Mental Health in Children and Young People

We’ve designed this course in the context of present challenges in working with young people and families in supporting positive mental health.

You will address issues at an advanced practical level, such as how to identify wellbeing concerns, as well as how organisations can understand their role in supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing.

You will look into support offered to children and young people with identified needs and how provision is designed, monitored, evaluated and implemented as well as developing a preventative approach to meeting need. We will also focus on emerging issues within mental health, ensuring that you are at the forefront of practice nationally and internationally.

The course will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, with three elements that focus on theory, practice and research in mental health that are integrated into each module. You will explore a range of evidence-based practice in early intervention methods for promoting emotional wellbeing. We also make sure there is plenty of focus on employability and progression within the area of mental health in education and social care, which will include one-to-one support for individual career planning.

There will be a chance to personalise your assessments throughout the course, with negotiated tasks linked to your own strengths to evidence the course outcomes.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have the skills, knowledge, and experience to make a positive impact on the mental health of children and young people.

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Mental Health in Context

This module will examine policy, current context, issues, and debates. You will critically analyse the present strategy in developing and responding to the mental health needs of children and young people. You will develop a deep level of understanding of how mental health strategy has been developed by the government and how other guidance links into this emerging area.

Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Needs

This module will examine the different social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. Young people and children who have a SEMH need often have severe difficulties in managing emotions and behaviour, the causes and triggers to these will be explored. SEMH does not have to be a lifelong condition and with appropriate support and intervention, children and young people can move forward and live successful lives. The types of support at a universal and early intervention level will be studied. There will also be a focus on the key mental health needs of anxiety and depression.

Research Methods

There will be a range of research methods covered and the module will explore the issues linked to research in mental health with children and young people. You will learn how to develop research proposals for your chosen dissertation option and be introduced to the relevant skills and resources to complete your project.

Dissertation

You will have a choice of either an empirical dissertation, systematic literature review, or work-based project linked to a research interest in mental health.

Option specialist modules

Individual Intervention Strategies in Practice

This module will focus on developing your own practice with children and young people using evidence-based intervention strategies in SEMH. These will include using motivational interviewing and mentoring techniques, cognitive behaviour strategies, stress management,  anxiety reduction, mindfulness, art-based interventions and other therapeutic style practice.

Family Intervention Strategies in Practice

This module will focus on developing your own practice with working with families using evidence-based intervention and support strategies. This will include learning how families can be strengthened through practice and support strategies which can be used across a  range of settings. There is a practical focus on intervention including assessing needs and building resilience in families with children and young people with SEMH needs.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Practice

This module will focus on developing your practice with children and young people who have a special educational need or disability using evidence-based strategies linked to their SEMH needs. This will include investigating different SEN including those of children with autism,  ADHD and specific learning difficulties. Identification, assessment and intervention-linked SEMH will be examined in practice.

Safeguarding and Supervision in Practice

This module will focus on the safeguarding needs of children and young people who have SEMH needs, including the impact of SEN, vulnerable families and child sexual or economic exploitation. There will also be an opportunity to investigate the impact on a child or young person of a parent or family member who has mental health needs and who has the types of support strategies which are effective. The practice of safeguarding within a setting will be examined and best practice methods evaluated.

Course Structure

The day for both the full-time and part-time route is on a Thursday. If you choose to study full-time, you will be on campus one day per week from 9.00am - 7.00pm – this will incorporate a morning, afternoon and evening session. If you decide to study this course on a part-time basis, you will be on campus for part of the day. However, for both routes you may need to be available for other points in the year for assessments and tutorials outside of a Thursday.

This course structure is challenging if you are undertaking significant work-based commitments alongside your study, and you will need to make sure you have the time to complete the necessary independent study needed for the course. We recommend the part-time route if you have other significant commitments outside of the course.

Course Structure: Full-time, one year course 

Course Structure: Part-time, two year course

Year 1

Year 2

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

• high quality teaching
• an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
• a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

• Student Involvement and Engagement
• Inclusion
• Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
• Digital Literacy and Skills
• Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

• Personalised support
• Expert lecturers
• Strong connections with employers
• An international outlook
• Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Assessment

We use a range of assessment methods throughout the course, giving you the opportunity to draw on your professional experience as well as  our academic learning.

These include

• formal written essays
• case study reports
• development of an SEMH intervention
• research proposal
• research critique
• cost-benefit evaluations
• reflective portfolio
• online seminars
• a major research project (dissertation). 

Additional support in the form  of online tutorials, and one-to-one support is provided to ensure all students, from all backgrounds, are able to develop the skills needed to successfully complete assessments at Masters level.

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

We welcome applicants with the following qualifications and experience:

• A good (2:2 or above) BA or BSc degree in a relevant area. 

• • You will need to be working or willing to take up work/volunteer in a relevant setting working with children or young people around emotional wellbeing and developing positive mental health in a universal manner,

OR

• You will usually need to have three months’ experience of ongoing engagement with groups of children and young people. You need to show this in your application form in both your personal statement and work record. One of your references must be from this work with children. Your personal statement is a key tool that we use to assess your application.

• If you will be required to undertake a placement as part of your course, you will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

• Minimum English Language entry requirements: IELTS Academic 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in any component) or equivalent

          Exceptions:

          You do not need to provide evidence of your English Language if any of the following conditions apply:

• You're a UK national
• You're a national from a majority English speaking country as specified by the UKVI Student visa : Knowledge of English - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• You've completed a degree either in the UK or in a majority English speaking country as specified by the UKVI

Please contact us for personalised advice on 0113 283 7123 or at admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

UK Home Students:

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your tuition fees.

International Students, including EU Students:

Visit our web page for international students.

Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount

Some Leeds Trinity graduates are eligible for a tuition fee discount on postgraduate courses of up to 50%, excluding PGCE Provider-led, School Direct or SCIT courses and Masters by Research courses. You will need to achieve a 2:2 or above in a Leeds Trinity undergraduate course to qualify.

There is no official closing date for applications, but the course will be closed when it is full. We therefore encourage you to make your application as early as possible.

Please ensure you complete the application form in full and supply all the required supporting documentation when you make your initial application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.

If you need advice on your application, please contact our admissions team on 0113 283 7123 (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm) or admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Home Applicants - How to apply

Applicants who require a Student Route Visa

If you require a Student Route Visa in order to study in the UK, then you must apply to us by Wednesday 31 May 2023. You must also meet all the conditions of your offer and present all supporting documentation required for the visa application no later than Friday 30 June 2023. Part-time study is not available for international students on a Student Route Visa.

International Applicants - How to apply

What happens next?

Our admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. Where applications are submitted but references are still in progress, admissions will wait for the reference(s) to be received and then will process it, and forward to the relevant Programme Leader within five days of receipt of the reference(s).

The Programme Leader will make a decision based on your application. You may be asked to provide a reference to demonstrate your academic and non-academic experiences, or you may be invited to attend an interview. If you are successful and made an offer, the conditions will be outlined in your offer letter. 

Applications will be acknowledged within five working days. Applicants will be contacted within 15 working days with a request for additional information, invite to an informal interview or an application decision.

Made an offer?

You should accept or decline your offer by emailing admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.

You may be asked to present the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student information point on campus, if originals are not needed you’ll be contacted and given details of how to provide the supporting documentation.