About the course

This course aims to help housing support workers, residential care officers and floating support workers, who have some experience with clients with mental health problems, develop an deeper understanding of anxiety and depression, including possible drug treatments and consequences.

Focus Courses aim to provide an in-depth study of a topic and are therefore not suitable for those who are new to the service, or have no background knowledge of the topic.

Course Content

• · A model with which to understand Depression and Anxiety
• Case studies on both depression and Anxiety
• Medication issues
• Other treatments
• Self-help support systems
• Strategies for coping in various settings
• Whose problem is it?
• Evaluation

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course participants will:

• Have a knowledge of the basic model for understanding Depression and Anxiety
• Have undertaken case studies involving Depression and Anxiety
• Have an awareness of the likely drug treatments specified
• Have an awareness of the likely consequences of drug treatments specified
• Have an awareness of forms of treatment
• Have knowledge of the strategies used in hostels, day centres, self contained accommodation and floating support

Guy Smith has fifteen years experience in the field of social care. He has worked with a variety of client groups including the under-fives, young people and their families, the elderly and those in mental distress, both in the statutory and voluntary sectors. Within supported housing he has worked on Floating Support Schemes, in Hostels and in projects with hostels, group homes and single tenancies.  Originally a Community Worker he is a qualified Social Worker and counsellor.