Decision making and interventions with adults in legal framework (6SO016)

Prospective candidates are advised to read the whole of this page carefully and keep it for future reference. This will help to save a lot of time in asking for information that is available here.

Applicants will not receive any further information from the University until they accept an unconditional offer (see below). It is essential to bookmark this page as it has details of venues, dates and times.

The University of Wolverhampton Faculty of Public Health, Social Work and Care offers the opportunity to study a 20-credit module designed to enable anyone working with adults in health, social work and social care.  The aim is to develop a working knowledge of the Mental Health Act (1983/2007), the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and decision-making and interventions where capacity and/or mental disorder are significant considerations.

The University of Wolverhampton had approval from the HCPC to offer AMHP training from June 2016. This approval continues with Social Work England (SWE) from December 2019, this was further updated in December 2020.

Candidates on the University of Wolverhampton AMHP course are expected to undertake the Decision-making module. Applicants for the AMHP course who do not think they need the preparation module, should discuss this with the nominating agency and the course co-ordinator and be able to explain how they can demonstrate that they already have the experience and knowledge that the module offers. Examples of candidates who might not need the preparation module include those who have previously acted as AMHPs or Approved Social Workers but whose approval has lapsed.

Students do not need any prior qualifications or registration to apply for this module. However, the BIA and AMHP courses do have entry requirements (please see the relevant University website for more details).

It is essential that students on this module will have support for learning in the workplace as follows:

• observing or participating in practice under the Mental Health Act such as assessment for detention, Community Treatment Order or completing a Tribunal report; or
• observing or participating in practice under the Mental Capacity Act such as an assessment of capacity or a best interests decision, with opportunity to reflect on that practice in supervision; and
• the opportunity to reflect on the practice in supervision.

In this context, a “best interests decision” refers to general practice under the Mental Capacity Act, rather than specific practice under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Candidates intending to undertake AMHP training must observe an assessment for detention.

Students should expect to dedicate around 200 hours to studying the module; this includes the taught sessions, the shadowing experience and supervision and time spent writing the assignment. There is an expectation that all students will undertake guided reading between the taught sessions. Students sponsored by employers should confirm with their managers the amount of study leave they will be granted.

The module is taught at level six (6-equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree) and at level seven (7-PG).

Indicators for choosing the level 6 module would be:-

• no previous experience of graduate level study,
• a pre-study opportunity to prepare for the AMHP training
• not having a degree
• not having undertaken academic study recently
• having a desire to develop existing skills at this level.

The module code for this level is Module 6SO016.

Cost

The level 6 fee for 2022/2023 is £799.00 (Applicants sponsored by their employer or L.A.- please discuss this with the module leader)

Indicators for choosing the level 7 module would be:-

• Previous experience of graduate level study
• Having an under-graduate degree or other Masters level degree
• A progressive aspect of continuing professional development
• A pre-study opportunity to prepare for the AMHP training

Cost

The level 7 fee is £799.00 (Applicants sponsored by their employer or L.A.- please discuss this with the module leader)

Taught Sessions:

The sessions are taught from 9.30am to 3.30pm, and will run on the following dates:-

Academic Year 2022/2023

(Provisional)

• 05.12.22
• 12.12.22
• Holiday 26.12.22 & 02.01.23
• 09.01.23
• 16.01.23
• 23.01.23
• 30.01.23
• 06.02.23
• 23.02.23

 Practice under the Mental Health Act (83/07) will cover the following areas:

• Definition of “mental disorder”
• Detaining sections (s2, s3, s4)
• Grounds and procedures for obtaining warrants (s135) & police powers under s136

Practice under the Mental Capacity Act (2005) will cover the following areas:

• Assessing mental capacity
• Best interests decisions (s4)
• Decision makers
• Sections 5 and 6 acts

Themes of risk management and values will be integrated within the sessions.

There will also be a strong focus on meeting requirements of the Human Rights Act (1998) and the developing concept of a deprivation of liberty.

There will be the opportunity to learn about different models of mental health and mental capacity.

There will be workshops on various aspects of good academic practice.

Assessed task

This level six and level seven module:

Mental Health option: a critical account of specific practice under the Mental Health Act 1983 (3000 words); or Mental capacity option: a critical account of specific practice under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (3000 words).

Candidates looking to follow the level seven post-graduate route will be expected to consider the depth of analysis and criticality during their assessed work in order to demonstrate their post-graduate abilities.

Students will be strongly directed towards the assessed task most appropriate to the career development pathway. Where students have no immediate plan to progress initially to either BIA or AMHP modules they will be able to choose their preferred task.

Venue:

The module will be taught in two mediums. Firstly, some of the tutorials and exercises will be delivered virtually and the lectures will be taught at City Campus in Wolverhampton. Maps of and directions to city campus are available from www.wlv.ac.uk (About Us- Contacts and maps).

The website gives details about reaching campus by public transport and you can also find out from the University website about our free bus service from Telford, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The website gives information about public car parks in the city centre.

Once at city campus, the letters of the room indicate the building (e.g. MX building). The first number of a room indicates the floor of the building (e.g. MX112 is on the first floor). For up to date details, go on to the University website (www.wlv.ac.uk Current Students; Personal Resources; University timetable; Module information for 2021/22: enter 6so016 as the module code.)

How do I apply?

Candidates need to apply to the University using the on-line application form available on the University website.

• You should consider carefully the level at which you are able or prefer to study and apply for the appropriate course.
  
  
• Candidates will be required to submit confirmation of the learning opportunities by an agency reference form. The sponsoring agency (e.g. local authority or health body) will need to complete the reference form, which can be obtained from the course co-ordinator and from the University webpage for applications (see below). The form must be uploaded at the same time as the on-line application form. Applications not accompanied by a fully completed agency reference form will be refused.

To make your online application you will either need to:

1) Set-up a ‘New Account’ if you have not studied with the University of Wolverhampton before or;

2) Log-in to an ‘Existing Account’ if you have studied at the University of Wolverhampton before and know your E:Vision username and password (the ‘forgotten password’ link can be used if you have an E:Vision account already).

Please ensure you complete all fields of the online application form including uploading evidence of your qualification(s) and then submit your application for consideration. Please keep your E:Vision log-in details safe for future use.

Candidates sponsored by a local authority or health body need not complete the personal statement. Once you have completed the on-line application form, this will be considered by a course leader. You will receive an email confirmation of the submission. Further communications will detail information of any offer made.

Please remember that a “conditional offer” means you have to do something (such as provide evidence of your qualifications) so that your offer is made “unconditional”. The email will tell you what you need to do in order to get an unconditional offer. You should accept the conditional offer while you are providing the required evidence or information.

If you have been offered a place on the course you will need to accept the offer of this place via E:Vision. If you do not complete this essential task a place will not be reserved for you on the course. You will receive no further contact from Admissions until you accept your conditional or unconditional offer.