For this assessment you will be provided a case study outlining two separate Mental Health Conditions. You will be required to assess and compare the following elements for each condition:

· Background and pathophysiology

· Signs and symptoms

· Treatment and management pathways in the prehospital setting

· Communication styles and approaches that can be utilised.

Please see the Moodle page for a detailed rubric however, broadly you will be assessed on:

· Knowledge of different presentations of Mental Health challenges

· The ability to assess, compare and treat Mental Health challenges

· Understanding of appropriate interpersonal communication styles and professional behaviours

· Application of appropriate communication and professional behaviours to the standards expected of a paramedic

· Ability to communicate and present key information in an academic and professional manner

The assessment should be of an academic standard expected of a 3rd year Paramedic Science student and the professional standards required of a paramedic.

The assessment will be marked against the provided rubric, which has undergone peer review and a quality review process.

All assessments must be submitted via the unit Moodle page and undergo review via Turnitin.

The word count for this assessment is 2000 words (+/-10%), excluding the title page, headings, in-text references and the reference page.

This assessment must be in your own words and completed individually, collaboration with other students is not permitted.

You are to include at least ten references in total, which must include at least six recent (dated after 2013) peer-reviewed, scientific articles on the listed mental health conditions. You may utilise expert textbooks and/or websites however, you may not use the prescribed textbook or reference lectures from this unit. Additionally, references from Wikipedia will not be accepted.

In the absence of an approved extension, a penalty of 5% of the total marks for the assessment will be deducted for each full or part calendar day the assessment is overdue, in accordance with Assessment Policy and Procedure.

The pass mark for this assessment is 50%

You will be required to complete a workbook exploring your knowledge gained throughout this unit. You will be required to answer the questions set out in the workbook. These questions support your continued professional development through structured self-directed learning. The workbook will be provided to you via the Moodle page. This task will involve short answer responses, requiring you to research, critical reviews and concisely answer each question in 500 words.

Please review the workbook thoroughly before commencing. You must complete all parts of the workbooks according to the instructions provided, ensuring that all work is referenced as per instructions in the workbook.

• Evaluate and explain mental health related legislation within the context of paramedicine
• Plan and deliver a range of evidence-based therapeutic options (using an individual and culturally specific context) to assist consumers experiencing mental health challenges

You will be required to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge taught to you throughout this unit. This will be conducted through multiple questions in the workbook. The workbook will have marks awarded to each question with the accumulation of these marks being the final result. The workbook and marking rubrics will be provided on the unit Moodle page. The assessment will be based on marking criteria covering the following key points:

• Plan and deliver a range of evidence-based therapeutic options (using an individual and culturally specific context) to assist consumers experiencing mental health challenges
• Evaluate and explain mental health related legislation within the context of paramedicine

The assessment should be of an academic standard expected of a 3rd year Paramedic Science student and the professional standards required of a paramedic.

The assessment will be marked against the provided rubric, which has undergone peer review and a quality review process.

All assessments must be submitted via the unit Moodle page and undergo review via Turnitin.

This assessment must be in your own words and completed individually, collaboration with other students is not permitted. 

You must reference each answer with articles dated no earlier than 2013. You may utilise expert textbooks and/or websites however, you may not use the prescribed textbook or reference lectures from this unit. Additionally, references from Wikipedia will not be accepted.

In the absence of an approved extension, a penalty of 5% of the total marks for the assessment will be deducted for each full or part calendar day the assessment is overdue, in accordance with Assessment Policy and Procedure.

The pass mark for this assessment is 50%

For this assessment you will be required to attend a compulsory residential school.

The Residential School will be marked against three assessments tasks. The Residential School is a Pass/Fail assessment.

The assessment tasks will consist of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), which will conducted during the residential school. The OSCEs may consist of a combination of Case Management Exercises and Documentation Exercises. The OSCEs will relate to content delivered throughout the unit and align with the relevant unit learning outcomes and are designed to assess the knowledge and practical skills acquired throughout the unit and residential school

Assessments undertaken during the residential school may be assessed against a combination of the following criteria:

· Patient assessment and patient history taking

· Application of appropriate legislation

· Implementation of interventions and patient management

· Scene management and patient safety

· Mental Status Examination (MSE) / Mental Status Assessment (MSA) / Sedation Assessment Tool (SAT)

· Verbal / Non-verbal and written communication skills

The practical assessment is a pass/fail assessment.

You will be required to achieve a Pass on all listed criterion for each assessment item to achieve an overall Pass for the residential school.

Each criterion may consist of several elements.

If you fail 50% or less of the overall criterion in a single OSCE you will provided with a resit, which will occur during the residential school. You will only be provided one resit.

If you fail more than 50% of the overall criterion in a single OSCE you will be awarded a fail for that assessment task.

Multiple assessment marking rubrics will be used during the residential school. The marking rubrics have undergone peer-review and a quality review process. Example marking rubrics for each assessment task will be provided prior to the residential school, via the Assessment tile on the unit Moodle page.

Critical Errors

Critical errors in this unit will be classed as anything, by act or omission, that causes immediate harm or the potential to cause harm to yourself, partner, patient or bystanders, or any procedure performed outside your scope of practice. During any form of assessment, if any of the following critical errors are witnessed, if safety permits, the scenario will continue; however, the assessment will be graded as a fail. Furthermore, any critical error discovered on review or moderation will also result in no marks being given for that particular assessment:

· Unsafe defibrillation.

· Incorrect joules were delivered during defibrillation.

· Defibrillation of a non-shockable rhythm.

· Failure to recognise cardiac arrest (>1minute).

· Failure to shock a shockable rhythm in a timely manner ( <2 minutes).

· Failure to perform a complete drug check, including dose, volume, indications and contra-indications.

· Failure to check indications and contra-indications before performing a skill or procedure.

· Performing a skill or procedure outside your scope of practice.

· Administering a drug or drug dose outside your scope of practice.

· Incorrect sharps disposal or unsafe practice with a sharp.

· Any grossly unsafe practice, as determined by the assessing academic.

If you do not understand any of the above, please do not hesitate to clarify with your unit coordinator