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PAR-30001 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 26 June 2026

PAR-30001 - Behavioural Health for Paramedics
Coordinator: Lesley Pugh
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

The Behavioural Health for Paramedics module aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and critical understanding of subject areas synonymous with behavioural health. An in-depth and critical analysis of healthcare legislation, ethical principles and professionalism, and sociocultural competancy with a focus on mental health, multidisciplinary and multiagency working will nurture students to evaluate contemporary paramedic practice in a complex field of healthcare.

Aims
The module will provide knowledge and critical understanding of subject areas synonymous with behavioural health. The complex nature of mental health and the legal challenges paramedics may encounter when working autonomously, often in the community and in the out of hours setting, requires sound knowledge of ethical principles and legislation to ensure safe, ethical and legal care. This module aims to provide students with the ability to critically evaluate arguments, draw conclusions, discuss abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem
Content linked to the Royal College of Paramedic Curriculum Guidance (RCoP, 2024), the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency for Paramedic (HCPC, 2023) and QAA Subject Benchmark Statement Paramedics (QAA, 2019)


Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/par-30001/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Distinguish between key features seen in common mental health conditions across a range of patient groups and critically evaluate abilities and limitations of paramedic practice.: 1
Critically reflect upon the professional, legal and ethical responsibilities of shared decision making and evaluate critically the challenges of providing non-discriminatory mental health care in an urgent care setting.: 1
Critically evaluate the benefit of multidisciplinary team working for service users and the implementation of safety netting care plans in regards to patient referral/s.: 1
Summarise the benefits of therapeutic communication and pharmacotherapeutics and their application in the treatment of mental health illness.: 1
Characterise the effects of medications commonly used in overdose and summarise treatment options.: 1

Study hours

Lead Lectures - 20 hours
Case studies to include synchronous and asynchronous discussions - 20 hours
Independent study - 110 hours to include:
Directed reading - 40
Independent research for learning - 50
Assessment preparation - 20

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Presentation weighted 100%
Online presentation - 30 minutes
Students will deliver a 20-minute presentation analysing a patient encounter involving a mental health condition within paramedic practice. Students should present a structured case discussion that includes: 1. Case introduction 2. Identification of mental health condition 3. Communication and clinical management 4. Professional, legal, and ethical considerations 5. Medication and overdose considerations 6. Multi-disciplinary working and referral Students are required to spend 10 minutes on questions and answers following the presentation. The questions will be designed to assess students’ ability to: - Demonstrate deeper understanding of mental health care - Apply knowledge to paramedic practice - Justify clinical decisions - Reflect critically on professional responsibilities - Students should conclude by reflecting on what they learned from the encounter and how this experience informs their future paramedic practice

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 26 June 2026