Unit 1: Understanding mental health

• Define health
• Define mental health
• Factors that contribute to mental health
• Incidence of mental illness
• Factors that contribute to mental illness
• Attitudes to people with mental illness
• Reflect own attitude to people with mental illness
• De-stigmatising mental illness
• Ways to include people with mental illness in society
• Issues relating to behaviours of people with mental illness: wandering; absconding; aggression and inappropriate behaviour
• Concept of responsibility and accountability in supervision of practice
• Social impact of mental illness on family members

Unit 2: Working with people with mental illness

• Understand the physical, psychological, safety, social, emotional, recreational, financial, environmental, spiritual, and safe working practices needs of people with mental illness, taking into account hospital policy.
• Role of health care assistant in providing supervised care of people with mental illness with identified needs, under the supervision of the registered nurse
• Importance of communicating effectively with clients and families and care team
• Importance of individualised care given with dignity, respect, choice and in confidence

Unit 3: Caring for people with mental illness

• Meet needs of people with mental illness at risk of wandering, absconding, aggressive and inappropriate behaviours, under the supervision of registered psychiatric nurse
• Meet specific needs of people with sensory impairment and physical disabilities, under the guidance of the registered nurse
• Recognise emergency situations that need immediate attention

Unit 4: Environments of care

• Know the various care setting for people with mental illness
• Know the various members of the health care team
• Identify a range of services specific for people with mental illness

Component Certificate in Understanding Mental Health (FETAC Level 5)

Certificate in Understanding Mental Health (The College of Progressive Education)

Learners who wish to work with people with mental illness

• Develop a basic understanding of mental illness and its context
• Meet identified needs of people with mental illness under nursing supervision
• Gain an understanding of the national and local models of service for clients and their families
• Demonstrate good working practices in the provision of care for people suffering for mental illness

There are no specific entry requirements. Minimum age is 17 years.

Learners must also be capable of undertaking assessment work to Ordinalry Level Leaving Certificate standard.

International learners undertaking this course should have confidence in their English language, reading, writing and comprehension skills and have at least a 5 IELTS score or equivalent

It is recommended but not essential, that learners obtain at least 20 hours work experience caring for a person with an mental illness.

Skills Demonstration - 60%

Work based project - 40%

10 evenings one per week and 2 Saturdays

FETAC Level 5 Health Support Certificate (DHSXX)

Practical Home Care Skills - FETAC Level 5 Component Certificate

Care Worker

Family support member