COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Implement Responsible Work Practices in Mental Health Support Settings course. This program has been designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and professional standards to provide safe, ethical, and recovery-oriented support to people experiencing mental health challenges across a range of community and residential settings.
Mental health support involves much more than task completion; it is about building respectful, collaborative relationships that recognise each person’s experiences, goals, and strengths. This course begins by introducing the core concepts of mental health support, the roles and responsibilities of mental health support workers, and the principles of recovery-oriented and person-centred practice. It also explores the importance of maintaining clear professional boundaries, accountability, and ethical conduct when working with people who may be vulnerable, distressed, or experiencing fluctuating mental health.
Providing emotional support is a central part of mental health support work. This section examines how to use empathetic listening techniques, respond appropriately to emotional distress, and support clients through daily mental health challenges while maintaining emotional safety for both clients and workers. It highlights the importance of validating people’s experiences, avoiding judgement, and recognising when to provide support, when to encourage self-management strategies, and when to escalate concerns.
Many clients require practical assistance with daily living activities as part of their recovery journey. This section focuses on supporting personal hygiene and self-care routines, assisting with meal preparation and nutrition, organising household tasks, and helping clients to attend appointments and commitments. It emphasises promoting independence wherever possible and ensuring that practical assistance respects privacy, dignity, and agreed care plans.
Clients may at times experience crises or acute distress that require a structured and calm response. This section explores how to recognise early warning signs of crisis, respond to panic attacks and heightened distress, and apply de-escalation strategies safely and respectfully. It also examines when and how to engage emergency services and follow organisational procedures so that client safety remains the highest priority.
Individualised care plans provide a framework for consistent and goal-focused support. This section examines the purpose of care plans, how mental health support workers implement the strategies outlined in them, and the importance of working within professional scope and documented instructions. It also addresses monitoring adherence to agreed supports and providing feedback to relevant professionals when aspects of the plan may need review or adjustment.
Social engagement and community participation are critical to recovery and wellbeing. This section explores how to identify suitable social and community activities, support clients to overcome social isolation, and encourage participation at a pace that feels safe and achievable for each person. It emphasises respecting client choice and preferences, and recognising that participation and connection can look different for each individual.
Medication support must be delivered within clear role boundaries and organisational procedures. This section examines the responsibilities of mental health support workers in assisting with medication routines, including prompting, supporting adherence to prescribed regimens, and observing and reporting effects or side effects. It also emphasises the importance of maintaining accurate medication-related records and escalating concerns appropriately to clinical staff or prescribers.
Ongoing monitoring and recording of client progress help ensure that support remains responsive and effective. This section focuses on observing changes in behaviour and mood, recording interactions and observations accurately, and reporting progress or concerns to relevant professionals. It also explores how documentation contributes to care reviews, risk management, and collaborative decision-making.
Facilitating access to mental health and community services is an important part of responsible practice. This section examines how to identify appropriate support services, assist with referrals, support clients to navigate complex service systems, and follow up on engagement to ensure connections are maintained. It highlights the importance of supporting choice while offering clear, accessible information about available options.
Promoting client independence is a key goal of recovery-oriented practice. This section explores how to encourage the development of daily living skills, support budgeting and money management, assist with shopping and community access, and encourage use of public and community transport where appropriate. It emphasises fostering confidence and self-efficacy so that clients can build greater control over their daily lives.
Families and caregivers often play a significant role in supporting people with mental health needs. This section examines how to communicate appropriately with families and carers, share information within consent and privacy requirements, and support families to understand client needs and recovery goals. It also addresses the importance of managing boundaries and confidentiality while recognising the stress and responsibilities families may experience.
Supporting clients in managing mental health symptoms is a day-to-day component of many roles. This section explores how to reinforce coping and self-regulation strategies, support management of anxiety, depression, and other common symptoms, and assist clients to recognise triggers and early warning signs. It also considers encouraging the use of therapeutic techniques recommended by clinicians, within the support worker’s role and scope.
Team meetings and supervision are essential to safe, reflective, and accountable practice. This section examines how to participate in case discussions, share observations and concerns professionally, and receive guidance and feedback constructively. It emphasises applying supervision outcomes to day-to-day practice, using support structures to manage complex situations, and maintaining high standards of professional conduct.
Accompanying clients to appointments can be an important part of ensuring engagement with treatment and support. This section explores how to help clients prepare for appointments, support attendance at health and therapy services, assist with transport arrangements, and provide appropriate support during appointments while respecting client autonomy. It also highlights the importance of clarifying the worker’s role in communication between client and professionals.
Finally, the course concludes with a focus on encouraging healthy habits and overall wellbeing. This section examines how to promote balanced nutrition, encourage regular physical activity, support healthy sleep routines, and reinforce self-care and wellbeing practices as part of everyday support. It recognises that small, consistent changes in daily habits can significantly contribute to recovery, resilience, and quality of life.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the practical strategies, ethical frameworks, and structured work practices needed to provide responsible, recovery-oriented mental health support that promotes safety, dignity, autonomy, and positive outcomes for the people you work with.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Mental Health Support Practice
- Understanding mental health support
- Roles and responsibilities of mental health support workers
- Principles of recovery-oriented and person-centred practice
- Maintaining professional boundaries and accountability
2. Providing Emotional Support to Clients
- Using empathetic listening techniques
- Responding appropriately to emotional distress
- Supporting clients through daily mental health challenges
- Maintaining emotional safety for clients and workers
3. Assisting with Daily Living Activities
- Supporting personal hygiene and self-care routines
- Assisting with meal preparation and nutrition
- Supporting household tasks and organisation
- Assisting clients to attend appointments and commitments
4. Supporting Clients in Crisis Situations
- Recognising early warning signs of crisis
- Responding to panic attacks and acute distress
- Applying de-escalation strategies safely
- Engaging emergency services when required
5. Following Individualised Care Plans
- Understanding the purpose of care plans
- Implementing strategies outlined in care plans
- Working within professional scope and instructions
- Monitoring adherence to agreed supports
6. Encouraging Social Engagement and Community Participation
- Identifying suitable social and community activities
- Supporting clients to overcome social isolation
- Encouraging participation at the client’s pace
- Respecting client choice and preferences
7. Administering Medication Assistance
- Understanding medication support responsibilities
- Assisting clients to follow prescribed medication routines
- Observing and reporting medication effects
- Maintaining accurate medication records
8. Monitoring and Recording Client Progress
- Observing changes in behaviour and mood
- Recording client interactions accurately
- Reporting progress to relevant professionals
- Using documentation to inform care reviews
9. Facilitating Access to Mental Health and Community Services
- Identifying appropriate support services
- Assisting with referrals and service access
- Supporting navigation of service systems
- Following up on service engagement
10. Promoting Client Independence
- Encouraging development of daily living skills
- Supporting budgeting and money management skills
- Assisting with shopping and community access
- Encouraging use of public and community transport
11. Liaising with Families and Caregivers
- Communicating appropriately with families and carers
- Sharing information within consent requirements
- Supporting families to understand client needs
- Managing boundaries and confidentiality
12. Supporting Clients in Managing Mental Health Symptoms
- Teaching coping and self-regulation strategies
- Supporting management of anxiety and depression
- Assisting clients to recognise triggers
- Encouraging use of therapeutic techniques
13. Attending Team Meetings and Supervision
- Participating in case discussions
- Sharing observations and concerns professionally
- Receiving guidance and feedback
- Applying supervision outcomes to practice
14. Accompanying Clients to Appointments
- Preparing clients for appointments
- Supporting attendance at health and therapy services
- Assisting with transport arrangements
- Supporting communication during appointments
15. Encouraging Healthy Habits and Wellbeing
- Promoting balanced nutrition choices
- Encouraging regular physical activity
- Supporting healthy sleep routines
- Reinforcing self-care and wellbeing practices
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.