This module critically examines various aspects of vulnerability – initially focusing on mental health (for non-mental health practitioners). It explores how individuals may struggle with mental health throughout their lives and difficulties with being misdiagnosed with mental health rather than being neurodivergent too. Students will engage with theoretical frameworks, but importantly be exposed to role play that assesses

their communication skills and reflective learning. The module aims to equip learners with analytical tools to challenge harmful bias and contribute to prevention and support strategies.

Including topics around:
- Introduction to key concepts around vulnerability and vulnerable people
- Theories and regulation regarding mental heath
- Recognition of the difficulties in recognising and supporting the neurodivergent.
- Identifying suicide and self-harm risks.
- Completing appropriate risk assessment and escalation.
- Role play
- Use of the interactive suites
- Case study analysis

1. You will interact and assess the risk of a vulnerable individual in the criminal justice arena in a simulation, where you will adopt the role of a professional.

2. You will present a reflective presentation on the simulation experience and consider how your knowledge and biases affected the experience. This will appraise your own learning and skills demonstrated within the simulation as part of the presentation.

Scheduled learning and teaching sessions will include lectures, workshop activities, discussions, groupwork, drop-in support sessions prior to assessments. Lectures will be led by the lecturer (and guest speakers where possible) and will be used to deliver key concepts and learning within the module content. During these sessions, there will be interactive elements such as knowledge checks, short discussions, students asked for their thoughts or viewpoint and opportunities to ask questions to the lecturer.

Tutorial/workshop sessions will be based around student centred learning, group discussions and case study exploration to aide students learning on the module.

Formative work and case examples will assist students to complete assessments. Throughout the module, you will have other opportunities to take part in similar simulations to the summative assessment, debrief for opportunity for reflection and feedback. Some of these will be used to produce a formative reflective presentation within tutorials and receive feedback to improve the summative assessment.

1. Critically evaluate theoretical frameworks, professional practice and regulatory approaches to vulnerability and mental health within the criminal justice system, demonstrating an understanding of neurodiversity.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Assess vulnerabilities of a diverse range of individuals in custody and the community to collaboratively produce a risk-assessment.

Critical reasoning & collaboration

3. Apply professional and compassionate communication skills to assess and respond to complex vulnerability scenarios.

Communication Application & problem solving

4. Reflect critically on your personal performance in simulated professional interactions, using academic literature and reflective models to identify strengths, biases, limitations and strategies for improvement in supporting vulnerable populations.

Reflection

Simulation suite – prison cell, custody, bedsits and office

Challinor, A. et al. (2024) “Suicide and self‐harm in prisons: The challenge of service evaluation and prevention,” Criminal behaviour and mental health, 34(6), pp. 463–468. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2358.

Garratt, K. and Kirk-Wade, E. (2024) Suicide Prevention Policy. House of Commons Library. Available at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10090/

McCarthy, J. et al. (2019) “Prisoners with neurodevelopmental difficulties: Vulnerabilities for mental illness and self‐harm,” Criminal behaviour and mental health, 29(5–6), pp. 308–320. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2132.

Perry, A.E. and Horton, M. (2020) “Assessing vulnerability to risk of suicide and self-harm in prisoners: a Rasch analysis of the suicide concerns for offenders in the prison environment (SCOPE-2),” BMC psychiatry, 20(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02569-1.

Sirdifield, C. and Brooker, C. (eds.) (2023) Probation, mental health and criminal justice : towards equivalence. London, England ; Routledge.

What are the key areas of law policy and support mechanisms for dealing with individuals with mental health conditions? You will be studying the context of mental health for non-mental health practitioners. – The module will equip you to not only examine powers, but to recognise examine ways forward to support vulnerable people in the criminal justice system. In the latter element of the study we will use theory and role play to recognise the risk of suicide and self-harm. You will be asked to assess and report on a case then present their reflective findings.