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UCC CPD courses

Advanced Assessment Skills in Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice NU6172

Course Fact File
CodeNU6172
DurationJanuary 2025 - March 2025
Teaching ModePart-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
Fees€1,300 See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date02/12/2024
Credits15
Start Date06/01/2025

Outline

Module Objective: To develop the competencies necessary to therapeutically engage with people and their family, friends and/or supporters within the context of a holistic mental health assessment & to learn to identify appropriate, evidence-based approaches when working with people who experience mental distress. An emphasis will be placed on the importance of applying theory to inform therapeutic skills, advanced assessment strategies, formulation of shared treatment goals, and effective inter-disciplinary communication in a clinical context.

Module Content: Advanced assessment skills: use of effective communication and engagement skills, bio-psycho-social-spiritual and cultural assessment, integration of recovery principles, standardised methods and tools of assessment, strengths based assessment, multi-disciplinary assessment, risk assessment, recovery assessment ,understanding the application, meaning and impact of diagnosis & working with medication. Formulation of collaborative treatment plan, presentation skills and multi-disciplinary working. This module will also examine attitudes values and responses towards people who experience mental distress and will examine the involvement of different agencies and family, friends and/or supporters in caring with the person who experiences mental distress.

Content in this module incorporates assessment approaches and interventions in the following areas: 

  • Trauma informed care
  • Strengths based assessment, power threat meaning framework 
  • Substance misuse and dual diagnosis
  • Shared decision making and medication management
  • Self-harm and suicide
  • Bio-psycho-social assessment and diagnosis


Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a high level of competence in the application of theoretical knowledge to clinical practice.
  • Develop a successful therapeutic relationship through the use of advanced interpersonal skills and a critical awareness of the process involved in assessing, collaborating with, and advocating for people who experience mental distress in a clinical context.
  • Execute a comprehensive mental health assessment & develop collaborative care plans which includes family, friends and/or supporters.
  • Discriminate and select assessment strategies, methods and tools in terms of reliability, validity, specificity, and which are appropriate and sensitive to the person, situation, setting, and context.
  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of a range of research-based psychosocial and pharmacological interventions that are effective in meeting the needs of people who experience mental distress and may enable them to enhance their self-management skills.
  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of the principles, values and beliefs which underpin and guide the diverse range of assessment frameworks.
  • Consider the specific needs of marginalised groups within the assessment process and advocating for their needs in a clinical context and work with a person’s family, friends and/or supporters.
  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of the different perspectives around mental health and distress and of the central importance of service users and family, friends and/or supporters experiences and perspectives.
  • Document and present assessments and collaborative treatment plans for people with complex needs.

Additional Teaching Mode Information

24hr(s) Lectures (and Workshops); 48hr(s) Directed Study (Supported Learning); 276hr(s) Other (Distance Learning; Discussion Board Preparation and Participation, Required Reading, Assignment Preparation and Submission, Self-Directed Learning).

Schedule:

  • 6/1/25 09.00-16.00
  • 20/1/25 09.00-16.00
  • 27/01/25 09.00-16.00
  • 10/2/25 09.00-16.00
  • 3/3/25 Study week and submission of final assignment. 

Dates are subject to slight changes

Requirements

Fees and Costs

€1,300

How To Apply

To apply for this module click the Apply Now button.  Once you have created your profile you can start your application by selecting the option below:

  • Gather any additional documents required (including a passport-style photo), copy of your degree parchment if not a previous UCC graduate.
  • The full module fee of €1,300 will be payable on submission of your application.

Apply Now

Contact Details

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