The MA/PgDip Mental Health Practice at The University of Cumbria aims to provide a stimulating and challenging academic and scholarly environment for learners who wish to advance their academic and professional development within the field of Mental Health. The programme has been designed for registered Social Workers, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Nurses, Occupational Therapists or Prac
titioner Psychologists, with two years post-qualifying experience and an interest in Mental Health. Successful completion of the programme confers eligibility to apply to the Local Authority for consideration for approval to act as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) and a Best Interests Assessor (BIA). Approved Mental Health Professional: An AMHP is a highly qualified and skilled practitioner, who coordinates assessments for people with substantial mental health needs, under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended 2007). AMHPs are required to use their expertise of the legal and policy framework in order to make independent and critical judgements about the need for detention and/or treatment for mental disorder. The AMHP is expected to facilitate a holistic assessment of the person, balancing the need for protection and risk, with the rights of the person; giving consideration to the person’s strengths, social and cultural circumstances, which complements the medical recommendations made by Doctor(s) involved. Best Interests Assessor: The Deprivation of Liberty safeguards (DOLS) were introduced to the Mental Capacity Act 2005, through the Mental Health Act 2007 amendments. The DOLS strengthen the legal framework which protects the rights and liberties of people who lack the capacity to make certain decisions regarding their care or treatment. The need to develop a set of safeguards arose from a ruling in case law (HL vs UK), which identified a gap in the Mental Capacity Act 2005, later referred to as the ‘Bournewood gap’. This ruling demonstrated that the Mental Capacity Act 2005 was not concordant to the European Convention on Human Rights, and the DOLS seeks to reconcile that. The role of the BIA is to assess whether a person’s care or treatment amounts to a deprivation of their liberty, and if so, whether this deprivation of liberty is in the ‘Best Interests’ of the person. Following re-validation the University of Cumbria’s MA/PgDip Mental Health Practice was commended for Best Practice in the following areas: the level of stakeholder and expert practitioner involvement; the highly creative, unique, and successful partnership working in place with Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and the extent and level of engagement with Service Users and Carers within the programme. Study patterns are responsive to student and employer needs and are reviewed annually with Student Representatives and the Programme Team. The University has a range of support systems in place for students returning to study, and recognises that some practitioners may not have studied at level 7 previously, or for some time. The programme encourages students to develop their mastery of complex and specialised mental health knowledge through a range of lectures and seminars delivered by Academics, Mental Health Professionals, AMHPs, BIAs and a Barrister, which are delivered through a series of ‘teaching weeks’, giving the students an opportunity to bond and share learning. In addition, critical reflection on the learning, and throughout placements, encourages students to develop a critical awareness of issues at the forefront of mental health practice. The Best Interest Assessor Module can be taken as a stand-alone 20 credit Level 7 module, for students who wish to qualify as a Best Interest Assessor, without studying the full MA/PgDip. Please note:
Students are required to acquire employer endorsement prior to applying for the MA/PgDip Mental Health Practice Programme, as placements are provided through the student’s substantive post. Students wishing to apply for the Best Interest Assessor Programme are required to secure a placement prior to an offer of a place being made. Please contact us for further information.
