Key points
• Gain post-qualifying social work awards up to the PQSW Advanced Award.
• Benefit from a course designed to support you in your workplace.
• Apply theoretical learning to your work practice.
• Study and share experiences with other health and social care professionals.

Gain an understanding of mental health practice as it relates to your specialism on a course thats designed for a range of health and social care professionals including • mental health practitioners • registered social workers • occupational therapists • nurses • midwives working in areas of mental health.

You combine academic qualifications with post-qualifying social work (PQSW) awards. Each level of study includes a corresponding-level PQSW award.

• The postgraduate certificate includes the PQSW Consolidation.
• The postgraduate diploma includes the PQSW Higher Specialist Award.
• The masters includes PQSW Advanced Award.

You learn how to work effectively and confidently within the current legal and policy framework. We focus on social perspectives and the contributions of service users and carers. This enables you to contribute to local and national practice and policy development.

The course has been designed to be flexible to support you in your workplace. This means you can study at a pace that suits you and your employer. We also base your learning on your own work experiences, so the knowledge you gain relates directly to the day-to-day challenges you face.

Our assessments require you to apply theoretical learning to your work practice, and include • presentations • vivas • reviews • written reports and essays. These may involve you researching or implementing a work-based change or development and receiving feedback from it. You have the support of our staff and your peers, as you complete these projects.

For some modules, you need a workplace supervisor or manager to support you. You must organise this before beginning the course.

A key focus of the course is the reflection on your own and others’ professional development. You regularly review your development needs, and the planning and management of strategies for further learning and progression.

You benefit from studying with other health and social care professionals by learning from their experiences, knowledge and best practice. You also build ongoing relationships that will support you in your future career.

Study individual modules
You can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.