Certificated BTEC Award for Mental Health

How to gain the award

To gain the award candidates must:
1. Attend three one day workshops (1 per week over 3 weeks).
2. Pass a short written assessment at the end of each day.

Course Content

This BTEC award is made up of 3 units. For detailed information on each please select a unit.

Unit 1 - Understanding Dementia

This unit looks at the range of organic brain disorders known collectively as 'dementia'. The unit will outline the prevalence, symptoms and treatment of dementia, and learners will develop new and existing skills in working with clients in residential care and community settings.

Learning Outcomes
To achieve this unit a student must:
1. Describe main symptoms, prevalence and treatments for dementia.
2. Recognise effects on sufferers, families and carers.
3. Demonstrate ability to use safe, effective interpersonal skills in caring for dementia sufferers.

Unit 2 Mental Disorder and the Older Person

This unit looks at the major functional mental health disorders affecting older people with a particular emphasis on recognising clinical depression and anxiety among this client group. It will enable care staff to identify common mental disorders, demonstrate key interpersonal skills in caring for this client group, and will cover basic elements of pharmacology in relation to common drug treatments for older people, with an emphasis on recognising common side-effects and developing awareness of the relevant legislation pertinent to residential and community settings.

Learning Outcomes
To achieve this unit a student must:
1. Recognise the definition and symptoms of clinical depression and anxiety within the older population.
2. Identify relevant legislation regarding the administration and storage of medicines within residential and community settings.
3. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills to help depressed and anxious older people.

Unit 3 Promoting Positive Behaviour

This unit looks at the behaviours most likely to be seen as 'challenging' for both staff and other clients in residential and home care settings, and will enable care staff to identify problems, assess possible causes and design effective, client-centred care plans and interventions to promote more positive behaviours and improve the quality of life for both clients and those around them.

Learning Outcomes
To achieve this unit a student must:
1. Identify 'challenging' behaviours that older people may present in a variety of care settings.
2. Describe factors that may adversely or positively affect the behaviour of clients.
3. Design relevant interventions and care plans to prevent problems arising, and promote positive behaviours where problems have been identified