Outline

Overview

This elective unit will extend students' knowledge and skills in occupational therapy mental health practice. A large experiential learning component will build student confidence in working collaboratively with people living with mental illness to identify their needs and to use both occupational therapy specific and generic mental health strategies to support their mental health recovery. In line with current state and national directions, the unit will focus on trauma-informed care, well-being and recovery-oriented practice. We will cover adolescent, youth and adult mental health practice across acute, rehabilitation, community and forensic contexts.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Nicola Hancock, nicola.hancock@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Karen Wells, karen.wells@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Final assessment Case study	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 09 Jun 2020 at 09:00	3500 - 5000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Translation of evidence poster Critical review/translation	30%	Week 11 Due date: 11 May 2020 at 09:00	Concise written task
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Weekly Canvas quizzes 3 short answer questions	30%	Weekly	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Weekly quizzes: Typically 3 short answer questions based upon the pre-reading content for each week.
Translation of evidence poster: Optional assessment which consists of a critical review and translation of the evidence so that it is accessible to consumers.
Final assessment: Application of coursework content to film-based scenario and client.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	A detailed rubric for each Ax is provided in Canvas
Distinction	75 - 84	A detailed rubric for each Ax is provided in Canvas
Credit	65 - 74	A detailed rubric for each Ax is provided in Canvas
Pass	50 - 64	A detailed rubric for each Ax is provided in Canvas
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Introduction activities and housekeeping; 2. Meshing expectations regarding Learning Outcomes; 3. Watching case-study film	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	Recovery - consumer (and clinical) perspectives /understandings	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 03	1. Overview of services and OT roles; 2. Recovery-oriented ways of practicing; 3. Relational recovery – family and carer involvement and needs	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	1. Overview of commonly used assessments + debate their applicability/use in various OT contexts and recovery oriented (or not); 2. Therapeutic use of self; Motivational Interviewing; LEAP; Rapport and Engagement; self-disclosure	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	1. Recovery-oriented and collaborative goal setting processes; 2. Experiential class: Psycho-education principles; relapse prevention; advanced directives; re-framing using strengths based approach; stress-vulnerability model; cognitive and behavioural interventions (CBT)	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 06	Child Mental Health - online module	Online class (4 hr)
Week 07	1. A rights perspective – risk assessment vs. dignity of risk; 2. Strategies to de-escalate; staying safe - suicide and self-harm; assessing and managing risk (yours and consumers)	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 08	1. A rights perspective – advocacy and health promotion; 2. Family, social relationships; trauma informed care (TIC)	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 09	Forensic mental health, working with children, drug and alcohol	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 10	1. Experiential class: Occupational Performance; ADLs (showering dressing eating), IADL (money, transport, cleanings, cooking) routines, travel, employment, meaningful activity – task analysis…activity adaptation, skills training; 2. Meaningful, purposeful activity	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 11	Experiential class: activities continuing from week 10	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 12	1. Standing out from the 'pack'; 2. What are the ‘right’ positions for you; 3. Thriving in your first years out	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 13	What you say you need/want more on	Workshop (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and actively participate in discussions, activities and weekly in-class assessments. If you do not attend at least 10 of the 12 scheduled classes you must provide written documentation explaining your absence to the unit Coordinator.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand the recovery paradigm and be able to critically examine and confidently apply recovery-principles to service orientation generally and OT practice specifically
LO2. critically appraise various methods of collecting information required to collaboratively plan interventions with clients/consumers
LO3. critique the diverse roles and range of interventions engaged in by mental health occupations therapists, frame these using OT practice models and use critical reasoning skills to identify appropriate and best practice interventions which meet individual consumer needs.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Australian occupational therapy competency standards 2018 -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
1.10		Practises within limits of her/his own level of competence and expertise
1.11		Maintains professional competence and adapts to change in practice contexts
1.12		Identifies and uses relevant professional and operational support and supervision
1.14		Recognises and manages her/his own physical and mental health for safe, professional practice
1.15		Addresses issues of occupational justice in practice
1.16		Contributes to education and professional practice development of peers and students, and
1.17		Recognises and manages any inherent power imbalance in relationships with clients.
1.3		Maintains professional boundaries in all client and professional relationships
1.4		Recognises and manages conflicts of interest in all client and professional relationships
1.5		Practises in a culturally responsive and culturally safe manner, with particular respect to culturally diverse client groups
1.6		Incorporates and responds to historical, political, cultural, societal, environmental and economic factors influencing health, wellbeing and occupations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
1.7		Collaborates and consults ethically and responsibly for effective client-centred and interprofessional practice
1.8		Adheres to all work health and safety, and quality requirements for practice
1.9		Identifies and manages the influence of her/his values and culture on practice
2.1		Applies current and evidence-informed knowledge of occupational therapy and other appropriate and relevant theory in practice
2.2		Applies theory and frameworks of occupation to professional practice and decision-making
2.3		Identifies and applies best available evidence in professional practice and decision-making
2.5		Maintains current knowledge for cultural responsiveness to all groups in the practice setting
2.6		Maintains and improves currency of knowledge, skills and new evidence for practice by adhering to the requirements for continuing professional development
2.8		Reflects on practice to inform current and future reasoning and decision-making and the integration of theory and evidence into practice
2.9		Maintains knowledge of relevant resources and technologies, and
3.1		Addresses occupational performance and participation of clients, identifying the enablers and barriers to engagement
3.10		Reviews, evaluates and modifies plans, goals and interventions with the client and relevant others to enhance or achieve client outcomes
3.11		Evaluates client and service outcomes to inform future practice
3.12		Uses effective collaborative, multidisciplinary and interprofessional approaches for decision-making and planning
3.14		Contributes to quality improvement and service development.
3.2		Performs appropriate information gathering and assessment when identifying a client’s status and functioning, strengths, occupational performance and goals
3.3		Collaborates with the client and relevant others to determine the priorities and occupational therapy goals
3.4		Develops a plan with the client and relevant others to meet identified occupational therapy goals
3.5		Selects and implements culturally responsive and safe practice strategies to suit the occupational therapy goals and environment of the client
3.7		Reflects on practice to inform and communicate professional reasoning and decision-making
3.8		Identifies and uses practice guidelines and protocols suitable to the practice setting or work environment
4.1		Communicates openly, respectfully and effectively
4.10		Seeks and responds to feedback, modifying communication and/or practice accordingly, and
4.11		Identifies and articulates the rationale for practice to clients and relevant others.
4.2		Adapts written, verbal and non-verbal communication appropriate to the client and practice context
4.4		Uses culturally responsive, safe and relevant communication tools and strategies
4.5		Complies with legal and procedural requirements for the responsible and accurate documentation, sharing and storage of professional information and records of practice
4.8		Maintains collaborative professional relationships with clients, health professionals and relevant others
4.9		Uses effective communication skills to initiate and end relationships with clients and relevant others

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Based upon positive student feedback, this unit is essentially the same as last year with resources and readings updated.

Additional information

Teacher consultation guidelines: Please note that Dr Nicola Hancock does not work on Fridays.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

OCCP5247: Mental Health Interventions

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Cumberland, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect