FdSc Mental Health and Wellbeing

4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English or maths. OR L2 Diploma in this subject.

Mature students (aged 21 by 31st December of the year of admission) or Applicants with non-standard qualifications and/or experience and whose qualifications and/or experience is deemed to be appropriate to gain entry onto a named foundation degree may be admitted onto a foundation degree programme.

You will be asked to undertake an assessment activity to determine your suitability for the programme.

You must be interviewed by our curriculum team - this can be arranged over live video chat if you live a far distance from the college.

• Analyse the diverse determinants of health and physical and mental well-being.
• Appraise emerging issues at the forefront of the subject.
• Differentiate social policy approaches and potential influence upon health and physical and mental well-being.
• Examine the diversity of the experience of health and physical and mental wellbeing.
• Test how sectors, organisations and businesses operate.
• Compare the application and effectiveness of information and health technologies in health care delivery and/or interventions, communication and analysis within the subject.
• Communicate with others in a clear and articulate manner, within a wide variety of audiences, through a range of media.
• Use appropriate academic conventions in the production and presentation of work.
• Present ideas and arguments in a well-structured and coherent manner in a variety of formats and media.
• Work with a range of stakeholders, networks, groups and organisations, taking responsibility for an agreed area of shared activity.
• Analysis of health and health issues, alongside health information and qualitative and quantitative data, that may be drawn from a wide range of disciplines.
• Synthesise coherent arguments from a range of contesting theories relating to health and health issues.
• Critique everyday, personal and community experiences of health, physical and mental well-being, and illness.
• Critically reflect on the links between individual experience of health and health issues, and the wider structural elements relevant to health and physical and mental well-being.
• Summarise authoritative research and research methodologies to locate, review and evaluate research findings relevant to mental health and health issues, across a range of disciplines.
• Identify and propose solutions to problems, both in relation to the substantive area of health studies and to other educational and social issues.
• Build effective entrepreneurial skills for innovative practice.
• Gather and evaluate relevant information from a wide variety of sources, using appropriate manual and digital systems.
• Reflect on and review progress in their own studies and seek assistance or guidance as appropriate, to enhance their own personal development planning.

Year 1

• Personal & Professional Development 1
• Work Related Project 1 (Introduction to Mental Health and Health Promotion)
• Mental Health Inequalities
• Positive Behavioural Support for Vulnerable People
• Long Term Conditions
• Wellbeing and Lifestyle

Year 2

• Personal and Professional Development 2
• Work Related Project 2 (Mental Health and Health Promotion in Practice)
• Perspectives in Cross Cultural Health
• Supporting Mental Health through Innovation and Idea Generation
• Mental Health Information and Intelligence
• Wellbeing and Intervention.

Your timetabled days will be over two weekdays. The days will be confirmed at confirmation of interest.

Any times indicated are based on current courses and may be subject to change in future years. Full timetables will be confirmed at the start of each course.

The key objectives of this mental health and wellbeing degree is to deliver an innovative and flexible programme that engages you in digital learning opportunities, preparing you for future employment.

The nature of the programme is directly applicable to work situations and theory is related to practical work-based situations, where possible. Each individual module will use different teaching and learning strategies depending upon the nature of the subject.

The teaching and learning methods will include a combination of different approaches, including but not limited to:

Lectures The purpose of a lecture is to introduce the relevant theories/knowledge of the individual topic areas within a subject.

Workshops/Seminars The purpose of the workshop/seminar is to develop your understanding of theory using case studies, role-plays and exercises.

Academic Tutorials The purpose of the tutorials is to develop study/academic skills, for example, research/information gathering. The development of these study/academic skills will assist you in your learning throughout the programme. Academic Tutorials are embedded into each module so that you are able to discuss your progress and targets, and will receive the guidance and support to achieve.

Pastoral Tutorials As you will be involved in dealing with mental health issues and strategies, you will receive pastoral support. As part of the Work-Related Project modules, you will have group and individual opportunities to debrief after carrying out an activity ensuring that your own mental health needs are also met.

The Work-Related Project modules at Level 4 and Level 5 will allow you to work collaboratively with Social Care Stakeholders. You will research and develop strategies that can be adopted in society to improve current and future health related issues.

You will look at aligning strategies with offering preventative support projects to support students with male suicide, adolescent mood disorder, and working through anxiety and depression.

You will have opportunities to work with Alzheimer’s UK, St Cuthberts Hospice and Charles Dickens Lodge. You will also be expected to manage a Memory Café on a monthly basis, reviewing the impact on the carers and visitors.

You will benefit from guest speakers and will be encouraged to undertake work experience.

You will develop transferable employability skills throughout all modules, and you will engage in substantial self-study and deliver presentations to a professional standard and with confidence.

The Social Care and Support through Innovation and Idea Generation module involves real employer projects. You will explore different types of innovation and idea generation and propose solutions for employers.

There is no expectation to find a work placement but you must proactively participate in modules to gain work related experiences.

You could progress to BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care at NCD's University Centre, or a relevant degree at university.