Kingston University London

This course is designed for social workers undertaking direct social work practice in mental health services. It develops your understanding of professional practice and meets the requirements of the GSCC Post-Qualifying Specialist Social Work in Mental Health Services.

The focus at Specialist level is on consolidating, extending and deepening your initial professional competence in a specialist context. You also have the option of following a route preparing you to work as an Approved Social Worker under the Mental Health Act (1983).

What will you study?

You start your studies by taking a Consolidation Module, the first module at Specialist level in the new GSCC Post-Qualifying framework for social work. You then choose whether to study to BA(Hons) top-up level, Graduate Certificate level or PgCert level.

You will cover topics related to specialist social work with mental health services. These include the principles of social inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity in social work in mental health services; the social, psychological, cultural and bio-medical contexts of mental health; the statutory duties, tasks and responsibilities of social work in mental health services; and the interagency contexts of professional practice.

You will also develop the professional practice skills needed to work in mental health services, including enabling others to learn in professional practice.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

If you hope to work as an Approved Social Worker under the Mental Health Act (1983), you must take the modules marked 'ASW route'. The course offers a wide range of option modules so you can tailor it to your own professional requirements.

BA(Hons) top-up modules  

• Consolidation of Social Work Practice in Mental Health Services
• Competence in Specialist Practice in Mental Health Social Work: Mental Health Assessments and Interventions (ASW route)
• Competence in Specialist Social Work Practice in Mental Health Services (non-ASW route)
• Challenges and Concepts in Mental Health
• Mental Health Law
• Research Informed Practice in Mental Health (ASW route)
• Option module (non-ASW route)
• Enabling Learning OR
• Practice Teaching modules
• Integrated Project

Graduate Certificate modules  

• Consolidation of Social Work Practice in Mental Health Services
• Competence in Specialist Practice in Mental Health Social Work: Mental Health Assessments and Interventions (ASW route)
• Competence in Specialist Social Work Practice in Mental Health Services (non-ASW route)
• Challenges and Concepts in Mental Health
• Mental Health Law
• Research Informed Practice in Mental Health (ASW route)
• Option module (non-ASW route)
• Enabling Learning OR
• Practice Teaching modules

PgCert modules (registered social workers)  

• Consolidation of Social Work Practice in Mental Health Services
• Competence in Specialist Practice in Mental Health Social Work: Mental Health Assessments and Interventions (ASW route)
• Competence in Specialist Social Work Practice in Mental Health Services (non-ASW route)
• Challenges and Concepts in Mental Health
• Mental Health Law
• Research Informed Practice in Mental Health (ASW route)
• Option module (non-ASW route)
• Enabling Learning OR
• Practice Teaching modules