THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION FOR
MSc in Children & Young People’s Mental Health and
Psychological Practice
1) Awarding Institution: The University of Edinburgh
2) Teaching Institution: The University of Edinburgh
3) Programme accredited by:
4) Final Award: MSc in Children & Young People’s Mental Health and
Psychological Practice
5) Programme Title: MSc in Children & Young People’s Mental Health and
Psychological Practice
6) UCAS Code:
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmarking Group(s):
7) Postholder with overall responsibility for QA: Dr Matthias Schwannauer
8)
Date of production/revision: April 2009
9)
Educational aims of programme:
The MSc in Children & Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice is
a new programme which offers advanced study in psychological theory and its
application for practitioners working in the field of child and adolescent mental
health.
It enables such practitioners to:
 develop their practice through engagement with research and scholarship in
psychological theory and practice
 develop skills in the critical appraisal of psychological practice in the field of
child and adolescent mental health
 develop and consolidate an extended knowledge base of theoretical and
clinical approaches to psychological therapy for children, young people and
families
The programme offers the core elements of teaching and learning on the
theoretical, conceptual and evidence bases for psychological practice whilst
fostering a critical and reflective approach to the clinical application of these.
Distinctive features of this degree include:
 integration of professional practice with current theoretical and empirical


developments in the delivery of, and evidence base for, psychological
therapies for children, young people and families
its accessibility to a range of practitioners working in the field of child and
adolescent mental health from multi-professional backgrounds
opportunities for the synthesis of theory, evidence and practice
The degree may be taken as a free-standing MSc in Children & Young People’s
Mental Health and Psychological Practice for which candidates must complete a
programme of taught courses and submit a dissertation on an approved topic.
Candidates may also take a postgraduate diploma in Children & Young People’s
Mental Health and Psychological Practice or a postgraduate certificate in Children
& Young People’s mental health and psychological practice.
Courses within the MSc programme are also available for visiting Continuing
Professional Development students who are clinical practitioners working in child
and adolescent mental health services.
10) Programme Outcomes:
(a) Knowledge and understanding
The programme equips students with advanced knowledge and understanding of:
 developmental theory and its application to psychological practice in the field
of child and adolescent mental health
 theories of developmental psychopathology
 debates about research and the evidence base underpinning current
psychological practice within child and adolescent mental health
 current issues within psychological practice including early intervention
frameworks, the promotion of mental health and parenting
Teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, independent study
Assessment methods: essays, dissertation
(b) Intellectual skills
Key intellectual skills fostered by the programme include the capacity to:
 critically appraise the role of psychological theories and models in clinical
practice
 situate theories and practices of psychological intervention in relation to wider
debates e.g. social, economic
 articulate complex issues in the application of psychological theory to clinical
practice
 critically reflect on the strengths and limits of current practices and service
delivery within child and adolescent mental health
Teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, independent study
Assessment methods: essays, dissertation
(c) Professional/subject-specific/practical skills
The programme provides practitioners with:
 opportunities to advance their clinical practice theoretically and practically
 an advanced critical knowledge of key elements of psychological theory and
practice
 a critical appreciation of approaches to psychological practice in the field of
child and adolescent mental health
 the ability to critically appraise the evidence base for psychological practice
 the ability to utilise knowledge of applied psychological theory and research to
develop creative ways of working with the client group
Teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, independent study
Assessment methods: essays, dissertation
(d) Transferable skills
The programme furnishes students with a range of transferable skills including:
 advanced learning and study skills, including working in groups and
independently
 skills of critical thinking, theoretical reasoning and scholarship
 analytical skills
 self-reflective skills
 time-management skills
 oral and written communication skills
Teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, independent study
Assessment methods: essays, dissertation
11) Programme Structure and Features:
This is a flexible postgraduate degree designed for practitioners working in the field of child
and adolescent mental health primarily, who are interested in studying psychological
practice at an advanced level. Candidates on this programme can register for:
 MSc in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice (180
credits)
 PG Diploma in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice
(120 credits)
 PG Certificate in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological
Practice (60 credits)
 Continuing Professional Development
Market
In Scotland there is an identified need for Children’s Services, in particular Child and
Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS), to increase access to psychological therapies,
to provide early intervention and preventative interventions in line with the Framework for
Promotion, Prevention and Care (2005, Scottish Executive) and subsequent strategic
developments. There is also a service-based need for current CAMHS practitioners from a
variety of professional backgrounds to demonstrate continued development of their
individual knowledge and skills. The proposed course taps into both markets by offering a
course which enables students to review, consolidate and extend their knowledge and skills
in these key areas.
We know from 3 years’ of applications to our current MSc in Applied Psychology for
Children and Young people that we receive in excess of 200 applications, many of whom are
currently engaged in CAMHS practice and are potential candidates for the proposed
programme. Furthermore, we have received enquiries from colleagues in Education and
Social Services regarding staff groups with potential CPD needs in line with the proposed
programme, for example, guidance staff, SEBD school staff and social workers. On that
basis, we conservatively estimate that 10-15 students could be easily recruited from these
groups.
Mode of Study
Full-time, part-time or CPD.
Period of Study
The programme is designed to be completed in one-year of full-time study or over two or
three years of part-time study.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants for the course will be considered on an individual basis. Guidelines for likely
acceptance onto the course are possession of:
1) An undergraduate degree or equivalent (reaching SCQF level 9)
AND
2) Substantial current or recent work experience providing clinical/clinically relevant
experience of children and young people in mental health settings, including
statutory and voluntary organisations.
3) Where an applicant’s undergraduate degree does not meet the level stated above or
is not obviously related to subjects relevant to children and young people’s
development and/or mental health, they may be admitted at the discretion of the
programme director so long as they meet the relevant experience requirements
stipulated above.
Suitability will be established through:
1. The completion of a personal statement submitted via the application form;
2. Two references which address how the applicant meets the academic and/or
relevant experience requirements;
3. An interview in person, designed to determine suitability and relevant experience.
Overview of the Programme
All courses listed are 20 credits unless otherwise stated.
All the courses being brought for this programme are new.
Core course
 Child Development in Practice
 Evidence based Psychological Interventions for Children and Young People (this is a core
course for students wishing to take the PG Diploma. It can be taken as an optional
course for the PG certificate)
Optional courses (these require the prerequisite core course)
 Early Years & Early Intervention for Practitioners
 Applied Developmental Psychopathology
 Attachment Theory in Clinical Settings
 Parenting & Systemic Interventions
 Mental Health Promotion for Children, Young People and Families
 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children and Young People
 Interpersonal Psychotherapy
 Understanding Learning Disability
In addition the following course forms part of the assessment profile for award of the MSc
 Dissertation (MSc in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological
Practice) (60 credits)
NB
Prerequisites apply to some of the optional courses above.
Optional courses may not be available every year.
Child Development in Practice (Core)
Credits/
SCQF level
20/11
Summative
assessment
4,000-5,000 word
essay
Exit
qualification
Two optional courses selected from the
list above (40 credits)
Evidence-based Psychological
Intervention (core for the diploma & MSc)
Two further optional courses selected
from the list above (40 credits)
Dissertation (progression to dissertation requires
an average mark of at least 50 across courses
required for the PG Diploma)
40/11
20/11
40/11
60/11
4,000-5,000 word
essay
4,000-5,000 word
essay
4,000-5,000 word
essay
15,000 word
dissertation
PG Certificate
(60 credits)
PG Diploma
(120 credits)
MSc
(180 credits)
Programme outcomes
PG Certificate in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice
The certificate is 60 credits which must include the core course (Child Development in
Practice) and two other subjects agreed with the Director of Studies.
PG Diploma in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice
The Diploma is 120 credits which must include the two core courses (Child Development in
Practice and Evidence-based Psychological Intervention) plus four optional courses as
agreed with the Director of Studies.
MSc in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice
The Masters is 180 credits which must include the two core courses (Child Development in
Practice and Evidence-based Psychological Intervention).
Entry to the dissertation is dependent on an overall mark of 50% subject to no more than 40
credits falling below 50% within the core and optional courses .
Continuing Professional Development
Courses within the MSc programme may be taken as stand alone CPD courses for which
credits will be awarded. Candidates entering in this way, who subsequently opt to
undertake the PG Certificate, Diploma or MSc, will be accredited for the prior learning on
the CPD course and will not be expected to repeat courses taken as CPD.
Marking scheme
All assessed work will be marked according to the University’s postgraduate common
marking scheme. A distinction may be awarded. To achieve a distinction, a student must
have been awarded at least 70% for the dissertation and must also have been awarded
marks across the taught courses that average at least, or very close to, the 70% standard.
Progression: Students will be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate upon
successful completion of courses totalling 60 credits with an overall mark of at least 40-49%.
Students will be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma upon successful
completion of courses totalling 120 credits with an overall mark of at least 40-49%.
Progression to dissertation will depend on successful completion of coursework totalling
120 credits. To proceed to dissertation for the award of an MSc an overall average mark of
50% will be required subject to no more than 40 credits falling below 50%.
12) Other items:
Resource information
The programme reflects the expertise of existing staff within the School of Health in Social
Science and the proposed programme maximises overlap between other existing applied
psychology programmes within the School. Additional links within the College will be
developed, in particular with the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, and the
MSc in Childhood Studies.
Prospective applicants will be welcome to contact the course organiser to discuss whether
they meet entry requirements.
Students will have access to the full range of learning resources available in the School of
Health in Social Science and the wider University of Edinburgh, including excellent library
and computing facilities.