Programme Specification for Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care University Certificate
This programme is only offered at: East London NHS Foundation Trust.
|
Final award |
University Certificate |
|
Intermediate awards available |
None |
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UCAS code |
N/A |
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Details of professional body accreditation |
N/A |
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Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
None |
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Date specification last up-dated |
June 2010 |
Profile
The summary - UCAS programme profile
BANNER BOX:
A unique and ground-breaking programme providing a vital contribution to East London's diverse faith communities.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Completion of one of the Introductory programmes delivered by the Department of Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care. Applicants will need to have attended a minimum of 75% of the sessions.
In addition, applicants will have needed to satisfy the course tutors that they:
- Have a sufficient understanding of the complexity of spirituality in East London
- Are able to demonstrate respect for the beliefs of others
- Are willing to listen and to learn from others within the training group
- Are willing and able to share their personal experiences
- Are able to communicate their ideas either in writing or verbally
- Are able to reflect upon their experience
All applicants will be interviewed by one of the tutors.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
What is Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care?
It is about enabling the wide range of cultural and religious groups in our community to make full and appropriate use of the local mental health services.
Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care at UEL
The programme is radical because it:
- will provide a resource to the local community.
- is available to anyone regardless of ability to pay.
- seeks to release the gifts of the 'ordinary person'.
- uses non-traditional assessment methods appropriate to students' needs and abilities.
- will focus on the local Faith Communities and mental health services.
- will be run on an Action Research model, which means changes will take place.
Programme structure
One year, part-time, evening programme with fieldwork placements.
Learning environment
Teaching sessions/seminars and workshops take place at the Newham Centre for Mental Health where there is a large training room and library facilities. The programme also includes field trips, fieldwork placements, plus private study, research and assignments.
Assessment
The programme consists of one 40 credit double-module covering the theory, skills, and practice of spiritual, religious and cultural care.
There are 5 assessed items: Learning Agreement, Final Presentation, Mentor 's Report, Field Trip Reports/Journal, and Supervisor's Report (practice). It is recognised that the programme will attract students with a wide range of experience in educational settings. It is hoped that students will feel able to present their work for assessment in a form which suits their gifts, abilities and learning styles. This could be in the form of written, oral, videotape or audio-cassette.
Work experience/placement opportunities
Students must complete the equivalent of six days of fieldwork in a placement which could be in their own or another Faith Community, in a mental health facility, or on a project sponsored by the Department of Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care. The students will be required to keep a detailed record of their placements.
Project work
During the year, all students will have to prepare a Final Presentation given to the whole programme group. This is a piece of work of not more than 5000 words, which will summarise their total learning on the programme. It can be presented in any appropriate medium chosen by the student, eg. videotape.
Added value
Students who complete the programme may be invited to become voluntary members of Resource Teams in East London forming an integral part of the care in the community programmes for the mental health services in the area.
IS THIS THE PROGRAMME FOR ME?
If you are interested in...
- Religious, spiritual and cultural matters within a multicultural context.
- Mental health issues.
- Helping people.
If you enjoy...
- Working with people.
- Experiencing different cultures from your own.
- Breaking down taboos and prejudice.
- Self-exploration.
- Making the world a better place.
If you want...
- To learn counselling skills based on the humanistic tradition, with special emphasis on Gestalt theory, which values genuineness, openness, congruence, empathy, phenomenology, awareness and the dialogic relationship.
- To learn in an experiential way.
- To learn from your fellow students.
- To give and receive constructive feedback from your fellow students.
Your future career
Students who complete the programme may be invited to become voluntary members of Resource Teams in East London (see Added Value above), and will able to take the next step towards careers in counselling and mental health related work provided they have completed the necessary qualifications.
They will also be more qualified to apply for other counselling programmes, which require evidence of previous study, and possibly post-graduate diplomas in counselling which are flexible about the exact nature of applicants' qualifications. For example, UEL's PG Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy can, according to individual circumstances, be accessed with a combination of appropriate professional qualifications and evidence of previous training in counselling.
How we support you
Each student will be allocated a mentor for the duration of the programme, and will also receive the guidance of supervisors. In addition, as the whole programme is about respect for different cultures, the support students can give to each other is vital.
On a practical level, students will have access to the academic library of the Mental Health Services, as well as all the computing facilities of the Department. They will be able to use the hospital canteen at Newham Mental Health Centre during the day and early evening. Students will also have access to UEL’s Stratford Campus library, which houses the School of Psychology collection, on-line resources, and learning support services.
Bonus factors
- Programme fees will be paid by the East London NHS Foundation Trust, provided a placement within the mental health services and/or a Faith Community is undertaken.
- Real placement opportunities.
- The opportunity to be part of the NHS whilst it undergoes massive change and investment
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- Integrate spirituality, culture and mental health within a helping model.
- Provide psychological help to people wanting effective support for their spiritual needs.
What will you learn?
Knowledge
- The different faith traditions and cultures of East London.
- The role of psychology & psychiatry in treating mental distress.
- The Core Conditions of helping and the Gestalt Cycle of Awareness.
Thinking skills
- Consider and evaluate the two world views of psychiatry/psychology and of faith.
- Debate issues raised on the programme.
- Integrate a Gestalt model of helping with an understanding of the different faiths and mental health.
Subject-Based Practical skills
- Empathise with the beliefs of other faith traditions, and learn from them.
- Develop helping skills to support users of mental health services in ways appropriate to their faith traditions.
- Demonstrate ability to work in a community context, facilitating preventative mental health within both the Faith Communities and the mental health services.
Skills for life and work (general skills)
- Counselling, communication and relationship-building skills.
- Attain a high level of self-awareness of personal strengths and aspects to develop.
- Collaboration and team-work.
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 40 credits at level 0
Typical duration
The typical duration of this programme is part-time (one evening a week, plus the equivalent of six days of field work) for one year.
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year is divided into two 12-week semesters
What you will study when
The programme consists of one 40 credit double module: Theory, Skills and Practice of Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care, which runs throughout the two semesters, and which is a core module.
The following are the core and optional requirements for the single and major pathways for this programme
Requirements for gaining an award
In order to gain a University Certificate in Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care a student must pass the one 40 credit module module.
A Pass grade is achieved by meeting all the criteria and requirements defined in the assessment scheme.
Degree Classification
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge is developed through
- Teaching sessions/seminars.
- Fieldtrips.
- Practical workshops.
Thinking skills are developed through
- Teaching sessions/seminars.
- Coursework.
- Practical workshops.
Practical skills are developed through
- Practical workshops.
- Fieldwork placements
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
- Practical workshops.
- Fieldwork placements.
Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by
- Review of previous learning
- Learning Agreement
- Final presentation
Thinking skills are assessed by
- Learning agreement
- Mentor 's report
- Final presentation
Practical skills are assessed by
- Supervisor's report
- Field trip reports and journal
- Mentor 's report
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by
- Supervisor's report
- Mentor 's report
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before this programme started, the following was checked:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by our Quality and Standards Committee.
Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme;
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments;
- Attending assessment boards;
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
- Ensuring that regulations are followed;
- Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Following the Action Research Model, an ongoing evaluation of the programme by students is an integral part of the programme, in the form of a 'continuous feedback loop' based around bi-weekly whole group evaluation meetings which can identify areas for development and agree action plans.
- Module evaluations
Students are notified of the action taken through:
Verbal communications by staff as part of the above feedback loop.
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Questionnaires to former students
- Discussion with representatives of other NHS Departments
Further Information
Alternative locations for studying this programme
| Location | Which elements? | Taught by UEL staff | Taught by local staff | Method of Delivery |
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Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The UEL web site
- The programme handbook
- Module study guides
- UEL Manual of General Regulations and Policies
- UEL Quality Manual
- Regulations for the Academic Framework
- UEL Guide to Undergraduate Programmes
- Nigel Copsey or Sudha Lau on 020 8586 5051 or write to:
Revd Nigel Copsey, Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care Co-ordinator, East London NHS Foundation Trust.
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
