SW7005 - Mental Health Law

Teaching on this module will consist of a combination of lectures and seminars focussing upon the core legal knowledge required and its application within your practice. Teaching will be led by AHMP-experienced academics with active research interests in mental health professional practice, and currently practising mental health professionals. Seminars, group work exercises, informal law quizzes, and case studies will enable you to reflect on knowledge gained and relate this to your particular practice context. To compliment teaching, you will be provided with a self-directed electronic workbook on the e-Learning Portal. This interactive learning tool will support your learning through self-testing quizzes and hyperlinks to relevant Mental Health Act 1983 practice tools and discussion forums. The module learning strategy is based on recognition of the critical importance of reflection on and learning from practice experience and you will be encouraged to use peer support to assist with this.

Your learning will be supported through lectures and the associated class-based seminar discussions, case study and group work exercises, as well informal law quizzes. Class based activities are designed to enable you to develop your understanding of mental health law and reflect with your peers on the links between law and practice. They aim to build your confidence in articulating your knowledge. You will also have access to an on-line interactive mental health law package enabling you to self-assess your understanding. This will be available to access at all times on the module Blackboard site, where you will also find all teaching materials, an extensive reading and resource list including access to useful mental health law websites and databases. You will be encouraged to use peer support to assist in your learning and your AMHP Practice Assessor can assist with organising formative assessment processes by negotiation. The module tutor will be available to assist with specific queries.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding(K&U):
1. Explain the structure and processes of legal decision making in mental health, especially in relation to civil procedures for compulsory detention.
2. Articulate the complex and specialist role of the Approved Mental Health Professional and other professionals in work under the Mental Health Act 1983 its Code of Practice.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):
3. Demonstrate a sophisticated ability to describe and analyse the current law in relation to mental health issues.
4. Critically reflect upon ways in which the legal framework might be developed.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Analyse and use knowledge appropriately in order to support complex decision-making activity in the context of professional autonomy and the doctrine of vicarious liability.

Formative assessment
Processes include the interactive law package which provides electronic feedback to self-test questions, classroom quizzes providing live feedback and discussion, and, by negotiation, mock law oral exams with your practice assessor providing verbal feedback.

Summative assessment (pass/fail)
This will be undertaken by way of a 45-minute law oral examination by a panel consisting of a member of the module’s academic teaching staff and an expert AMHP practitioner from within the partner agencies. Northumbria University’s use of a law oral examination has been highlighted by successive external examiners as an appropriate and rigorous method of assessment for the module learning outcomes. Written Feedback/feedforward comments are provided by the examiners following the summative assessment.

Level 6 study or equivalent

SW7004 Contemporary Themes in Mental Health
SW7006 Assessment and Planning under the Mental Health Act 1983

This module aims to equip you with an advanced level of understanding of the statutory duties and powers associated with the Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) role. You will be expected to demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge and critical understanding of key provisions of the Mental Health Act relating to assessment and applications for compulsory admission and community supervision. Focus will be given to AMHP duties and powers under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Module academics have significant practice experience as AMHPs as well as current research interests in professional mental health practice, and teaching is also supported by currently practising mental health professionals. Throughout the module, strong links are made between research, theory, and your own professional development towards becoming an AMHP. Learning is supported by an interactive e-learning package which enables you to self-assess your progress and build confidence in articulating the legal position of the AMHP, and provides you with formative assessment opportunities. You will be assessed via a mental health law oral examination conducted by a panel comprising a module academic and a currently practising AMHP.

At the commencement of module teaching, you will receive a taught briefing session to explain the context, aims and expectations of the work required for a successful outcome. This will ensure you are clear about the requirements and learning outcomes of the module. Successful completion of this module, together with SW7004 and SW7006 is a requirement to achieve the Post Graduate Certificate Award, for Approved Mental Health Professional practice. Students are required to attend all taught sessions for this module and an attendance register is maintained. Employers have requested to be kept informed of any absences.

Students who have successfully completed this module and gone on to achieve the PG Cert AMHP Award have described an enhancement of their professional skills and confidence in inter-disciplinary working. In relation to employability, nearly all students who complete the PG Cert AMHP go on to achieve formal AMHP approval by a relevant Local Authority. Alumni of the programme see this as a significant professional development and career enhancing progression of their advanced mental health professional practice.