GCert/PGCert in Brief Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions for the Education Setting; EMHP training

This is a new workforce being developed to promote mental health and wellbeing in schools and to provide brief therapeutic interventions directly within the education setting (e.g. schools and colleges) for:

  •  children and adolescents with mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression
  • parents of children experiencing anxiety disorders or behavioural difficulties.

Applicants will be offered full-time employment (usually for a minimum of one year) with a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) with training links to the University. While undertaking training at the University trainees will be working in service with their employing MHST. Following successful completion of the programme, students are expected to be employed by the MHST for a minimum of one year post training. To meet the requirements of the programme trainees will require consistent access to suitable cases throughout the training period.

For services operating Agenda for Change (AfC) banding, the staff grade will be Band 4.

MHSTs employing students on the EMHP training programme will be responsible for ensuring:

  •  Appropriate supervision, leadership, and resources are in place for workplace-based learning that supports the training (more details below)
  •  Statutory and Mandatory training, including Safeguarding Children Level 3 training, is provided to the trainees by the organisation.
  • Clinical Skills and Case Management Supervision are provided by appropriately qualified staff throughout the programme, and that supervision continues after the programme is over to help practitioners consolidate their new skills.
  • Trainees can video record their clinical sessions for the purposes of supervision and University assessment
  • Trainees are given protected time to prepare for supervision and for study and skills development
  • Trainees are collecting routine outcome measures for all CYP seen.
Entry requirements
Postgraduate Diploma in Brief Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions for the Education Setting (EMHP)
Academic

 

Essential

·        Honours Degree graded at 2.2 or above

  • If a candidate has a degree graded 2.3, they will be asked to provide evidence of successful study at Level 6 or equivalent and be required to pass a pre-entry essay, marked at Masters level prior to acceptance on the training programme.
  • Good solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2
  • Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.

Desirable

  • Relevant Honours Degree (e.g. psychology, mental health, sociology, education etc.) graded at 2.2 or above.
Experience Essential

·        Knowledge of the educational system in England

  • A minimum of one year’s experience of working with children and young people

Desirable

·        Experience of working with children and their families in a mental health setting

·        Experience of working with children and their families in an education setting

·        Experience of working with looked after children or other vulnerable groups of CYP

Attributes ·        Ability to study as a self-motivated learner who can formulate their own progress towards learning objectives

  • Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills

·        Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post

NOTE:

·        Students cannot be accepted onto any training programme if they are currently undertaking studies elsewhere.

  • We do not accept candidates who have previously studied for the same award at another institution.
  • We are currently not allowed to accept candidates who have completed the CWP (previously WP for CYP) programme.
  • The University of Reading has a requirement that candidates who have English as an additional language (EAL) have achieved a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. (Further information available on University of Reading website)

 

Graduate Diploma in Brief Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions for the Education Setting (EMHP)
Academic

 

  • Will not hold an Honours degree or may hold a degree of Third Class Honours standard or below;
  • Evidence of ability to study at Level 6 (i.e. previous successful study at level 5; or successful part completion of an Honours degree – level 6).  Please note, an academic reference may be sought;
  • Note that candidates who hold an Honours degree of 2.2 or above should apply for the Postgraduate route;
  • Good solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2;
  • Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.

 

Experience Essential

·        Knowledge of the educational system in England

  • A minimum of one year’s experience of working with children and young people

Desirable

·        Experience of working with children and their families in a mental health setting

·        Experience of working with children and their families in an education setting

·        Experience of working with looked after children or other vulnerable groups of CYP

Attributes ·        Ability to study as a self-motivated learner who can formulate their own progress towards learning objectives

  • Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills

·        Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post

NOTE:

  • Students cannot be accepted onto any training programme if they are currently undertaking studies elsewhere.
  • We do not accept candidates who have previously studied for the same award at another institution.
  • We are currently not allowed to accept candidates who have completed the CWP (previously WP for CYP) programme.
  • The University of Reading has a requirement that candidates who have English as an additional language (EAL) have achieved a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. (Further information available on University of Reading website)
Course structure
  • The programme comprises six modules, as follows:
    • Module 1: Fundamental Principles for Working with Children and Young People (PY3FPC/PYMFPC)
    • Module 2: Engagement and Assessment of Common Mental Health Problems in Children and Young People (PY3EAC/PYMEAC)
    • Module 3: Evidence-based Low Intensity Interventions for Children and Young People presenting with Common Mental Health Problems (PY3LIC/PYMLIC)
    • Module 4: Working, Assessing and Engaging in Education Settings (PY3WES/PYMWES)
    • Module 5: Common Problems and Processes in Education Settings (PY3PES/PYMPES)
    • Module 6: Interventions for Emerging Mental Health Difficulties in Education Settings (PY3IES/PYMIES)
  • Succesful completion of the programme provides 120 Degree/120 Masters Level credits, which equates to a Graduate/Postgraduate Diploma.
  • Training will be a combination of face-to-face teaching, remote online teaching, and university-directed independent learning sessions.
  • Trainees’ academic performance will be assessed in numerous ways including in-class tests, recordings of clinical sessions, and written work comprising reflective analyses, case reports and presentations, and a portfolio of academic and clinical work completed during the programme.
  • Trainees’ clinical competence will be assessed in two ways. First, by the programme team via recordings of clinical assessment and intervention sessions. Second, by workplace supervisors.
  • There is mandatory attendance at a 1-day induction at the University of Reading in September 2021.
  • Teaching begins late September 2021 with a series of teaching blocks that will comprise 3-4 days of live teaching and 1-2 days of university-directed independent learning. During the course of training the proportion of time spent in practice on placement increases, and attendance at university decreases.
  • Most teaching and university-directed learning sessions will take place Monday – Wednesdays between 09:30-16:30 during term time (other than during the initial teaching block).
  • Univeristy-directed learning sessions will include opportunities for self practice/self reflection.
  • Trainees will receive weekly case management supervision and fortnightly clinical skills supervision in the workplace provided by CYP MH trained supervisors.
  • Individual and group tutorials will be offered throughout the duration of the training for all students.
  • A range of University-level student support services will be available to trainees (e.g., study skills support), and access to these services will be actively encouraged by the programme team.
Workplace commitment and materials
  • Employing services must provide all trainees with recording equipment (capable of three functions; recording of multiple uninterrupted 1 hour-long sessions without battery change, quick review of sessions either on the recording device or a laptop, and the download of recordings in a secure manner).
  • All trainees require permissions from employing service to submit course requirements securely via One Drive/Teams.
  • All trainees need to have planned access to appropriate cases to start late November 2021.
  • Access to the following texts for use with clients:
    • The Incredible Years: A Trouble–shooting Guide for Parents of Children Aged 3-8 years 3rd edition. Carolyn Webster–Stratton (2019) (or 2nd edition 2006)
    • Helping your Child with Fears and Worries. Cathy Creswell & Lucy Willetts (2019)
    • Brief Behavioural Activation for Adolescent Depression. A Clinician’s Session – by – Session Guide Paperback Shirley Reynolds & Laura Pass (2020)
What to expect

The EMHP programme offers an exciting opportunity to learn about evidence-based approaches for working with children, young people, and their families in education settings. It also offers a great opportunity to make new friends and meet lots of new people undertaking the same training.

Although there are scheduled directed study days, you will need to allocate some of your own time for extra work. It is likely that you will need to spend several hours per week on programme-related work, including carrying out additional reading, role-playing clinical practice, completing academic assignments, and preparing for supervision. The EMHP training is a Graduate (Degree) or Postgraduate (Masters) level programme, which requires students to use their own initative to identify useful resources and carry out an appropriate amount of revision

As well as being rewarding, it can be a challenging year having to juggle the competing demands of coursework, workplace commitments, and home-life. Getting the right balance between these three important areas can be tricky at times. The course team is there to help ensure students maximise opportunities for learning and provide support where needed. We hope you enjoy your time with us.

Requirements to pass the course

The programme is provided with 120 Degree/120 Masters Level credits which equates to a Graduate/Postgraduate Diploma. The difference in the two routes reflects the academic component involved.

Students undertaking the Postgraduate route must achieve a mark of at least 50% to pass academic assessments, whilst those undertaking the Graduate route must achieve a mark of at least 40% (i.e. in-class test, essay, case report and the reflective analyses). Both Gradute and Postgraduate students must achieve a mark of at least 50% to pass clinical assessments (i.e. recordings of assessment and intervention sessions) with no auto-fails recorded (e.g. unsatisfactory or omission of risk assessment). In addition, all supervisor assessments and portfolios must be deemed to be at pass standard.

Trainees are expected to attend 100% of face-to-face teaching and university-directed learning sessions. If a live teaching session is missed (e.g. due to illness), students will be required to watch a video recording of the session and / or complete missed activities (with the support of a programme tutor). Ideally, this will take place before the end of the corresponding module. If a university-directed learning day is missed, students will be required to complete the session before the end of the corresponding module. In cases where a trainee needs to complete a university-directed learning session on a day that is different to the one stated in the programme timetable, this must be agreed by both the Univeristy and the trainee’s placement coordinator in advance. If more than 20% of attendence in any one module is missed, the student will need to attend the respective missed teaching with another cohort, which may affect graduation and employment. In addition to the requirements already outlined, trainees must meet the required number of supervision hours for passing the programme.

Contact Us

  • cwi@reading.ac.uk

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