Advanced Therapeutic, Mental & Physical Health Skills for Mental Health Practitioners

This module is designed to assist RMNs to develop experience and enhanced competencies to enable them to work within inpatient community and specialist mental health services. It will aim to increase the knowledge and physical health skills of mental health nurses and mental health practitioners and will assist them in making accurate assessments using therapeutic approaches to caring for patients in a mental health setting.

The module aims to empower staff to make clinically sound decisions with regards to identifying and managing physical health skills across the life span.

Students will be encouraged to critically examine their roles within their own professional practice areas. This will contribute to their general understanding of the gap in knowledge of physical health skills required to care for patients with mental health needs. On completion of this module the student will have gained a greater understanding of their role in the multi professional team and their contribution to person centred care. Students will enhance their consultation and assessment skills.

Their problem solving, negotiation and study skills will be evidenced through the compilation of a practice based portfolio. The transferable skills of analysis and patient centred consultations gained whilst working within the multi professional team will be vital for their ongoing career progression and role development. The analytical and assessment skills gained are life-long tools that will enhance both their practice and ability to undertake further academic study.