Solution Focused Practice for Health and Social Care Settings

This module offers Approved Mental Health Professionals (and those seeking to become AMHPs) the opportunity to develop their ability to promote choice and autonomy for people being assessed under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended 2007). It provides a supported space for participants to learn by doing.

The module is specifically designed for qualified AMHPs (and will meet the 18 hours annual training requirement of the Regulations), or professionally trained social workers, nurses, occupational therapists or psychologists who are actively considering undertaking AMHP training.

During the module participants will explore the core assumptions, questions and techniques of Solution Focused Practice (SFP). They will learn about the development of the approach and they will co-create a safe space in which to practice with peers alongside opportunities to observe video of real interventions.  

The module will develop participants’ ability to empower the people they are supporting and will explore, via role play and small group discussion, the application of the approach to the settings in which they work.

Content and delivery

The module is taught entirely online and comprises 12 three-hour sessions over alternate weeks between October and March.  The sessions are likely to cover the following aspects of the approach:

  • experiencing solution-focused questions (in relation to personal performance and work role)
  • twin-tracking the statutory role and the therapeutic opportunity
  • establishing best hopes for the talking
  • visualising a preferred future – the importance of detail
  • questions that elicit strengths, resources and competences (rather than deficits)
  • scaling questions
  • other person perspectives
  • allyship and anti-discriminatory practice
  • working with other professionals.

 

Assessment

The assessment for the module will require students to undertake a process recording, which involves documenting a conversation using the solution-focused approach and then reflecting critically on the experience. The assessment will carry a maximum word count of 3,000 words and should interweave references to reading that has been undertaken by participants to supplement the learning by doing within the training itself.  

Participants will also undertake a midway reflective exercise which includes some process recording of a piece of work where they have used solution-focused questions (maximum 750 words) as preparation for the final assessment. 

How to apply

For local authority and NHS applicants and those employed by private, voluntary or independent organisations: please contact your training department and complete an application form.

For independent applicants: contact moduleadmissions@brighton.ac.uk for an application form.