Description

Commensurate with the scope and level of advanced practice is the need to demonstrate competence in management of patients with a broad range of co-morbidity and complex presentations. Clinical complexity is a multi-dimensional concept which can stem from the practitioner, the setting, the patient and uncertainty that arises from the patients’ symptoms which can have multiple potential causes. This module views Clinical Complexity in Advanced Mental Health Practice through a range of different lenses, to enable a broad spectrum, macro, high level cognitive approach. This module will consolidate prior clinical and professional learning. 

It aims to enable students to develop an expert multi focal, multi modal approach to working with clinical complexity in the arena of mental health across the life span. To enable them to implement and evaluate safe and appropriate management plans for individuals and populations with a range of complex mental health presentations and any associated acute, long term and complex physical disease or other co-morbid presentations. 

The module enables consolidation and application of new knowledge and skills within the realities of clinical practice. Guidance is provided in the Practice Based Learning Handbook that accompanies the course. To demonstrate that this has taken place, submission of a Practice Based Learning Record forms one of the elements of assessment for the module. 

The module is grouped into three main themes: 

• Managing clinical complexity  
• Therapeutic approaches to clinical complexity 
• Physical health issues and clinical complexity 

Pre-requisite learning completion of the following modules: “Physical health Needs in Mental Health Care”, Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills”, “Clinical Reasoning and Advanced Assessment Skills in Mental health Practice” “Leadership, Research and Education for Advanced Clinical Practice” 

PROFESSIONAL pre-requisites:

• Current registration as health care professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)  
• A minimum of 3 years post-registration experience on entry to the module 

PRACTICE pre-requisites: 

• Currently have at least 50% of their role working with people with mental health issues 
• Employed* for a minimum of 30 hours per week in one relevant clinical environment, with access to appropriate clinical support and supervision for the development of knowledge and skills to an advanced level.*This excludes students who are working in a locum or agency basis.  

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate employer support for all of the following (even where individuals are self-funding): 

• Support for development of the applicant to an advanced level within the workplace while on the module, to enable evolution of the scope of practice and responsibilities 
• Willingness to release the student to enable them to dedicate regular time throughout the module (in addition to attendance at the university) as protected learning time to enable the student to work in a 'supernumerary capacity' to focus on their clinical/professional development evidenced by completion of the Practice Based Learning record. 
• Able to support the student to organise for a Doctor/qualified Advanced Practitioner to act as their designated "Practice Facilitator" to initially supervise and support the applicants overall clinical development and facilitate completion of specified practice-based learning activities. Sign off for specific aspects of learning is required (this responsibility can be shared with other senior experienced clinical colleagues however nomination of an overall Practice Facilitator is required). 
• Provision of day-to-day supervision and support by an experienced clinical team to enable the development of the knowledge, skills, behaviours, competence and confidence commensurate with this level of practice 

Module co-ordinator name: Wendy York, Senior Lecturer Email: yorkw@lsbu.ac.uk

Study Hours

Student Study Hours: 200 hours comprising: Contact hours: 39 including VIVA preparation workshops 

Blended learning: 14 hours 

Practice based learning hours:

• Non-apprenticeship students: 36 hours of supervised protected clinical development time (verified in Practice Based Learning Record) • 
• Apprentices: Engage in a minimum of 6 hours a week supernumerary Protected Learning Time for practice based learning during this module totalling 72 hours. (verified in Practice Based Learning Record) 

Student managed learning hours: The remaining time is student self-managed learning hours to include weekly access of virtual learning environment resources to compliment classroom teaching 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, students will be able to: 

Knowledge and Understanding: 

• Systematically draw on a comprehensive knowledge base to provide holistic evidence-based approaches to care for clients presenting with a wide variety of complex short and long term mental, physical health and other co-morbid needs. 
• Demonstrate depth of understanding of a wide range of strategies and theories to work with complexity across diverse health settings and populations. 

Intellectual Skills: 

• Critically appraise and synthesise contemporary evidence from a wide variety of national and international resources to inform the clinically complex, individualised care planning

Practical Skills: Demonstrate advanced therapeutic communication and educator skills

Plan and manage complete episodes of care by working in partnership within a multi-professional and multi-agency context. 

Transferable Skills: 

Critically evaluate and demonstrate expertise as a reflective practitioner through compilation of a portfolio of evidence 

Employability: 

Students undertaking this module will be enabled to work as advanced autonomous / independent / senior clinical practitioners who can provide a comprehensive care package. Taking into consideration health care complexity and associated service pathways across the health economy. It will also develop students and able them to meet the increased need of a hybrid mental health and physical health approach for a flexible workforce that is able to respond to the changing patterns of service. 

Successful completion of this module will therefore result in a student who can demonstrate knowledge and skills that are currently in high demand with existing and emerging markets in health