PgCert Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders

Queen's University Belfast

OverviewThis multi-disciplinary programme is designed to enable substance use professionals, mental health workers, social workers, nurses and workers from allied health and social care sectors to gain an understanding of substance use disorders, including definitions, UK and international contexts and the application of theory in practice.The overarching aims of the PG Cert, PG Dip and Masters in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders is to enable professionals from a range of sectors working in substance use, mental health and related fields to build on their existing knowledge and skills and to use them effectively within their current work environment. It also aims to develop the participants’ understanding of the range of theories informing substance use, and to assist workers to translate these theories into effective practice.The programme will have a pragmatic focus and this will enable practitioners to learn about a range of multi-disciplinary assessment tools, methods of interventions and the necessary skills to work with substance use across a range of settings. Substance use problems permeate work with a range of service user groups, from the more obvious groups, i.e. working with substance use and mental health, to working with children and families, learning disability offenders and older people.You can study flexibly by working around your professional duties. These programmes have been accredited by the Northern Ireland Professional in Practice Education and Training Partnership.Candidates will be afforded the opportunity to take each of the three modules of the programme of study as a stand-alone module (20 credits) or collectively to obtain the PG Cert in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs).These will include:Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders: Prevalence, Legislation and Theoretical ConceptsSubstance use Disorders and Co-morbid mental health disordersSubstance use and Substance Use Disorders: International Contexts.Please note that this course is not eligible for a Tier 4 visa.Career DevelopmentProfessional Development For multi-disciplinary students. the programmes offer relevant CPD opportunities as well as recognised qualifications accredited by the University which will augment their professional development and enhance the development of further opportunities in their chosen field of practice. For Social Work students only, the Certificate meets all six of the professional requirements in the ‘Specialist’ category in the Professional in Practice framework, and on completion candidates will be conferred with the Specialist Award. For all students, the programme provides the opportunity to enhance special substance use and substance use disorders skills within a multi-disciplinary teaching environment.