Mental Health Officer Award Course with PgCert

Program Overview

This online PgCert Mental Health Officer Award equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to assess and safeguard the well-being of individuals experiencing mental disorder. Through a combination of theoretical modules, simulated practice, and workplace experience, students gain the expertise to exercise civil powers and duties as Mental Health Officers under relevant legislation. The program prepares graduates for roles in mental health services, including management positions and social work in mental health teams.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This online PgCert Mental Health Officer Award ensures you are trained and assessed to the highest of standards through strong partnerships with a range of key stakeholders. Local authorities are centrally involved in the course design, delivery and management in order to ensure that their responsibilities under legislation are addressed and the training course remains fit-for-purpose. As a Mental Health Officer (MHO) you will assess individuals experiencing mental disorder who may need compulsory measures of care and treatment. The role carries considerable autonomy and responsibility, and involves working alongside medical and legal professionals in order to safeguard the health, safety, wellbeing and rights of people.

Outline:

This is a 60 credit course set at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 11, with modules occurring sequentially: Mental Wellbeing and Mental Disorder, Adults with Incapacity and Mental Disorder - Offenders, Young People and Families. You will gain the knowledge, skills and practice experience to exercise the civil powers and duties of the MHO within the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and guidance pertaining to mentally disordered offenders and children, young people and families. You will take full account of the interface with related legislation and guidance within the relevant policy and procedural contexts, and critically analyse and evaluate your learning and practice with individuals, families, carers and significant others when undertaking your role. An important element of the course is a 3 day teaching block, based around a day of simulated practice, whereby professional actors, advised and supported by a mental health user group, play out roles. This enables students to practise acquired skills, with support from practitioners and staff. Modules: Modules and delivery order may change for operational purposes. The University regularly reviews its courses. Course content and structure may change over time. See our course and module disclaimer for more information. Detailed module information

Assessment:

Typically students are assessed by:

• 6 written assignments, including essay
• 3 practical skills assessments
Feedback: We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Teaching:

The teaching on the course is mostly provided by RGU-based staff who have considerable expertise and direct experience working in Mental Health Officer services. Another major contributor to the course is employed on a sessional basis and has considerable experience working with local authority and the Scottish Government in developing processes related to the Mental Health Officer role. In addition, there is teaching from external providers including service users, Carers, Psychiatrists, Psychologists and representatives of regulatory bodies. The practice element is overseen by local authority Mental Health Officers with considerable experience in this role.

Careers:

Completion of this course will allow you to work as a Mental Health Officer. The MHO Award attracts 60 academic credits which could be used towards a range of other courses, though none are specifically linked. Many who successfully complete the MHO Award go on to promoted posts as the core skills are very much transferable to management, such as the ability to work independently, critical analysis, effective joint working and managing complexity which are seen as good management attributes. Social workers practising in mental health teams are usually expected to have this qualification so employment prospects are also expanded.

Other:

The course takes approximately a year and is undertaken on a part-time basis. The expectation is that students will undertake approximately 600 hours of study across all elements including practice elements. The average number of students is about 15. Teaching is mainly in lecture format, though there is a three day teaching block which focuses on simulated practice and there are practice elements, undertaken in the students own workplace. A significant portion of this courses is underpinned by independent learning, and you will be expected to be responsible for managing your coursework, reading and other learning activities appropriately. The work-based experience element of the course is undertaken in your workplace. A Practice Assessor is appointed by the relevant local authority for you. The Practice Assessor ensures learning opportunities are made available throughout the course and provides an assessment of your practice, which contributes to the overall assessment of your work. In the North of Scotland the local authority partners are Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Highland Council, Moray Council, Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

For Academic Year 2024/2025 All Students - £2,310 For Academic Year 2023/2024 All Students - £2,220