Overview
We are approaching the end of a ten year period where Government policy has sought to deliberately target the rates of suicide and self harm. Saving Lives, Our Healthier Nation (DOH, 1999) aims to reduce the numbers of deaths from suicide by one fifth in 2010. The manner in which this would be achieved was laid down in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (DOH, 2002) which set a number of goals including reducing fatalities in high risk groups, improving the overall mental wellbeing of the wider population and reducing the availability and lethality of suicidal methods. Whilst the statistics are improving rates of suicide and self harm remain high with approximately 5000 suicides and 170,000 acts of deliberate self harm occurring annually in the UK.
Working with individuals at times of crisis can lead to mixed emotions, a sense of feeling deskilled and helpless that may be detrimental to resolution. This module will equip practitioners with specific skills and competencies to enable them to recognize risk, implement preventative strategies and respond therapeutically to the diverse needs of service users and those who support them.
Content and Modules
Level 6 (Undergraduate)
Pre-requisites: Prospective students may be Registered Nurses, Social Care Practitioners or Allied Health Professionals but must be working in a setting where they are they are required to support the needs of this client group.
Excluded Combinations: This module cannot be studied again at a different academic level.
Aims
This module aims to:
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Critically analyse the effectiveness of interventions to address the prevention of suicide and management of self harm.
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Apply comprehensive skills of assessment, management and intervention to the practice setting that positively impacts on local and national strategies.
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Disseminate knowledge and best practice in working with multi disciplinary and inter professional colleagues, service users, carers and voluntary organisations.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module students will be able to:
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Utilise comprehensive skills in the recognition and assessment of risk through critical appraisal and selection of assessment tools alongside analysis of the significance of key risk indicators.
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Develop and evaluate comprehensive risk management plans for use in both acute and long term scenarios.
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Critically analyse, and implement specific therapeutic interventions and/ or preventative initiatives that are driven by both the service user experience and research evidence.
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Critically reflect and review one’s own practice and that of the multi disciplinary team to evidence learning from critical incidents and implementing improvements to care.
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Critically analyse key policy, best practice guidelines and research evidence to inform practice.
Summative Assessment
Assignment (100% weighting)
A case report which critically analyses the care provided for a service user who experiences difficulties in relation to suicidal or self harming behaviour. Your case study may select as its focus either an acute phase of management, longer term preventative work or a combination of both. You must have been directly involved in the service user’s care.
The case report will follow a clear framework on which students will be given guidance at commencement of the module. Word count: 4000 words.
Level 7 (Postgraduate)
Pre-requisites: Prospective students may be Registered Nurses, Social Care Practitioners or Allied Health Professionals but must be working in a setting where they are required to support the needs of this client group.
Excluded Combinations: A student who has studied this module at level 6, may not study the same module at level 7.
Aims
This module aims to:
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Critically analyse the effectiveness of interventions to address the prevention of suicide and management of self harm.
-
Apply high level skills of assessment, management and intervention to the practice setting that positively impacts on local and national strategies.
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Engage effectively with multi disciplinary and inter professional colleagues, service users, carers and voluntary organizations in order to disseminate knowledge, best practice and innovate change.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module students will be able to:
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Utilise critically evaluated skills in the recognition and assessment of risk through critical appraisal and selection of assessment tools alongside analysis of the significance of key risk indicators
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Formulate and critically evaluate comprehensive risk management plans for use in both acute and long term scenarios
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Critically explore, analyse, and implement specific therapeutic interventions and/ or preventative initiatives that are driven by in depth understanding and analysis of the service user experience and research evidence
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Reflect deeply, critically evaluate one’s own practice and that of the multi disciplinary team in order to implement enhancements to care resulting from the review of significant incidents
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Synthesise key policy initiatives, good practice guidelines and research evidence to inform practice
Summative Assessment
Assignment (100% weighting)
A case report which critically analyses the care provided for a service user who experiences difficulties in relation to suicidal or self harming behaviour. Your case study may select as its focus either an acute phase of management, longer term preventative work or a combination of both. You must have been directly involved in the service user’s care.
The case report will follow a clear framework on which students will be given guidance at commencement of the module. Word count: 4000 words.