Psychosocial Interventions Programme

The RCN's Psychosocial Interventions Programme is designed to enhance the skills of the mental health nursing workforce. It is aimed at training mental health nurses (MHNs) to use psychosocial interventions and build strong relationships with patients, their families and carers. 

• Learn how psychosocial interventions are used to support individuals and how to develop holistic strategies to help patients live meaningful and fulfilling lives. 
• Explore how to use multimodal approaches within the psychosocial paradigm through problem-solving and enquiry-led assessments. These will focus on person-centred and co-designed care planning.  
• Understand how to use the skills of 'Enhanced Family Inclusive Practice' as an enhanced care intervention to ensure support for all family members.

This programme has been developed and co-designed with service users, family representatives and international and national nursing experts in psychosocial interventions. 

A key part of being a MHN is having the ability to support patients in a compassionate way using evidence-based interventions that promote recovery. Patients may have complex and interconnected issues that biological treatments, such as medication, can only partially address.  

This programme is aimed at registered mental health nurses who work with individuals, their families and other support networks. You may want to make a difference, enhance your existing therapeutic skills and develop psychosocial interventions at an ‘enhanced care level’. 

Cohorts will be made up of 20 participants from across all clinical settings and funded by a Trust.  They will be supported to promote communities of practice that cover the recommendations and delivery of psychosocial interventions across multidisciplinary teams.  

All participants will need: 

• access to patients, service users and individuals who need the support of a registered mental health nurse 
• access to families or support networks 
• supportive management and organisations which aim to enhance the lived experience of those using services.  

This programme aims to apply the knowledge and evidence underpinning psychosocial interventions across local, regional and national practice.  

• Learn and develop your skills to work competently in family-inclusive practice. 
• Learn, practice and apply psycho-social interventions in your practice.  
• Learn to navigate the complexity of social factors that impact modern-day mental health practice.  
• Encompass the evolvement of ‘communities of practice’ that will support your current and future practice. This will establish a sustainable culture of change through a quality improvement framework.  
• Experience coaching as a supportive development tool to develop your leadership skills and influence best practice. 

This 9-month programme consists of a mixture of online learning, face-to-face sessions, live webinars and 6 hours of coaching. Participants will be expected to complete both modules. 

Module 1 will be spread across 3 months and comprises 6 days of learning. 

Module 2 will be spread across 6 months and comprises 12 days of learning. 

• Face-to-face days will predominately focus on learning more about enhanced inclusive family practices and will be held in a local training centre.  
• All other teaching days will require access to the internet as the sessions will be delivered via Zoom or through the RCN learning centre as a self-directed learning activity. 
• Sessions are usually delivered every two weeks, but some exceptions may exist. 

To be discussed and arranged on an individual Trust basis.  

This is not an accredited course, so there is no current formal assessment process. However, attendance is crucial to sign off your skills as competent and receive certification of your enhanced skill in this area. 

The programme cost is £42,000 +VAT for a cohort of 20. For more information please email psi@rcn.org.uk.