Demonstrate the ability to source and interpret current research in the identification of suicide and self-harm risk assessment.


Demonstrate the ability to apply learning from the module to identify an appropriate risk assessment tool or intervention pertinent to your area of work.


Demonstrate an understanding of the factors that impact on an individual’s mental health to participate in an assessment appropriate to your role and responsibilities.

A 2,500-word reflection on a case from your area of work where you were faced with assessing an individual at risk from suicide and\or self-harm, identifying appropriate referral pathways (100% weighting, assessing all LO's)

Additional Assessment Details (include formative feedback / assessment):

Formative Assessment / Feedback:

On-line activities providing formative feedback via Blackboard

Working towards the assessment tasks will be a key element of the learning, and tutors and HMPPS staff will be available to guide students through the process. Face to face contact and/or blended sessions focussed on assessment activities will be scheduled into the timetable.

Approaches to suicide and self-harm assessment - utilising different models, tools and considering evidence-based practice

Understand the differences and relationships between suicidality and self-harm and provide appropriate responses

Models and theories of suicide and self-harm will be introduced

Assessment as a therapeutic intervention including Cognitive Behaviour Approaches to assessment, formulation and interventions

Multi professional, multi-agency working

Personal and professional philosophy, including ethical and legal standing

The principles and process of the mental health assessment in the identification of suicide and self-harm, including the importance of interviewing and history taking

User and carer involvement, negotiation, consent and issues of choice

Pathways to appropriate mental health referrals

Mental health promotion and education

Suicide & self-harm prevention in prison, ACCTs and SASH

This module is a core module on the Offender Management pathway and has been designed to provide you with useful knowledge of a very serious and prevalent phenomenon in the criminal justice sector. The module will prepare you for employment in the justice and community sector and many of the sessions are delivered by staff from HMPSS. You will have the opportunity to test your skills in role-play scenarios. You will learn about different approaches to suicide and self-harm assessment, utilising different models, tools and considering evidence-based practice. You will gain an insight into the differences and relationships between suicidality and self-harm and provide appropriate responses and look at assessment as a therapeutic intervention including Cognitive Behaviour Approaches to assessment, formulation and intervention.

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 200 hours of activities, split between 32 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 168 hours of directed and independent study, together with preparation for and completion of assessment tasks.

WHOLE GROUP SESSIONS

The teaching will be delivered through four full day sessions and in these sessions, students are introduced to the general concepts underlying the subject and provided with an outline of the relevant legal principles and cases. Teaching materials, including the use of the VLE platform, supplement the sessions. These sessions guide students towards consolidating their knowledge and understanding

DIRECTED AND INDEPENDENT STUDY (168 hours)

Independent study includes research and preparation for the work to be undertaken in the group sessions and consolidation of understanding afterwards. Directed study opportunities, such as online tests, are provided to enable students to revise key topics at important stages in the module. Directed and independent study aims to develop a deeper understanding of issues within this area of criminological research. Students are provided with guidance in their module materials, including via Blackboard. Completion of the tasks encourages students to assess their progress, identify strengths and weaknesses and manage their time more effectively.

Pre-seen guidance to support research for the assessment is provided.¿

Doyle, L. Keogh, B. and Morrissey, J. (2015) Working with Self-harm and Suicidal Behaviour. London. MacMillan Education

Suicide prevention: resources and guidance¿Help for local authorities, public healthcare professionals, police forces, and others to prevent suicides in their areas. Public Health England (2019)

Preventing suicide in community and custodial settings (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2018). This guideline covers ways to reduce suicide and help people bereaved or affected by suicides. It aims to: help local services work more effectively together to prevent suicide; identify and help people at risk; and prevent suicide in places where it is currently more likely. It does not cover national strategies, general mental wellbeing, or areas covered by other NICE guidance such as self-harm or mental health conditions.

Self-harm by adult men in prison, Rapid Evidence Assessment (HMPPS 2018)¿Describes the characteristics of those who most often self-harm, identifies poor staff knowledge and a lack of confidence in supporting those who self-harm, points to the benefits of positive staff-prisoner relationships, and reports there is very little good quality evidence on what works to help reduce self-harm. Promising approaches are identified as building skills in emotional regulation in stressful situations and focus on multidisciplinary working, training for staff and early risk identification.

A flat lecture/workshop computer lab/room flexible enough for small group work and a computer and projector for tutor led PowerPoint presentations.

Teams/Blackboard Virtual environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook