COURSE INFORMATION

The LLM in Mental Health Law, Policy and Practice has been written and developed in close consultation with the Institute of Mental health Act Practitioners (IMHAP) with the aim of providing in-depth training to IMHAP members and those who specifically work within the field of mental health administration.

The programme will appeal to those students who have successfully completed the IMHAP Certificate in Mental Health Law and who would like to progress to a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree in Mental Health Law, Policy and Practice.

This innovation programme provides a unique opportunity for administrators, social workers, hospital nursing staff and other health care personnel who are involved in the field of mental health to gain either a Diploma or Masters degree whilst still pursuing their careers. It combines an in-depth study of the law, policy and practice relevant to mental health administration with the flexibility of distance learning.

Participants benefit from:

• Optional Saturday study days.
• Comprehensive learning materials written by experts in the field.

The programme will be taught on a distance learning basis, with the provision of materials in the form of study packs, with lectures and workshops being provided on the six study days.

What you will study

The LLM Mental Health Law Policy and Practice comprises the following subjects:

Legal Methodology introduces the legal system to non-law students and examines the methodology of legal study, the sources of legal knowledge and principles of legal research.

Compulsory Civil Admission to Hospital and Guardianship examines compulsory civil admission and discharge under Part 11 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the process by which a patient becomes subject to guardianship and aftercare supervision. The module also introduces the roles and duties of key personnel in the mental health field.

Mental health Review Tribunals critically examines the Tribunal’s history, constitution, duties and powers and considers all stages of the tribunal procedure from application/reference through to final decision. It also considers the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on MHRTs decisions.

Consent to Treatment examines in-depth the patients’ right to give or withhold consent to medical treatment with specific reference to the rules relating to consent to mental health treatment.

Practice Procedure and the Future of Mental Health Services provides a critical framework for students to examine mental health policy and practice as it currently exists under English law and how it is likely to develop in the future. It explores the interface between political and professional influences on the development of mental health policy and practice. It also evaluates critically the user perspective within this context.

Special Groups will examine the law surrounding the detention, care and treatment of three distinct groups of patient: (1) the elderly, (2) young people (below 18 years) and (3) mentally disordered offenders.

COURSEWORK AND ASSESSMENT

Each option is assessed by way of a written researched assignment, with a maximum of 4,000 words. Students wishing to gain an LLM must successfully complete a project of 16,000 – 20,000 words.

OTHER INFO

Study days
There are six optional Saturday study days built into the programme. Attendance is highly recommended. Study days provide participants with an opportunity to meet with tutors and one another, and to attend lectures and workshops.

Course Length:

18 months for the PG Dip, 2 years for the LLM, distance learning

Enquiries:  
     
Future Focus Ltd
8, Magazines Street
Floriana FRN 1119
Malta
Tel. +35621221371
E-mail: info@futurefocus.com.mt

Standard Entry:
Applicants should hold a degree or comparable professional qualification.

Candidates who have obtained relevant experience in a work-related field will also be considered.

Other:

Details of the Mental health Law Certificate programme and IMHAP membership can be found at www.northumbria.ac.uk/law/Isu

Additional notes:

Those for whom English is not their first language should have attained a score of 6.5 or better in the IELTS test.