Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
SP20130 Policy & practice in mental health |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Intermediate |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: ES 100% |
| Requisites: |
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This unit is for SWASS students only.
Aims:
* To prepare students for mental health social work practice in a rapidly changing inter-professional and organisational context; * To critically examine the role of mental health social work in specialist and non-specialist settings. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will be able to: * Identify the main dimensions of the social model of mental disorder; * Locate social work within the multidisciplinary organisational context of mental health services (statutory and voluntary); * Consider the relevance to practice of alternative models of mental health social work assessment, including risk assessment; * Incorporate service user perspectives in the development of practice; * Understand the relevance of care management and the care planning approach to mental health social work; * Draw on an evidence-base for intervention in relation to mental health problems for children and young people; * Draw on an evidence-base for intervention in relation to mental health problems for adults and older people; * Understand the social work role in relation to mental health legislation; * Identify the implications of anti-discriminatory practice for mental health social work. Skills: Intellectual: * To think creatively and analytically (f/t/a); * To communicate an argument (f/a); * To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence (f/t/a); * To gather information from a variety of sources (f/a); * To synthesize information from a number of sources. Professional: * To develop sensitivity to the values and interests of others (f/t/a); * To apply principles of sociological and social policy analysis (t/a). Transferable key skills: * Essay research, preparation and writing skills (f/t/a); * To reflect upon own academic and professional performance (t/a). Knowledge outcomes: * Knowledge of social processes impinging on service users (t/a); * Knowledge of the nature of social work processes (t/a); * Knowledge of services (t/a); * Significance of legislative and policy frameworks (t/a); * Knowledge of organisational processes (t/a). Content: * the policy context of mental health; * organisational service framework; * evidence-based policy and practice; * mental health and the life-cycle; * inequality and discrimination in mental health services; * user perspectives; * statutory intervention; * assessment, including risk assessment. |