Policy

Mental health problems are common among older people but not an inevitable part of the ageing process. Much can be done to prevent mental health problems in later life‚ to help recovery and to support older people and enable them to enjoy a good quality of life.

The UK Independent Inquiry into Mental Health promotes a vision of society where the needs of older people with mental health problems‚ and the needs of their carers‚ are understood‚ taken seriously‚ given the full share of attention and resources‚ and met in a way that enables them to lead full and meaningful lives.*

Promoting good mental health and well-being is important throughout life but often in the past older people have been excluded from mental health initiatives. Age Concern and City & Guilds are therefore pleased to jointly offer two new vocational qualifications in Promoting the mental health and well-being of older people. These are designed to help all individuals who work with older people to understand and promote mental health and to feel confident about the action they can take to prevent‚ and to respond to‚ mental health problems.

These qualifications are aimed at everyone who is involved in improving and maintaining the mental well- being of older people‚ whether they are based in health services‚ housing‚ social care‚ advice and employment‚ education sport and leisure‚ or the criminal justice system – in the voluntary‚ public or private sectors. This includes paid staff‚ volunteers and informal carers supporting and working with older people in their own homes‚ in community and day services‚ hospital and residential settings‚ housing schemes and secure accommodation. The qualifications aim to build on the previous work and life experiences of learners and are therefore relevant to people who are new to their role as well as those who already have experience of working with older people.

Age Concern is the UK's largest organisation working for and with older people to enable them to make more of life. In England‚ we are a federation of over 400 independent charities which share the same name‚ values and standards. We believe that ageing is a normal part of life‚ and that later life should be fulfilling‚ enjoyable and productive. We enable older people by providing services and grants‚ researching their needs and opinions‚ influencing government and media‚ and through other innovative and dynamic projects.

Every day we provide vital services‚ information and support to thousands of older people - of all ages and backgrounds. Age Concern also works with many older people from disadvantaged or marginalised groups‚ such as those living in rural areas or black and minority ethnic elders.

City & Guilds is the UK’s leading vocational awarding body‚ offering over 500 qualifications in a wide range of industries across the world. Our awards‚ which span seven levels from basic skills to the highest standards of professional achievement‚ are designed to help people and businesses achieve growth and success.

We offer a wide range of qualifications for those who work with individuals as well as children‚ young people and their families in the areas of social care‚ mental health and learning disabilities.

City & Guilds qualifications are designed to provide a combination of practical experience and theoretical knowledge. Working with key industry bodies‚ we ensure that our qualifications are relevant and evolving to meet the needs of learners and employers.

Find out more about the qualifications from the City and Guilds website.

* Improving services and support for older people with mental health problems‚ the second report from the UK Inquiry into mental health and well-being in later life (2007)

Trainer manual and learner workbooks

We are very pleased to announce that Pavilion‚ in partnership with Age Concern and City & Guilds‚ will be publishing both learner workbooks and trainer manuals supporting the learning and development of these qualifications in practice.  These high quality materials will be both comprehensive and engaging and are grounded in current research and best practice which are designed to challenge learner’s attitudes to and assumptions about‚ older people. 

For more information about the learner workbooks or trainer manuals and the detailed units that make up the Level 2 and Level 3 City & Guilds qualifications please download the pdf below.