manage risk within the relevant legislative and policy frameworks in collaboration with other disciplines and organisations.
• Semester 2 – Class 2: Capacity, Incapacity & the Law in Scotland
  • Students apply critical knowledge and understanding of mental wellbeing and mental disorders to the potential outcomes for vulnerable people at risk of being subject to the powers of the relevant legislation.
• Semester 3: Working with individuals with a mental disorder & criminal proceedings
  • Students have the opportunity to apply critical knowledge and understanding to MHO practice of working with mentally disordered offenders.

Learning and Teaching

• Students attend 30 days of direct teaching/contact time during term time and have agreed study time outwith term time to complete the course.
• Additional work and self-directed learning are completed as directed.
• The course content is provided through a range of teaching approaches, including direct learning, directed learning, and independent learning, as well as the practice experience.

Guest Lectures

• External specialists provide input to the course, including medical staff, lawyers, representative organisations, and currently-practising MHOs.
• Service-users and carers also provide input, both as guest lecturers and by contributing to the design of the course content.

Assessment

• Each module features a combination of assessment elements, including practice assessment, assessment of knowledge and understanding, critical analysis of practice, law exam, and presentation task.
• Students are required to pass each element to successfully complete the module.

Entry Requirements

• Applicants must:
  1. Be nominated by their employing local authority, be supported by their employing local authority, and be provided with appropriate learning opportunities.
  2. Hold a professional social work qualification recognised by SSSC.
  3. Normally have a minimum of two years post-qualifying experience.
  4. Satisfy the programme provider that they have the capacity to achieve the Mental Health Officer standards.

Fees and Funding

• All fees quoted are per academic year unless stated otherwise.
• All candidates on the course are directly funded by their local authority.
• Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy.

Careers

• Successful graduates from this programme will immediately be appointed as Mental Health Officers (MHOs) by their local authority.
• The appointment can lead candidates into promoted posts, such as senior practitioner and management roles.
• The MHO workforce is currently under-resourced, and qualified MHOs are in high demand across Scotland. Obtaining the award enhances the employability of all graduates.