PGCert Higher Specialist Work in Mental Health Services (AMHP)PGCert

The programme is founded on a flourishing partnership between the Department of Social Work and Social Care and nineteen local authorities (and their partner trusts) across England. Our partner agencies are fully involved in the processes of selection, programme delivery and assessment.

The programmes have a record of innovation – for example, in recruiting nurses and occupational therapists onto AMHP training – and have been consistently highly evaluated both by course participants and managers within the partner agencies and by successive accrediting bodies.

Over the years a teaching team has been developed with extensive experience of delivery on AMHP and other mental health programmes throughout the country. The team is involved in research and service innovation within the area, which is multi-disciplinary in its professional background and includes a number of practising AMHPs. The programme is run on a modular basis with different patterns of contact.

Assessment

Assessment on all modules is by assessment of practice competence as detailed below.

Successful completion of Stage 1 and Stage 2 qualifies candidates for the award of the Qualifying Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Specialist Work in Mental Health Services (Approved Mental Health Professional) and makes you eligible for appointment as an AMHP.

Successful completion of Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 enables candidates to apply for the MA Advanced Practice in Higher Specialist Work in Mental Health Services (Approved Mental Health Professional).

All assessment within the programme involves assessment of work-based performance. Initial Assessment is by a Practice Mentor Assessor and the work is subsequently verified by assessment by two independent members of the Verification and Assessment Panel of the Partnership. Members of this panel also serve on the Board of Examiners for Post-Qualifying Programmes in the Department of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Birmingham. Training and Development Staff, Practice Mentor Assessors and Carers and Service Managers are all represented on both the Panel and the Board of Examiners.

Practice Mentor Assessors must be registered practitioners in social work, nursing or occupational therapy or chartered psychologists with qualified AMHP experience. Ideally, they will also be either qualified Practice Educators or have undertaken Stage 3 of the Programme. Practice Mentor Assessors wishing to undertake either Stage 3 of the AMHP Programme or Practice Education (Stage 1 or 2) may apply to do so whilst supervising and assessing their AMHP candidate.

At the core of the training is the modules taken on Stage 2 (AMHP Qualifying Training). Each is assessed by consideration of a portfolio based upon analyses of a minimum of three assessments for compulsory detention, within which they have taken a significant role. At least one of these case analyses must be supported by a report of direct observation of their practice and all three by a critical reflection of their own overall practice and a Practice Mentor Assessor’s report on their achievement of the competences associated with each module.

The assessment of each of these three modules is based upon demonstration of the 35 units of competence within The Mental Health (Approved Mental Health Professionals) (Approval) (England) Regulations 2008 which were laid before Parliament on 7th May 2008.

Stage one

Stage two

Stage three

Candidates applying for AMHP training must be supported by their employers and seconded to the training. Employers must agree to provide a Practice Mentor Assessor and an appropriate Practice Learning Placement.

Applicants require at least 2 years post-qualifying experience in the mental health sector.

Applicants for Stage 1 of the programme must hold a recognised professional qualification in social work, nursing, occupational therapy or psychology. They must be a registered social worker, nurse, occupational therapist or chartered psychologist and be nominated by a local authority, NHS Trust or other employer.

Applicants need to demonstrate that they are already working at the level of responsibility and with the level of complexity appropriate for entry onto AMHP qualifying training.

All candidates will receive support from both a Practice Mentor Assessor and from their Training and Development Officer. A learning agreement underpins that support. They will also receive all the support provided to Registered Students by the University of Birmingham as set out in the Student Charter

Any special needs arising from disabilities, dyslexia etc. will be identified at application and arrangements between the University and agencies will be made for meeting those needs as appropriate.

Entry to Stage 2 (AMHP Qualifying Training) will be contingent upon successful completion of Stage 1 and the employing authority’s agreement to provide suitable opportunities to demonstrate the required competences. Completion of Stage 1 is designed to ensure that only those suitable and with appropriate mental health experience commence AMHP training.

This course is not suitable for overseas applicants, as it focuses on mental health law applicable to England and Wales.

The module fees per candidate for the 24/25 academic year are £1090 for Stage 1, £3,270 for Stage 2 and £1090 for Stage 3. If an organisation sends multiple candidates, a discount is applied on a sliding scale dependent on the number of candidates enrolling on the course (please contact us for further details). Self-funding candidates must still be supported by their employers who must agree to provide a Practice Mentor Assessor and an appropriate Practice Learning Placement.

Contact us at pqmentalhealth@contacts.bham.ac.uk for any further general information about the programme.

Please note that we are not able to accept individual applications that have not been approved by your employing authority or trust as their involvement is necessary to ensure that appropriate practice opportunities and in-house support are available to you. For details about the local application process you will need to speak to the AMHP Training lead in your employing authority.