Program Overview

Education Mental Health Practitioner (PGDip)

About this course

Provide low intensity CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) interventions for children, young people and their parents or carers. Support common mental health problems including anxiety, low mood and behavioural difficulties on this Education Mental Health Practitioner PGDip.

Gain the skills to work in education settings and assist schools with their mental health strategies. When you successfully complete the course you'll be qualified to practice.

The role of an Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) was developed to improve access to high quality mental health support for children and young people within education settings.

This course follows the agreed national curriculum. You’ll learn theory and take part in education practice in live settings. You’ll carry out your education practice as part of a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) who will also support you. Your MHST must be your employer.

You’ll develop the skills to:

• work in a values-driven service
• understand common mental health problems experienced by children and young people and the evidenced-based treatment options
• understand therapeutic management of children, young people and their parents/carers experiencing anxiety, low mood or behavioural difficulties
• understand education settings, including legislative and policy frameworks
• promote the wellbeing of children and young people by supporting their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development in the context of their family, school and other systems
• understand the process of consultation and group work in schools and colleges

Course lead

Mrs Sarah Monk is a trained Cognitive Behavioural Therapist specialising in children and young people’s mental health and low intensity working. Sarah has worked in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and is accredited by the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). Sarah is a qualified CBT supervisor.

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

• Download Course Description Document

Entry requirements

You cannot apply for the course directly without applying for the role of a trainee EMHP. To learn more about these roles visit NHS website.

You’ll need a 2:2 degree in any subject and experience of working or volunteering with children and young people in a mental health context.

We consider professional experience in these fields:

• education
• mental health
• children and young people

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

• overall score: 6.5
• reading: 6.0
• writing: 6.0
• speaking: 6.0
• listening: 6.0

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.

Pre-masters

If you don’t meet the academic requirements, you can complete a pre-master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus.

Recognition of professional experience

If you don't have the exact entry requirements, but you have significant work experience in this sector we’ll assess your relevant professional experience, your subject knowledge and your aptitude for learning.

This can be discussed at interview with the University and Mental Health Support Team.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

• Email: [insert email]
• Tel: +44(0) [insert phone number]

Course structure

This educational mental health practitioner PGDip follows the nationally prescribed curriculum and is designed to train you to become an EMHP to work in schools and colleges.

You’ll learn about providing mental health interventions in education settings. You'll develop the ability to assess children and young people with common mental health problems and provide evidence based low intensity CBT interventions. You'll also work with schools to support their mental health policies.

You must study all the modules on this course and you’ll need to pass them all before you can practice.

You must also have passed the simulated clinical examinations and the clinical practice video assessment by your second attempt. This is part of the British Psychological Society’s accreditation requirements.

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching.

Year 1 modules

You must study the following modules:

• Assessment and Engagement
• Children and Young People's Mental Health Settings: Context and Values
• Common Problems and Processes in Education Settings
• Evidence Based Interventions for Common Mental Health Problems with Children and Young People (Theory and Skills)
• Interventions for Emerging Mental Health Difficulties in Education Settings
• Working, Assessing and Engaging in Education Settings

Learning and assessment

Learning

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• lectures
• small seminar groups
• observation of example interventions by trained clinical staff
• clinical simulation
• exploration of real practice scenarios using ‘forum theatre’
• role play
• educational videos
• self directed study
• assessment of practice documents and competencies

Assessment

We'll assess you using the methods stipulated in the national curriculum which includes:

• multiple choice answer examinations
• group and individual presentations
• reflective essays
• simulated clinical examinations
• clinical practice video recordings
• case reports
• audits

Careers and employability

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Download skills overview

Work experience opportunities

Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential.

Read more

Careers services and support

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you.

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

This course is fully funded by the NHS through Health Education England (HEE).

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams.

How to apply

To make an application, you must apply for a trainee EMHP role with one of our affiliated MHSTs through NHS jobs. We don't accept self funded applicants.

During your EMHP interview, you’ll meet a member of the University team, alongside a member of staff from the MHST. You’ll be able to ask questions about the course during the interview.

If you’re successful in securing a position, the MHST and the University will guide you through the application process for the course.

The trainee role is full time and your working week is divided into 3 days of clinical practice and 2 days attending university.

Application deadlines

Contact your clinical service for information on application deadlines.

Supporting information

Your MHST and a colleague from the University will advise on any supporting information you may need to provide.

What happens after you apply

Depending on the outcome of your EMHP interview, your MHST and a colleague from the University will explain what happens once you've applied.

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

• Email: [insert email]
• Tel: +44(0) [insert phone number]

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