PGCert Primary Mental Health Care / Course details

Welcome to the ‘Values, Diversity and Context’ (VDC) unit. This unit aims ‘to enable yous to respond to people’s needs sensitively with regard to all aspects of diversity and protected characteristics. To be able to demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities for all and encourage people’s active participation in every aspect of care and treatment. To demonstrate an understanding and awareness of the power issues in professional- patient relationships and take steps in their clinical practice to reduce any potential for negative impact this may have. To consider the impact of individuals' different backgrounds on the process of group work. This unit will, therefore, expose yous to the concept of equality, diversity and inclusion and equip workers with the necessary knowledge, attitudes and competencies to operate in an inclusive value driven service.’

This unit, in addition to the ‘Engagement and Assessment of Patients with Common Mental Health Problems’ and ‘Evidence-based Low-intensity Treatment for Common Mental Health Disorders’ units must all be completed successfully to qualify as a PWP.

• To respond to people’s needs sensitively with regard to all aspects of diversity and protected characteristics.
• To be able to demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities for all and encourage people’s active participation in every aspect of care and treatment.
• To demonstrate an understanding and awareness of the power issues in professional- patient relationships and take steps in their clinical practice to reduce any potential for negative impact this may have.
• To consider the impact of individuals' different backgrounds on the process of group work.

• Skills based competencies will be learnt through a combination of clinical simulation and role plays in small groups working intensively under close supervision with peer and tutor feedback and supervised practice through supervised direct contact with patients in the workplace.
• Knowledge will be learnt through a combination of lectures, seminars, discussion groups, guided reading and independent study.
• Teaching will provide trainees with the opportunity to practice different modes of evidence based treatment delivery.
• Group facilitation skills will be learnt through teaching on and feedback on experiential practice of group facilitation Self-directed study will include review of video library and web-based resources with examples of intervention sessions and clinical demonstrations of specific techniques.
• Teaching and skills will be delivered using a combination of in class face to face teaching and remote synchronous teaching.

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and commitment to a non-discriminatory, recovery orientated values base to mental health care and to equal opportunities for all and encourage people’s active participation in every aspect of care and treatment.
• Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the power issues in professional-patient relationships.
• Demonstrate an awareness of voluntary, community and statutory organisations in their community that may be helpful to signpost/refer to.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of what constitutes high-intensity psychological treatment and how this differs from low-intensity work.

Demonstrate an appreciation of the PWP’s own level of competence and boundaries of competence and role, and an understanding of how to work within a team and with other agencies with additional specific roles which cannot be fulfilled by the PWP alone.

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and competence in, responding to people's needs sensitively with regard to all aspects of diversity, including working with older people, the use of interpretation services and taking into account any cognitive, physical, or sensory difficulties patients may experience in accessing services.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and competence in using supervision to assist the PWP's delivery of low-intensity psychological treatment and/or medication support programmes for depression or anxiety disorders.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and competence in gathering patient-centred information on employment needs, wellbeing and social inclusion and in liaison and signposting to other agencies delivering employment, occupational and other advice and services.

• Demonstrate respect for and the value of individual differences in age, sexuality, disability, gender, spirituality, race and culture. 
• Demonstrate competence in managing a large caseload of people with common mental health problems efficiently and safely.

Written assessment – Essay 50%

Presentation – 50%

Practice Assessment Document Pass/refer

You will receive regularly feedback from peers and programme staff throughout the unit, both verbally and written feedback.

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Hays, P.A. (2013). Connecting Across Cultures: The Helper’s Toolkit. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. 123 pp. ISBN 978-1-4522-1791-8 (paperback)
Papworth, M. and Marrinan, T. eds., 2018. Low intensity cognitive behaviour therapy: A practitioner's guide. SAGE Publications Limited. (chapters 11-17)
Repper, J., Perkins R. (2003) Social Inclusion and Recovery: A Model for Mental Health Practice. Bailliere Tindall.
Roth, A.D. and Pilling, S., 2008. A competence framework for the supervision of psychological therapies. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265872800_A_competence_framework_for_the_supervision_of_psychological_therapies (accessed 5th March 2020)
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