MSc Child & Adolescent Mental Health & Wellbeing

This distinctive Master’s degree is ideal if you work, or aspire to work, in the children and young people’s sector and/or in mental health. Challenging current thinking and reflecting on how to deliver best practice will provide you with the skills and confidence to become a highly effective leader and change agent in child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing. The course offers a strong focus on the role of early intervention as a preventative measure, along with protecting and promoting lifelong mental health and wellbeing through the critical exploration of evidence-based literature and research. The programme is underpinned by key contemporary Government policy, guidelines and practice. It will equip you with research skills relevant to applied research in a range of contemporary clinical and social care practice contexts.

What will I study?

The programme begins by examining the individual differences in mental health across the child and adolescent age span, exploring the value and efficacy of early interventions. The concepts of leadership and change management in child and adolescent mental health services will also be introduced, enabling you to evaluate different perspectives on leadership styles and plan for effective change.

You will subsequently explore innovation in mental health, examining contemporary practices and developing the tools and techniques to consider alternative approaches and engage in entrepreneurial activities. The importance of an integrated approach to mental health services, working as part of a team to achieve maximum benefit for children, young people and their families, will be emphasised and investigated.

A module focused on research methods will equip you with the skills required for the culmination of the programme when you will complete a dissertation of a publishable standard in your chosen discipline.

Career Prospects
What are my career prospects?

On successful completion of this programme, potential employment routes include pastoral support workers, special educational needs coordinators, children’s centre workers, youth workers, social care workers, teaching assistants, learning mentors, family support officers or parent liaison roles. Alternatively, you may wish to pursue research-based career opportunities.

The course also provides ideal preparation for further study which might ultimately lead to a career in child psychology, nursing or teaching (further training required).