Mental Health and Resilience - Foundation Degree

It's not too late to start your degree-level journey with B&FC this September. We're here to guide you through your options and help you make the right choice for your future. Call: 01253 504322 or Email: admissions@blackpool.ac.uk

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Build a non-clinical career in the evolving world of mental health

The Foundation Degree (FdA) in Mental Health and Resilience is designed for those who want to work in non‑medical mental health settings, supporting individuals, communities and organisations to improve emotional wellbeing and resilience.

This course equips you with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to succeed in a challenging yet highly rewarding field. You’ll develop key professional skills that are valued across mental health and wellbeing services, helping you support people effectively and ethically.

Build skills for real‑world practice

The programme focuses on practical, work‑relevant learning and prepares you for roles in settings such as:

  • Community mental health services
  • Emotional wellbeing and support services
  • Pastoral and wellbeing roles in schools and education settings
  • Dual support services that work alongside health, social care or community provision

You’ll build a strong understanding of mental health and resilience, while developing the professional attributes needed to work confidently in non‑clinical environments.

Progression and further study

As well as preparing you for direct entry into employment, this Foundation Degree provides a clear progression route onto the BA (Hons) Mental Health and Resilience.

This allows you to continue developing your expertise and progress your career within the mental health and wellbeing sector.

Before applying, please check whether you meet the entry requirements under 'Key Information' for this course. Don't hesitate to call us on 01253 504343 if you need assistance.

  • 86,694 Annual job openings in the North West
  • £25,650 Average annual salary
  • Well-resourced onsite training equipment

Entry Requirements

To be considered for an offer, you will need:

  • GCSE English at grade 4 (C) or Functional Skills Level 2
  • GCSE Maths at grade 4 (C) or Functional Skills Level 2 (desirable but not essential)

Level 3 qualifications

You will also need one of the following qualifications:

  • BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care or a related subject – Merit, Merit, Pass
  • Certificate in Mental Health / Mental Health and Resilience Fast Track to Degree – Pass
  • Certificate in Mental Health – Pass
  • Adult Care Level 3 – Pass
  • T Level in Health – C, C, D
  • A levels – C, C, D (88 UCAS points)
  • Access to HE Diploma in Health, Nursing or Social Science – Pass

Work experience requirement

Before an offer can be made, you will also need:

  • 128 hours of paid or voluntary work in a relevant setting
    (equivalent to 4 hours per week during term time)

Entry Requirements(Non-traditional entry route)

Non-standard students, who have not followed the traditional routes to higher education, will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

  • Course code SM1HE0004
  • UCAS code L514
  • Duration 2 Years
  • Day/s of week Wednesday
  • Time 09:15 - 16:45

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
September 2026
University Centre
2 Years
September 2027
University Centre
2 Years

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

Mental health is a broad and growing field, which means there are a wide range of career opportunities available. Graduates may progress into roles across sectors such as mental health services, pastoral and educational support, community and armed forces support, and therapeutic settings.

This foundation degree is designed to help you build the practical skills, knowledge and confidence needed to move into these sectors or to progress further within your current role.

As part of the course, once you successfully complete the Developing Counselling Skills with Coaching and Mentoring module, you will also gain an NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Counselling Skills at no additional cost.

Next steps at B&FC

Successfully completing the Foundation Degree gives you the opportunity to progress to the BA (Hons) Mental Health and Resilience.

 

Employment Opportunities

Demand for those qualified in mental health is growing year on year in a range of sectors. Employment options that you can transition into on achieving the FdA include the roles below:

Deputy Care Home Manager | Referral Hub Practitioner | Peer Support Worker | School Pastoral Support Worker | HCA within Blackpool Teaching Hospital | Housing Association Roles | Civilian roles support forces staff experiencing PTSD. | Therapeutic Therapies | Women’s Aid |Public Health Roles | Police | Telephone Helplines | Community-based Support Roles

Key information

Qualification obtained

FdA Mental Health and Resilience

Fees and funding

Visit our Tuition Fees page and Financial Support for Degrees page for more information about fees and funding, including additional financial support for those on low incomes, with dependent children or adults, or with disabilities.

Extra costs and equipment

No special equipment is required as a full range of IT is available within the Learning Resource Centre for enrolled students. You may wish to purchase a computer (desktop or laptop) as all assessments are submitted electronically. The relevant software can be provided by the College free of charge.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institute: N/A

Awarding Body: Blackpool and The Fylde College

Regulatory Body: Office for Students (OfS)

Terms and conditions

Please visit our Student Terms and Conditions page for more information.

What will I learn?

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

You are required to undertake an equivalent of 4 hours per week term time practice in either paid or voluntary employment within the sector, as this will support your academic journey. 

  • Modules at level 4

    Module title Code Credits Optional
    Academic Skills in Health and Education SM4MD0002 20 No
    Underpinning Principles of Mental Health and Resilience SM4MD0003 20 No
    Wellbeing and Interventions SM4MD0004 20 No
    Professional Behaviours and Counselling Skills SM4MD0005 20 No
    Safeguarding and Mental Health SM4MD0006 20 No
    Mental Health Legislation and Policy SM4MD0007 20 No

  • Modules at level 5

    Module title Code Credits Optional
    Psychological Theories and Research SM5MD0002 20 No
    Co Morbidity of Mental Health SM5MD0003 20 No
    Professional Portfolio Development SM5MD0004 20 No
    Developing Counselling Skills with Coaching and Mentoring SM5MD0005 20 No
    Leading and Managing Teams SM5MD0006 20 No
    Work Based Learning SM5MD0007 20 No

Learning Support - at a glance

  • Higher Education Learning Mentors (HELMs)
  • One-to-one and group learning support sessions
  • Pre-degree preparation workshops
  • IT Support
Discover available Learning Support

Programme Specification

Download our Programme Specification for this course.

How will I learn?

You will be taught using a combination of student-centred teaching and learning approaches.  Lectures will embrace theoretical concepts and include guest speakers and industry representation from the sector to embed your learning.  

Seminars will allow you to engage effectively in academic discussion and present viewpoints in relation to ethical and legal responsibilities. You will engage in critical analysis with opportunities to question research articles and critique sources of information. 

Workshops and one to one progress meetings will further allow you to develop in your studies and receive bespoke support based on your needs.

Scheduled Learning

Scheduled time relates to the time you spend in directed study with the guidance and support of our academic tutors. Scheduled learning can take a variety of forms and will include lectures, seminars, tutorials, guest speakers and workshop time

Independent Study

Higher education courses rely on you undertaking work outside of formal, scheduled sessions and this is generally categorised as independent study. Independent study might include preparation for scheduled sessions, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks and revision.

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.

Learning Methods

Learning Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Scheduled 252 240 0
Independent 948 832 0
Placement 0 128 0
Total 1200 1200 0
Ready to take the next step? Navigate to the top of the page and click Apply Now to continue your degree-level journey.

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How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed in a variety of ways on the programme, which are intended to develop key skills that are beneficial to further study and employment within the Mental Health sector. Assessment methods which you can expect to engage with include essays, presentations, reflections, annotated bibliographies, case studies, seminars and booklets. 

The mixture of practical and written methods of assessing your progress on the course will offer you the opportunity to develop skills essential to practice and build your confidence in working within the sector..

Level 4

  • Academic Skills in Health and Education – 60% Coursework and 40% Practical
  • Underpinning Principles of Mental Health and Resilience – 100% Coursework
  • Wellbeing and Interventions - 70% Coursework and 30% Practical
  • Professional Behaviours and Counselling Skills – 100% Coursework
  • Safeguarding and Mental Health – 40% Practical 60% Coursework
  • Mental Health Legislation and Policy – 100% Coursework

 

Level 5

  • Psychological Theories and Research – 50% Practical and 50% Coursework
  • Co-Morbidity of Mental Health – 30% Practical and 70% Coursework
  • Professional Portfolio Development – 100% Coursework
  • Developing Counselling Skills with Coaching and Mentoring – 75% Coursework and 25% Practical
  • Leading and Managing Teams – 60% Coursework and 30% Practical
  • Work Based Learning – 70% Coursework and 30% Practical

 

 

Assessment Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Coursework 82% 71% 0%
Exam 0% 0% 0%
Practical 0% 0% 0%