Posted: June 30, 2020
The University Campus North Lincolnshire (UCNL) in Scunthorpe is now offering a brand-new course for those interested in pursuing a career and interest in Mental Health and Well-being.
The FdSc Mental Health and Well-being is a new programme, developed to address the skill gaps within the health and social care sector locally, where health care assistants who play a pivotal role in the delivery of services, are often recruited without formal qualifications.
It is now a requirement for all schools to employ a Mental Health Champion and local training has only been available up to a Level 2. By 2020/21 it is planned that physical health and mental health will be treated equally and everyone facing a mental health crisis will receive 24-hour access to services, with an extra one million people in the UK receiving support from provisions for mental health and emotional problems providers of mental health services (Mental Health Taskforce and NHS England, 2016).
Numerous job opportunities are currently being advertised within mental health services locally and these services must ensure that they develop and employ staff best placed to meet the needs of such a significant number of people. The FdSc Mental Health and Wellbeing programme has been written in consultation with employers across the sector and is an exciting vocationally-focused higher education qualification, designed to integrate academic and work-based learning. Whether applicants are looking to develop new skills or enhance their existing expertise and further their career, this course provides an excellent platform to develop their skills and experience to support career progression. Feedback from the major stakeholders suggested that the option of the Foundation Degree would enhance the quality of care delivered to patients and service users.
Gillian Reid (Joint Cognate Area Leader Health, Life and Social Science at the UCNL) said, “This is an exciting programme, perfect for students who are looking to develop new skills or enhance their existing expertise in a sector that is becoming more prevalent across all age ranges, from early childhood to adolescents through to the elderly. Here at UCNL we have been working closely with employers and the need for the programme was identified and written in collaboration with stakeholders in the sector, making the programme relevant to the local needs.”
Students choosing to study full-time will be expected to engage in 6 hours of taught sessions one day per week, with additional time needed to read and work towards assessments. Students studying part-time will engage in learning 3 hours of taught sessions per week. Students will also be expected to complete 100 hours in a suitable paid or voluntary placement during the duration of the programme and will be required to provide an enhanced DBS.
A virtual open event is scheduled for Tuesday 7th July at 8.00pm for anyone who wants to find out more, registering for this event is essential via social media or via email to the UCNL to receive the invite link. The UCNL is still accepting applications for September 2020 and anyone wanting to apply or enquire for this course or any other course, can do so by contacting the UCNL on 01724 294125 or email enquiries@ucnl.ac.uk