AHP curriculum

• Module 1

  Introduction: health and illness in adolescence

  Module 1

  Introduction: health and illness in adolescence

  This course is split into 3 sessions:

  • 01_001 Introduction to adolescent health and illness – introduces learners to key concepts in young people’s health.
  • 01_002 Guidance and policy for young people’s health – outlines current UK guidance and policy on caring for young people and the provision of adolescent health services.
  • 01_003 Investing in young people’s health – explores the burden of health problems in adolescence, provides an overview of current key health indicators for young people, and outlines reasons to invest in improving adolescent health and services for young people.

• Module 2

  Healthy development

  Module 2

  Healthy development

  This course is split into 6 sessions:

  • 02_001 Healthy development in adolescence – introduces normal development in adolescents in key biological, psychological and social domains, and the impact of these upon their health and illness. The importance of psychosocial development for chronic disease self-management and concordance is also discussed.
  • 02_002 Concepts of puberty – introduces key concepts relating to puberty such as: potential issues, biological changes, Tanner stages and timings and growth spurt.
  • 02_003 Pubertal assessment – discusses the five Tanner Stages that boys and girls go through in pubertal development.
  • 02_004 Psychological development – reviews the reciprocal impact of changes in psychological (and cognitive, emotional and behavioural) development in adolescence and how these changes impact self-management of chronic illness in adolescence.
  • 02_005 Social development in adolescence – reviews the reciprocal impact of changes in social development in adolescence and how these changes impact self-management of long-term illness during adolescence.
  • 02_006 Assessing development stage – discusses the physical, social, cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes that take place during adolescence.  A four-stage assessment tool will be described that can be used to determine where a young person is in relation to early, middle or late adolescent development.

• Module 3

  Legal framework

  Module 3

  Legal framework

  This course is split into 4 sessions:

  • 03_001 The Legal framework for working with young people – is an introduction to professional, legal and ethical issues concerning young people and their health.
  • 03_002 Capacity and consent – explores the UK legal framework for assessing competence in young people, with particular regard to consent to treatment. Case studies are used to explore the appropriate action to take.
  • 03_003 Confidentiality – introduces the main principles and legal aspects of confidentiality as applied to the care of young people. It will also help you understand the practical issues related to delivery of confidential services to young people. The session also examines the circumstances under which you may have to break confidentiality, where accidental disclosure may occur and what action needs to be taken.
  • 03_005 Safeguarding adolescents – aims to help you understand specific issues relating to child protection for adolescents and the wider context of safeguarding.

• Module 4

  Communication and consultation with young people

  Module 4

  Communication and consultation with young people

  This course is split into 5 sessions:

  • 04_001 Communication skills in young people – covers some of the basic principles of communication skills. It focuses on the need to adapt communication to fit with the language and cognitive skills of the young person, which will change as they go through adolescence.
  • 04_002 Health communication and young people: setting the scene – describes some of the attitudes, emotions and issues of young people, parents, and health professionals that may affect any health consultation and suggests ways by which it is possible to influence these in order to achieve a more positive outcome.
  • 04_003 Gathering information and exploring sensitive issues – describes some steps that health professionals can take to encourage young people to share information about health problems that they perceive as embarrassing or sensitive.
  • 04_004 Explaining and consent – explores some of the problems that young people experience when health professionals attempt to provide them with information, and suggests some ways of improving communication and explanation.
  • 04_005 Motivating and empowering – discusses the implications of empowering young people to take decisions about their own health care and also how the professional could identify key factors and consider making conversations effective and helpful for young people.

• Module 5

  Health promotion and advocacy

  Module 5

  Health promotion and advocacy

  This course is split into 2 sessions:

  • 05_001 Health promotion in young people – introduces the main issues linked to health promotion in young people such as the importance of educating them and the most common approaches used to deliver these interventions.
  • 05_002 Health promotion in clinical consultations – assists you in understanding the practical concepts relating to the promotion of health in adolescents in various settings.

• Module 6

  Long-term conditions and transitional care

  Module 6

  Long-term conditions and transitional care

  This course is split into 7 sessions:

  • 06_001 The experience of long-term condition and disability during adolescence -addresses the impact of chronic illness and disability during adolescence.
  • 06_002 Vocational readiness in long-term conditions and disability – addresses the impact of having a long-term condition and disability during adolescence on education and vocation. In addition, the session explores the legislation in place to support young people achieving their vocational potential.
  • 06_003 Sex and health risk behaviour in long-term conditions and disability– addresses the impact of chronic illness and disability on sexuality and health risk behaviours during adolescence.
  • 06_004 Young people as experts – considers the young person with a chronic condition as the expert in terms of participation, peer support and self-management.
  • 06_005Transition from child-centred to adult-centred healthcare – explores the importance of transition, as young people with chronic illness and/or disability negotiate the move from child to adult-centred care.
  • 06_006 Practical approaches to transition – considers the practical aspects of timing and planning of transition and transfer for young people with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities.
  • 06_007 Developing a transition programme – considers the key steps involved in the development of a transitional care programme for young people with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities.

• Module 7

  Concordance / adherence

  Module 7

  Concordance / adherence

  This course is split into 2 sessions:

  • 07_001 Adherence and concordance in young people – examines factors that influence the way young people carry out treatment regimens in adolescence; and some of the difficulties encountered by health professionals who care for young people who have health beliefs conflicting with those of their parents or professionals.
  • 07_002 Practical approaches to improving adherence and concordance – explores ways in which strategies to help young people and their families to follow agreed treatment regimens can be developed.  This session features general ideas, practical tips, and includes video clips.

• Module 8

  Young people friendly services

  Module 8

  Young people friendly services

  This course is split into 3 sessions:

  • 08_001 Introduction to youth people friendly services – introduces key concepts relating to youth friendly services.
  • 08_002 Community-based drop-in services for young people – introduces the principles and practical aspects of Community-based Drop-in Services for Young People and the skills health professionals need to work effectively in these multi-agency teams.
  • 08_003 Hospital-based services for young people – is a task-based session asking learners to assess and consider how to improve the young people-friendliness of their clinical practice and the service in which they work.

• Module 9

  Sexual and reproductive health

  Module 9

  Sexual and reproductive health

  This course is split into 8 sessions.

  • 09_001 Sexual behaviour in adolescence – aims to help you understand the range and epidemiology of normal sexual behaviour in adolescence and also creates awareness of the issues relating to gender, sexual identity and implications of chronic illness for sexual function and health.
  • 09_002 Sexual assault in young people – aims to help you understand how to take a history and provide services to young people who may have been victims of sexual assault.
  • 09_003 Sexually transmitted infections in young people – reviews sexually transmitted infection (STI) trends in young people and identifies factors which place them at high risk of STIs. It also describes the different models of sexual health services available to young people and how modernisation of services has improved access and care.
  • 09_004 Management of sexually transmitted infections in young people – aims to help you identify specific adolescent issues related to the presentation, diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in young people.
  • 09_005 Contraception – describes an evidence-based approach to prescribing contraception for adolescents.
  • 09_006 Teenage parents – looks at teenage pregnancy rates in the UK and identifies the associated risk factors. It explores health outcomes faced by young parents and their children with recommendations as to how health professionals can help improve the lives of young families.
  • 09_007 Adolescent gynaecology – covers gynaecological symptoms including normal and abnormal menstruation.
  • 09_008 Preventing pregnancy – discusses the issue of preventing teenage pregnancy in general and identifies the factors which have been shown to reduce levels of teenage pregnancy.

• Module 10

  Self harm and common mental health problems

  Module 10

  Self harm and common mental health problems

  This course is split into 7 sessions:

  • 10_001 001 Mental health and well-being in adolescence – Adolescence is the stage at which many mental health problems begin to develop. This session describes some of the basic concepts of emotional well-being in young people and the epidemiology of some common mental health problems at this age.
  • 10_002 Introduction to self-harm – provides an introduction to self-harm. The session starts with a knowledge-check, followed by information used within the health care setting to gain a better understanding of self-harm among young people.
  • 10_003 The assessment and management of self-harm – provides an overview of the assessment and management of self-harm in respect of young people who present to services such as primary care, emergency departments and hospital services. It is based on current guidelines(NICE) and best practices.
  • 10_004 The assessment of common mental health problems – describes some of the important stages of assessing a young person presenting with emotional or psychological problems. It also identifies strategies for distinguishing transient minor psychological problems from more serious ones.
  • 10_005 Recognising common mental health problems – describes the features of some of the most common, and some of the most serious of mental health disorders in adolescence and the characteristics that may help distinguish them from each other
  • 10_006 Managing common mental health problems – describes some of the broad issues to consider when managing common or potentially serious mental health problems in young people. It concentrates on generic principles (ethical considerations, the timeliness of intervention and others). In the final section we consider two general problems: school refusal and bullying.
  • 10_007 Self-harm and common mental health problems – describes some specific non-pharmacological therapies that can be used for treating mental health problems in young people in a range of settings. It also briefly covers current guidance on the management of specific conditions and makes reference to pharmacological interventions when appropriate.

• Module 11

  Substance use and misuse

  Module 11

  Substance use and misuse

  This course is split into 3 sessions:

  • 11_001 Substance use, misuse and abuse – enables you to understand the concepts of substance use, substance misuse and substance abuse. It will describe the consequences of substance misuse for adolescents.
  • 11_002 Managing substance use problems in routine clinical practice – outlines the responsibilities of some of the agencies that deal with young people who misuse substances and suggests current assessment, screening and management models to improve outcomes.
  • 11_003 Prevention strategies – outlines some of those responsibilities and suggests ways to identify children at risk of substance misuse and put in place prevention strategies.

• Module 12

  Overweight and underweight

  Module 12

  Overweight and underweight

  This course is split into 9 sessions:

  • 12_001 Body shape and body image in adolescence – explores the normal variations and trends in body shape during adolescence and the factors that commonly influence it, including genetic, ethnic and lifestyle factors.
  • 12_002 Nutritional requirements in adolescence – describes nutritional requirements during adolescence, typical eating patterns which could lead to nutritional deficiencies, common dieting strategies used, and the additional nutritional needs arising with pregnancy.
  • 12_003 Development of normal eating behaviour – describes patterns of eating behaviour in adolescence and the factors that influence these patterns.
  • 12_004 Obesity in young people – describes recent trends, causes and sequelae of obesity in adolescence and assesses treatment options, including common dieting and exercise approaches.
  • 12_006 Medical assessment and management of obesity – describes the key elements in the medical assessment and management of adolescent obesity and its relation to type 2 diabetes. It will also cover the identification of pathological causes of obesity.
  • 12_007 Eating disorders in young people – gives an overview of the nature, aetiology and risk factors linked to Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Also covered are the diagnostic elements that allow us to distinguish between eating disorders and other conditions affecting the eating behaviour of young people.
  • 12_008 Assessment of eating disorders – covers the stages of the assessment of eating disorders, taking into account diagnostic criteria, nutritional status and the role of the family.
  • 12_009 Management strategies for eating disorders – cover the principles of treating an adolescent with an eating disorder, including some of the physical and legal considerations
  • 12_010 Multidisciplinary management of adolescent obesity – focuses on management of obesity at an individual level. It describes the multi-disciplinary treatment of obesity in adolescents outlining current guidelines for best practice and relevant public policy documents.

• Module 13

  Common medical conditions

  Module 13

  Common medical conditions

  This course is split into 6 sessions:

  • 13_001 Introduction to common symptoms and help-seeking – considers the types of symptoms that young people experience, and the choices that they make about where to go for help.
  • 13_002 Sleep problems in adolescence – provides the learner with a brief overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features and management of sleep disorders in adolescence.
  • 13_003 Assessment and diagnosis of CFS/ME in adolescence – introduces the learner to chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and equips the learner with knowledge of when a diagnosis of CFS/ME should be made.
  • 13_004 Managing CFS/ME in adolescence -THIS SESSION IS OUT OF DATE AND WILL BE REPLACED SHORTLY
  • 13_005 Acne – is intended to give the learner a brief overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features and management of acne, which frequently presents in adolescence.
  • 13_006 Glandular fever – THIS SESSION IS OUT OF DATE AND WILL BE REPLACED SHORTLY

• Module 14

  Level A

  Module 14

  Level A

  This learning path includes 14 introductory knowledge sessions (i.e. based on competences using ‘know about’). All introductory sessions for each module should be at level A. We envisage that these sessions are generic for all health professionals.

  • 01_001 Introduction to adolescent health and illness
  • 02_001 Healthy development in adolescence
  • 03_001 The legal framework for working with young People
  • 04_001 Communication skills in young people
  • 06_001 The experience of long-term condition and disability during adolescence
  • 06_001 Vocational readiness in long-term conditions and disability
  • 07_001 Adherence and concordance in young people
  • 08_001 Introduction to youth people friendly services
  • 08_003 Hospital-based services for young people
  • 09_001 Sexual behaviour in adolescence
  • 10_001 Mental health and well-being in adolescence
  • 11_001 Substance use, misuse and abuse
  • 12_003 Development of normal eating behaviour
  • 13_001 Introduction to common symptoms and help-seeking

• Module 15

  Level B

  Module 15

  Level B

  This learning path includes 21 sessions based on the acquisition of deeper knowledge (i.e. ‘understand’). This level also involves learning attitudes, which are related to a deeper understanding. Level B contains more in-depth knowledge in which you are required to understand the specific issues to a much greater degree than in Level A.

  • 01_002 Guidance and policy for young people’s health
  • 02_002 Concepts of puberty
  • 02_004 Psychological development
  • 02_005 Social development in adolescence
  • 03_003 Confidentiality
  • 03_005 Safeguarding adolescents
  • 04_002 Health communication and young people: setting the scene
  • 05_001 Health promotion in young people
  • 06_003 Sex and health risk behaviour in long-term conditions and disability
  • 06_005 Transition from child-centred to adult-centred healthcare
  • 07_002 Practical approaches to improving adherence and concordance
  • 08_002 Community-based drop-in services for young people
  • 09_003 Sexually transmitted infections in young people
  • 09_006 Teenage parents
  • 09_008 Preventing pregnancy
  • 10_002 Introduction to self-harm
  • 10_005 Recognising common mental health problems
  • 11_003 Prevention strategies
  • 12_001 Body shape and body image in adolescence
  • 12_004 Obesity in young people
  • 12_007 Eating disorders in young people

• Module 16

  Level C

  Module 16

  Level C

  This learning path includes 14 sessions based on applied knowledge and understanding – Skills (i.e. ‘be able to’). These sessions build on level B and enable the learner to develop necessary skills. For example, show the use of (begin to develop) analytical clinical reasoning skills in a given topic or context.

  • 01_003 Investing in young people’s health
  • 02_003 Pubertal assessment
  • 02_006 Assessing development stage
  • 03_002 Capacity and consent
  • 03_005 Safeguarding adolescents
  • 04_003 Gathering information and exploring sensitive issues
  • 04_004 Explaining and consent
  • 04_005 Empowering and motivating
  • 05_002 Health promotion in clinical consultations
  • 06_006 Practical approaches to transition
  • 10_004 The assessment of common mental health problems
  • 11_002 Managing substance use problems in routine clinical practice
  • 13_002 Sleep problems in adolescence
  • 13_003 Assessment and diagnosis of CFS/ME in adolescence

• Module 17

  Level D

  Module 17

  Level D

  This learning path includes 15 sessions based on specialist skills (‘be able to’). Sessions at this level apply to specific medical skills of diagnosis and management and build on sessions from level C.

  • 06_007 Developing a transition programme
  • 09_002 Sexual assault in young people
  • 09_004 Management of sexually transmitted infections in young people
  • 09_005 Contraception
  • 09_007 Adolescent gynaecology
  • 10_003 The assessment and management of self-harm
  • 10_006 Managing common mental health problems
  • 10_007 Self-Harm and common mental health problems
  • 12_006 Medical assessment and Management of Obesity
  • 12_008 Assessment of eating disorders
  • 12_009 Management strategies for eating disorders
  • 12_010 Multidisciplinary management of adolescent obesity
  • 13_004 Managing CFS/ME in adolescence – THIS SESSION IS OUT OF DATE AND WILL BE REPLACED SHORTLY
  • 13_005 Acne
  • 13_006 Glandular fever – THIS SESSION IS OUT OF DATE AND WILL BE REPLACED SHORTLY

Project Team