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The Certificate in Mental Health Law and Practice is a 9 month distance learning programme consisting of three modules;  Introduction to Mental Health Law; Key Concepts in Mental Health Law; and Policy Requirements of the Code of Practice.  It has been designed to provide professionals engaged in the delivery of mental health services both with an understanding of mental health law, and the ability to apply that knowledge to every day scenarios. 

Upon successful completion of this programme you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key provisions of mental health law and have an appreciation of the consequences of an unlawful application of mental health law.  You will be able to use a range of basic legal materials, understand the difference between primary and secondary legal sources and distinguish legal rules from good practice.  You will be able to analyse a range of practical situations involving persons suffering from mental disorder and identify the legal issues which arise. You will be able to discuss, explain and apply the basic provisions of mental health law in writing and justify the conclusions that you reach. You will be able to analyse whether policies in your own workplace comply with the law. 

Discover all of our available Law Courses and find the course for you.

The January 2025 has been oversubscribed and is no longer available. Applications now received will be considered for the January 2026 intake, if eligible.  We apologise for any inconvenience caused. If you require any further information please contact us on nsapplicantservices@northumbria.ac.uk directly. Thank you.

Course Information

Level of Study
Undergraduate

Mode of Study
9 months Distance Learning, including 8 taught half days all online

Department
Northumbria Law School

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
January 2026

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

Department / Northumbria Law School

Northumbria Law School is one of the largest law schools in the UK, with a national and international reputation for excellence in legal education for those interested in studying law.

The Hub / By Students, For Students

Read our student blog and find out what student life is like at Northumbria from real students, tips and advice and much more.

Book An Open Day / Experience Mental Health Law and Practice Certificate

Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Mental Health Law. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

No formal qualifications are required (the programme is suitable for applicants from a range of backgrounds and experience) but some on-going, practical experience within the mental health field is necessary as the course builds upon this experience in its assessment processes.

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £2,095

* You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift, as decided by the UK Government, up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has recently suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX ( Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments)


International Fee in Year 1: £2,095


Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

Whilst books are available via the University Library, there are various advised/recommended books you may wish to purchase throughout the duration of this course, costs are approximately £100.00.

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

How to Apply

Please use the Apply Now button at the top of this page to submit your application.

Certain applications may need to be submitted via an external application system, such as UCAS, Lawcabs or DfE Apply.

The Apply Now button will redirect you to the relevant website if this is the case.

You can find further application advice, such as what to include in your application and what happens after you apply, on our Admissions Hub Admissions | Northumbria University



Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

LW4007 -

Introduction to Mental HealthLaw (Core,20 Credits)

‘Introduction to Mental Health Law’ aims to help you develop your knowledge and understanding of the legal system of England and Wales and the sources of English law. You will also be assisted to develop your knowledge of the common law and statutory framework for the voluntary and compulsory care of those with mental disorders, and to develop your understanding of the relevance of human rights law to those with mental disorders. Through the use of practical scenarios and exploration of case judgements you will develop your ability to interpret primary sources of law, and to apply legal principles to real life problems.

More information

LW4008 -

Key concepts in mental health law (Core,20 Credits)

This module will develop your understanding of key areas of mental health law, including: the common law and statutory frameworks for voluntary and compulsory treatment of those with mental disorder; the statutory provisions relating to leave of absence and absence without leave; community treatment orders; powers to transfer patients; basic statutory aftercare duties; and the basics of the care programme approach.

More information

LW4009 -

Policy Requirements of the Code of Practice (Core,20 Credits)

This module will focus upon the legal provisions relating to the management of patients and in particular the provisions of the Code of Practice to the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended). The module will consider the statutory authority for the Code of Practice, the basic principles of the Code, the hospital policies and interagency policies required by the Code, the role of the Care Quality Commission in monitoring the Code. You will develop understanding of the processes involved in the compilation, implementation, amendment and updating of such policies. You will develop the ability to apply the Code to various practical scenarios involving persons suffering from mental disorder.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

LW4007 -

Introduction to Mental HealthLaw (Core,20 Credits)

‘Introduction to Mental Health Law’ aims to help you develop your knowledge and understanding of the legal system of England and Wales and the sources of English law. You will also be assisted to develop your knowledge of the common law and statutory framework for the voluntary and compulsory care of those with mental disorders, and to develop your understanding of the relevance of human rights law to those with mental disorders. Through the use of practical scenarios and exploration of case judgements you will develop your ability to interpret primary sources of law, and to apply legal principles to real life problems.

More information

LW4008 -

Key concepts in mental health law (Core,20 Credits)

This module will develop your understanding of key areas of mental health law, including: the common law and statutory frameworks for voluntary and compulsory treatment of those with mental disorder; the statutory provisions relating to leave of absence and absence without leave; community treatment orders; powers to transfer patients; basic statutory aftercare duties; and the basics of the care programme approach.

More information

LW4009 -

Policy Requirements of the Code of Practice (Core,20 Credits)

This module will focus upon the legal provisions relating to the management of patients and in particular the provisions of the Code of Practice to the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended). The module will consider the statutory authority for the Code of Practice, the basic principles of the Code, the hospital policies and interagency policies required by the Code, the role of the Care Quality Commission in monitoring the Code. You will develop understanding of the processes involved in the compilation, implementation, amendment and updating of such policies. You will develop the ability to apply the Code to various practical scenarios involving persons suffering from mental disorder.

More information

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.

Mental Health Law and Practice Certificate

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Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

Accessibility support

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