About the course

The course will examine the basic issues surrounding work with people experiencing mental distress, who are supported housing residents. It will look at three different supported housing environments: residential, community and floating support. No prio

Course Content

• Perceptions of mental distress
• classifications of mental illness
• symptoms of mental illness
• the links between culture and mental distress
• communicating with someone in distress
• case studies
• evaluation

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course participants will:

• Recognise the signs of someone in mental distress
• Fully understand the history of treatment in mental illness
• Consider the most appropriate treatment for an individual
• Understand basic terms used in Psychiatry
• Recognise some basic techniques for communicating with someone in mental distress
• Understand how Community Mental Health Services are delivered and how to access them
• Have access to a checklist of good practice

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.