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Teaching

Students are taught through a combination of approximately 14 online teaching days, 21 on campus clinical  skills days, 12 directed practice learning days and a half a day of study time per week. Teaching days run from 09:30-16:30, on either Mondays, Wednesdays or both, with time included for breaks and lunch. The course operates using a ‘block teaching framework’ which means modules are taught across 7-12 weeks, with 4-5 weeks break in between. Please note, the timetable is subject to minor changes for each cohort. Attendance at all university teaching days is mandatory to complete the MHWP training. Therefore, application to the MHWP course is not recommended to those with an extended holiday booked during the course period (i.e., 2+ weeks).

In addition, students will have a minimum of three meetings with their Personal Academic Tutors, timed to coincide with each module which enables on-going monitoring of competency development and attainment of the required clinical and supervisory hours.

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip them for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the Personal Academic Tutoring system enables students to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help them to flourish and be successful.

Contact time

Before the course formally begins, a two-day online university induction will be provided and the NHS employer will also provide a trust induction if required. Module 1 runs from October-December and consists of 10 teaching days; 7 on campus and 2 online. Module 2 runs from January-April and consists of 9 teaching days; 2 on campus and 7 online. Module 3 runs concurrently with Module 2 from February-July and consists of 15 teaching days; 11 on campus and 4 online.

Work based learning

Student learning also takes place predominantly in their employing organisation, where students engage in practice-based learning, such as role plays, observing live clinical sessions and conducting assessments and interventions under supervision. This involves clinical skill development, practice and feedback.

Students spend three to four days each week in their place of employment (depending on the balance of their teaching) in an NHS adult mental health service, working under supervision to conduct case assessment and formulation as well as delivery of psychologically informed wellbeing interventions. Supervision lasts for the full 12 months of the course and will consist of weekly ‘Case Management’ supervision, provided by a relevant health care professional, and fortnightly ‘Clinical Skills’ supervision, provided by a relevant health care professional with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training. Students are employed within the NHS service and remain there for the duration of their programme. 

All NHS-based supervisors will undergo one day, or the equivalent, of 'Supervisor Induction' delivered by ¹ú²úÊÓƵ course lead. This will orientate supervisors to the training programme and equip them with information needed to support MHWP trainees in practice. Supervisors then have the option for ‘monthly drop ins’ with the course team to go address any queries they may have. Three way joint meetings between student, supervisor and Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) will occur at three points throughout the training year to monitor student progress on the course. 

In order to pass the programme, a minimum of 80 clinical contact hours must be completed in their NHS employment, of which 40 clinical hours must have involved the delivery of the specified psychologically-informed interventions. Students must also demonstrate a minimum of 40 supervision hours (including 20 hours of case management supervision and 20 hours of clinical skills supervision) in order to pass the course. This requirement forms part of the final assessment for the course in module MHWP4103.

Clinical Supervision

Regular support for students on this course comes from the two forms of supervision which occur on placement every week. The programme benefits from close working relationships with all of the involved NHS Trusts and supervisors. All NHS supervisors will have completed MHWP Superviso  Induction with the ¹ú²úÊÓƵ and will therefore have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to ensure that students have a coherent and positive learning experience across teaching and practice. 

There is a clear process in place for students to raise any supervision concerns with the course team. All students will have an allocated NHS-based case supervisor, who will be a suitably qualified mental health practitioner working within their placement. They will meet with the student weekly to review their entire caseload, discuss risk, support skill development and discuss care planning. Every fortnight every student will also have fortnightly individual or group supervision with a qualified professional who is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Supervisors will also provide pastoral support and signposting where helpful. By having support from both the University and the NHS, students will have access to a range of support services, such as Occupational Health within the NHS including counselling services, physiotherapy and health assessments. Additional support is available for students from the wider University for the duration of their studies with the

Independent Study

It will be an expectation for employing NHS trusts to provide half a day per week in employment as study time for students to engage in reading, self reflection on practice, seek tutorial support, work on assessments and course documentation. Independent study is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources. 

Teaching Staff

Students will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes Lecturers and Senior Lecturers in Clinical Psychology, Mental Health and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and where appropriate from a range of associated practice backgrounds including Clinical Psychologists working in the NHS, people with lived experience of mental health difficulties and multi-disciplinary NHS mental health staff. Teaching is informed by research and practice, and all of the lecturers on the course have or are working towards a higher education teaching qualification, or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.

Assessments

The assessment strategy for this course is specified by the NHS England National Curriculum for MHWPs and BPS Accreditation Standards.  Students complete two assessments per module; one clinical and one academic assignment, which are closely aligned to the knowledge- and competency-based learning outcomes for the programme, with a final additional Practice Outcomes Portfolio signifying demonstration of competence.

All assessments are graded as pass/fail using adapted versions of the and the or through NHS-E dictated competence assessment scales. Three of the assignments are reflective and case study-based essays, within which students demonstrate their theoretical knowledge from the learning activities and practice-based learning in the context of specific cases. Further assessments include a formally assessed role play and a recording of an intervention session. These are assessed using standardised practitioner-competence assessment tools, during which students are required to demonstrate procedural clinical competencies in undertaking set clinical activities. The portfolio assessment directly assesses completion of the required competencies and supervision hours during their NHS employment.

Formative assessments provide early opportunities for demonstration and development of learning, and form part of the curriculum for each module.

Assessments:

• Role Play
• Reflective Essay
• Case Report x 2
• Portfolio of Collaborative Care Plans
• Assessed Recording of An Intervention Session
• Practice Outcomes Portfolio

Students are entitled to one resubmission attempt at each assignment. All assignments must be passed in order to complete the training course and be awarded the title of Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner.

Programme Specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please or the the .