Introduction

The curriculum for the interdisciplinary specialisation programme in Mental Health Care at Telemark University College follows the national curriculum and regulations for the specialisation programme in Mental Health Care, which were established 1 December 2005 by the Ministry of Education and Research.

The curriculum is essentially understood as the student’s contract with the teaching facility, and includes a description of the key elements, content and requirements of the study programme.

The study programme will enable students to develop professional competence consisting of theoretical knowledge, personal skills and job-specific skills.

Mental health and mental health care constitute the overarching concepts in the study programme. Mental health care complements professional medical psychiatry with a social science approach. Mental health care involves providing services for people affected by mental health problems, and emphasises the active participation of patients, users and families in the formulation of the provision of health care, including treatment, prevention and health promotion. The needs of users dictate which services are offered. The study programme uses, focuses on and balances central knowledge sources in the field, such as user experience, clinical expertise and research-based knowledge.

Target Group and Admission Requirements

The target group are professionals who hold a Bachelor’s degree in health or social studies and work directly or indirectly with mental health care, who wish to develop their skills in working with people affected by mental health problems.

To gain admission to the study programme, applicants must hold a three-year degree in health and social studies and have at least one year of relevant postgraduate professional experience. Applicants with other relevant educational qualifications and practical experience may also apply. The study programme is not open to external candidates.

Aim of the Programme

The aim of the study programme is to educate competent and critically reflective mental health care professionals.

The study programme qualifies candidates for positions in mental health care at all levels of health care services. After graduation, the candidate will be qualified to provide professional help and care for people affected by mental health problems, and contribute to professional, interdisciplinary and inter-departmental cooperation.

The learning outcome descriptions are placed on the second cycle level of the National Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (established by the Ministry of Education, 15 December 2011), in order to provide the option for further studies and recognition by other colleges and universities. The study programme in mental health care can therefore, where students fulfil other admission criteria, constitute the equivalent of 60 ECTS credits (total 120 ECTS credits) in a Master’s degree program in mental health care at the University of Agder. Students may also apply for equivalency in relation to other Master’s degrees at other educational institutions in Norway.

Learning outcome

After successfully completing the study program, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has thorough knowledge of:

• Various theoretical models of mental health and illness
• Policy guidelines, organisation and challenges
• Participation, empowerment and user perspectives in mental health care
• Explanatory models and methods of treatment in the field of practical training
• Research and development processes.

Skills:

The candidate can:

• Develop insights into the phenomena of mental health and illness through methodological analysis of their own or others’ experiences
• Apply theoretical knowledge when interacting with patients, clients and their families, and colleagues
• Work independently in their professional role in relation to practical, relational, theoretical and ethical challenges
• Conduct research or professional development projects under supervision.

General competence

The candidate can:

• Apply their knowledge and skills when establishing relationships with people who are struggling with mental health problems and illness
• Plan, implement and evaluate integrated services
• Contribute to professional innovation.

Curriculum and structure

The study programme is a part-time course of two years’ duration, organized into one-week workshops with four to five meetings per semester. In addition, students are responsible for organizing their own studies; in total, the part-time study programme comprises 20 hours of study per week.

The study programme is organized into four courses, comprising 15 ECTS credits each. Courses 1 and 2 correspond to the national curriculum’s shared foundation, and courses 3 and 4 constitute an interdisciplinary specialization in psychosocial work.

Internationalization

Telemark University College collaborates with universities and colleges abroad and has entered into a number of exchange agreements. The Department of Health Studies has a comprehensive programme for international activities. The specialisation programme in Mental Health Care provides students with the opportunity of completing part of their practical training in course three abroad. Students who wish to take parts of their study abroad must demonstrate acceptable progression in the study programme and participate in obligatory courses in connection with internationalisation.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The study programme’s knowledge foundation is based on science and research, health professionals’ experiences, and the personal experiences of clients, patients and families (evidence-based practice). The study programme emphasises the fact that knowledge acquisition and development and personal development involve multifaceted activities that require different didactic approaches. Creating a learning environment that develops students’ ability to reflect on and critically evaluate their own learning is emphasised. Learning requires the active involvement of students and teachers, and the student takes responsibility for their own learning.

With the aim of clarifying the knowledge that is embodied in one’s own experiences, the study programme takes as its starting point the students’ own situational descriptions of key phenomena in mental health and illness. In working with their own experiences, students will apply scientific knowledge related to the phenomenon under investigation. User-orientation, expertise and research are presented in the resource lectures and classroom instruction, and will be discussed, examined, analysed and questioned in light of current research and development.

Students will acquire and process knowledge through self-study, in study groups and by working with course requirements. They will be divided into study groups that will be assigned a supervisor. Work in study groups will be organized mainly by the students themselves.
In practical training studies in the municipal or specialist health services, the development of students’ practical skills will be emphasised, and will be honed through role playing and guidance. During the practical training, supervision of groups will be aimed at reflecting on the students professional practices.

All the instruction and organized supervision is necessary to achieve the learning outcomes of the courses. Organized learning activities will complement the syllabus literature and illuminate other perspectives, relevant topics and methods. Both scientific understanding and evidence-based knowledge is central to the learning activities and outcomes. It is expected that the students will primarily acquire factual knowledge independently, and thus be prepared for reflection and joint discussions.

The study programme uses ICT and e-learning as tools for instruction, guidance, information provision, student collaboration and the submission of student work. Students must have access to computers and the Internet.

Theory and Practical Training

Clinical practice is placed in course three: Mental Health Care: Practical Training, and is organized as a continuous 10-week period. Students will especially have the opportunity to develop their relational and clinical expertise during their practical training.

Telemark University College has agreements with Telemark Hospital Health Trust for a given number of internships in specialist services. Students can themselves arrange internships in the municipalities, private companies or other health institutions. The practical training program will be overseen by a supervisor at the institution. Both the practical training institution and the supervisor must be approved by the course coordinator. Assessment of practical training takes place in collaboration between student, supervisor and lecturer, where the student’s personal and professional skills in interactions with patients, their families and other professionals will be evaluated.

Assessment Methods

The different forms of assignment (both individual and group-based) and practical training aim to ensure coherence between learning outcomes and teaching and learning methods. In addition, different coursework requirements are used. The study programme and coursework requirements will contribute to professional specialisation and coherence between the various subjects.

All coursework requirements must be completed and approved before the student can take the exam for the course and be awarded a course grade. Students must pass the relevant course exams before they can begin practical training or take the exam in the following course.

Assessment of practical training studies

Assessment is a continuous and compulsory part of the practical training studies. The student will be evaluated and assessed in relation to the course’s learning outcomes and their own goals. The attendance requirement is 90% regardless of the reasons for absence, which corresponds to 30 hours a week. The assessment is marked on a pass/fail basis; the college is responsible for the final assessment. If there is doubt concerning whether the student will pass the practical training, he/she will receive written notice halfway through training or three weeks before completing training. If the student at the end of period is in violation of the Act relating to Health Personnel or the regulations of the practical training institution, the student can receive a fail grade without notice being given.

The student and the practical training supervisor are responsible for recording student attendance and absenteeism.

Special regulations regarding attendance and the consequences of absenteeism
The study programme requires 75% attendance for the following activities: study and supervision groups, the presentation of programme requirements and instruction in relation to these, and the execution of group study and coursework requirements. The student, study/supervision group and the course teacher are responsible for registering the student’s attendance and absence. The group work that is indicated on the timetable requires mandatory attendance. If a student does not fulfil the attendance requirements, he/she must submit a written assignment related to the topic that has been discussed. The course teacher is responsible for giving the assignment and approving the submission.

If a student does not fulfil the attendance requirement in the project examination in course four, a grade F will be given. The student will then have the opportunity to retake according to ordinary regulations.

If a student has less than 75% attendance in practical training, he/she must re-do the practical training. If attendance is less than 90% but more than 75%, the student must compensate the number of days short as agreed with the course coordinator/lecturer and practical training institution.

The curriculum was approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Studies, 19 February 2014.

The study programme is subject to adjustments and minor changes.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean