Working with People with Mental Health Needs - Level 2

Summary

Are you passionate about supporting people with mental health needs and looking to build a rewarding career in health and social care? The NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Working with People with Mental Health Needs is designed to give you the essential knowledge and understanding required to work confidently in this field. Ideal for those aged 16 and over, this nationally recognised qualification explores key topics such as the role of the mental health worker, duty of care, person-centred approaches, and how to support individuals on their journey toward recovery.

The course is knowledge-based, meaning you don’t need to be working in the sector to enrol, making it perfect for beginners or career changers. Whether you're looking to progress into employment or further study, this course will help you develop a strong foundation to support others effectively and with compassion.

Next course dates

Start date	Location	Duration
02 Sep 2026	Bispham Campus	1 Year	Apply now

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

The main objective of this qualification is to give individuals already working or intending to work in the health and social care sector, an understanding of the various approaches available to support those with mental health needs. Whilst primarily knowledge-based, there is an emphasis on how this knowledge can be applied practically beyond the classroom to ensure students can successfully integrate what they've learnt into real-world scenarios. The course also prepares students for further study and complements a range of specialist qualifications relevant to health and social care work.

Next steps at B&FC

The following programmes all offer progression opportunities at B&FC:

Employment Opportunities

Having successfully completed this qualification, students can typically progress into the following job roles

Health Care Assistant
Adult Care Worker
Mental Health Practitioner

Key information

Entry Requirements

Grade 2 or 3 GCSE in English and Maths, plus 2 GCSEs in other subjects.

Qualification obtained

Certificate in Understanding Working with People with Mental Health Needs

Fees and funding

Courses for learners who are 16-18 years old at the start of their course and resident in the UK are fully funded. You may also be entitled to further financial help to support your studies depending on your personal circumstances. For more details of these, please visit our page on Finance Support for School Leavers.

If you are not a UK resident, we will confirm whether funding is available when we process your application. If not, you may be liable for course fees.

Extra costs and equipment

All students are asked to provide their own stationery. However, there are no other additional requirements for this course.

What will I learn?

The course comprises the following five mandatory units:

Understand the role of the mental health worker
Mental health and mental health issues
Understand duty of care in adult health and social care
Approaches to care and management in mental health
Understanding change and support in relation to mental health

Essential skills: English and Maths

All school leavers at B&FC are encouraged to continue developing their English and maths skills as higher ability in both these subjects is linked to long-term career success and increased earning potential - irrespective of how well you performed at GCSE. If, however, you achieve a GCSE Grade 3 or less in either subject, you will also have the opportunity to work towards re-sitting these to enhance your paper-based qualifications. This won’t delay your career journey because you will be undertaking this programme of study at the same time as your chosen subject.

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

There will be the opportunity to complete some work experience as part of the study programme, enabling you to put into practice some of the knowledge and skills you have acquired on the course.

To enrich your learning , the College invites a number of guest speakers from the health and social care sector to address There will be a variety of guest speakers invited in to support your learning

How will I learn?

The programme primarily focuses on theoretical knowledge but also includes practical hands-on elements to enhance learning and application. This flexible approach ensures that students can engage with the material in a way that best suits their needs.

Interactive Lectures: Engaging lectures that encourage student participation and discussion.
Group Work: Collaborative projects and activities that foster teamwork and communication skills.
Practical Workshops: Hands-on sessions where students can apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.
Online Resources: Access to a wealth of online materials, including videos, articles, and interactive modules.

These varied teaching methods ensure a comprehensive and dynamic learning experience.

Expert tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of school leaver courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich our students’ learning experience and enable them them to get the inside track on what working in the industry is really like.

How will I be assessed?

To achieve the Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Working with People with Mental Health Needs, learners must compile a portfolio of evidence which demonstrates that they have understood and acquired the knowledge and skills set out in the learning outcomes of each unit. This evidence might include assignments, a reflective journal, research and commentary, case studies and professional discussions.

The qualification is assessed internally and grades are not awarded.