A NEW mental health nursing T Level will help provide the next generation of staff for the NHS.
The course, which launches at the college’s Salisbury campus in September, combines teaching in the classroom and the college’s replica ward, with 315 hours of placements at Salisbury District Hospital and in the care sector.
The ward in the college’s Healthcare Zone was designed in partnership with the NHS to exactly mirror those at Salisbury’s hospital. It also has an ambulance bay with a real ambulance, a reception area, an observation ward and a domiciliary care bedroom.
The new course is part of the college’s growing partnership with the NHS that has seen the first cohort of T Level students on its adult nursing course go into the sector or on to further learning at university. It has also launched a successful midwifery course at its Trowbridge campus.
“There’s obviously a massive demand for mental health care in this country and we wanted to try and provide our healthcare students with another career option,” said Garrath Pledger, Deputy Head of Health and Life Sciences. “We’ve also had requests from students who are interested in pursuing this as a career so it was an obvious choice for us.”
How the course works
Students will spend the first year of the two year course in the Healthcare Zone, learning the core principles and practical skills of nursing, as well as undertaking a placement in the social care sector in a care home. In the second year they will be given the choice of doing a mental health nursing or an adult nursing placement.
“The first year is really where they will learn the basic skills and, through working on our replica ward and on the placement, they will develop their communication and general people skills to really build their knowledge and confidence for when they do their placements in year two,” said Garrath.
“I think the social care placement is really going to help students going into mental health because looking after people in that care environment will develop the patient skills they will need.”
He said the college is working closely with the NHS to give students as much experience and first-hand knowledge as possible. “We’re trying to get a lot more involvement from the NHS with workshops in year one,” he said. “We want students doing as many tasks in our ward at the college as possible to help them feel a lot more comfortable when they go on placements.”
Feedback from students and the NHS is continually being assessed to improve placements so that students get as much real-world experience as possible. “The beauty of the T Level is that it gives our students 315 hours in the workplace so they get an insight into what it really looks and feels like, warts and all,” said Garrath. “They come out knowing exactly what the job is, and that’s invaluable.”
Opening doors to careers in healthcare
The college is in discussion with the NHS, Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, care homes, and mental health charities about the nature and locations available for mental health-related placements, but Garrath said there is no doubt they will be a useful gateway into a career.
“We’ve already had a few students sign up so we are very excited about the course,” he said. “For anyone considering a career in mental health nursing this will be an excellent grounding.
“Our students have got two main routes after completing the course, they can carry on to university to develop their skills or they’ve got the opportunity to go into industry, where they can build skills and gain qualifications on the job.
“They will be able to use their knowledge and experience from their placement and apply it in many different areas, in the hospital setting, the social care sector, supporting social workers, working with families or so much more.”
Take the first step towards a career in mental health
Develop the skills, knowledge and real-world experience to prepare for university or a career in healthcare. Find out more about the Mental Health Nursing T Level.
