About the Adolescent Health Programme
The Adolescent Health Programme (AHP) is an elearning programme for all healthcare professionals working with young people. It is the third programme in the Healthy Child Programme 0-18 series of elearning resources, following the Healthy Child Programme and Healthy School Child Programme.
Suitable for GPs, school nurses, community paediatricians and the child health team, AHP aims to ensure that all health professionals have essential youth communication skills and understand young people’s rights to consent and confidentiality.
This work was commissioned by the Department of Health and delivered by Health Education England elearning for healthcare in collaboration with a consortium of professional bodies. The materials have been written by subject specialists and experts in their particular field and have been subjected to extensive peer review.
The programme is not intended to replace core learning or textbooks on these subjects, but rather to focus on their impact on the health and well-being of young people.
More information
The Adolescent Health Programme comprises 71 elearning ‘sessions’, grouped together by topic into 13 modules. Each learning session takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. The sessions include interactive elements, case studies and self-assessments to reinforce learning and there are a range of resources signposted at the end of each session. The full curriculum for the Adolescent Health Programme is available for download in pdf format:
You can find out more about the curriculum by selecting the modules below.
MindEd and the Adolescent Health Programme
In addition, the mental health topics included in the Adolescent Health Programme are also freely available as part of the MindEd mental health elearning programme. The Healthy Child Mental Health Framework brings together the mental health elearning sessions from the Healthy Child Programme 0-18 series on the open-access MindEd platform. Visit the MindEd elearning portal here.
Modules
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Module 1
Introduction: Health and Illness in AdolescenceModule 1
Introduction: Health and Illness in Adolescence
- Introduction to Adolescent Health and Illness
- Guidance and Policy for Young People’s Health
- Investing in Adolescent Health
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Module 2
Healthy DevelopmentModule 2
Healthy Development
- Healthy Development in Adolescence
- Concepts of Puberty
- Pubertal Assessment
- Psychosocial Development
- Social Development
- Assessing Development Stage
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Module 3
Legal FrameworkModule 3
The Legal Framework
- The Legal Framework for Working with Young People
- Assessing Competence in Young People
- Confidentiality in Counsulations and in Health Services
- Confidentiality: Formal and Accidental Disclosures
- Giving and Getting Consent
- Ethics: Background and its Importance
- Ethics: Using the Deliberative Process
- Safeguarding Adolescents
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Module 4
Communication and Consultation with Young PeopleModule 4
Communication and Consultation with Young People
- Communication Skills in Young People
- Health Communication and Young People: Setting the Scene
- Gathering Information and Exploring Sensitive Issues
- Explaining and Consent
- Motivating and Empowering
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Module 5
Health Promotion and AdvocacyModule 5
Health Promotion and Advocacy
- Health Promotion in Young People
- Health Promotion in Clinical Consultations
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Module 6
Long-term Conditions and Transitional CareModule 6
Long-term Conditions and Transitional Care
- The Experience of Chronic Illness and Disability During Adolescence
- Disability in Adolescence
- Sexuality and Health Risk Behaviours in Chronic Illness and Disability
- The Expert Young Person/Patient
- Transition from Child-centred to Adult-centred Health Care
- Practical Approaches to Transition
- Developing a Transition Programme
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Module 7
Concordance / AdherenceModule 7
Concordance / Adherence
- Adherence and Concordance in Young People
- Practical Approaches to Improving Adherence and Concordance
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Module 8
Young People Friendly ServicesModule 8
Young People Friendly Services
- Introduction to Youth Friendly Services
- Community-based Drop-in Services for Young People
- Designing Innovative Services for Young People
- Making Hospital Services Youth Friendly
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Module 9
Sexual and Reproductive HealthModule 9
Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Sexual Behaviour in Adolescence
- Sexual Assault in Young People
- Sexually Transmitted Infections in Young People
- Contraception
- Teenage Parents
- Adolescent Gynaecology
- Preventing Pregnancy
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Module 10
Self Harm and Common Mental ProblemsModule 10
Self Harm and Common Mental Problems
- Mental Health and Well Being in Adolescence
- Introduction to Self-harm
- The Assessment and Management of Self-harm
- The Assessment of Common Mental Health Problems
- Recognising Common Mental Health Problems
- Management of Common Mental Health Problems
- Specific Approaches to Managing Common Mental Health Problems
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Module 11
Substance Use and MisuseModule 11
Substance Use and Misuse
- Substance Use, Misuse and Abuse
- Managing Substance Use Problems in Routine Clinical Practice
- Substance Misuse: Prevention Strategies
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Module 12
Overweight and UnderweightModule 12
Overweight and Underweight
- Body Shape and Body Image in Adolescence
- Nutritional Requirements in Adolescence
- Development of Normal Eating Behaviour
- Obesity in Young People
- Public Health and Community Management of Adolescent Obesity
- Medical Assessment and Management of Obesity
- Eating Disorders in Young People
- Assessment of Eating Disorders
- Management Strategies for Eating Disorders
- Multidisciplinary Management of Adolescent Obesitypeople
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Module 13
Common Medical ConditionsModule 13
Common Medical Conditions
- Introduction to Common Symptoms and Help-Seeking
- Sleep Problems in Adolescence
- Assessment and Diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndromes in Adolescence
- Management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adolescence
- Acne
- Glandular Fever
Sample sessions
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Self-Harm and Common Mental Health Problems
This session describes four evidence-based talking therapies 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.
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Introduction to Young People Friendly Services
This session introduces the basic elements of young people friendly services. The policy context and evidence for specific young people focused services is explored. The importance of young people’s views is acknowledged as a focus for service improvement.
Project board
Dr Alice Setti
Clinical Lead
Martin Sinclair
National Programme Director, HEE elearning for healthcare
Daniel Waeland
Director, Education and Training, RCPCH
Clair Guy
Programme Manager, HEE elearning for healthcare
Project team
Dr Alice Setti
Clinical Lead
Ian O’Donoghue
Education and Professional Development Lead, RCPCH
Nicole Beckford
Project Manager, RCPCH
Jasmine Deol
Project Manager, HEE elearning for healthcare
Sonali Gupta
Lead Instructional Designer, HEE elearning for healthcare
How to access
In order to access the Adolescent Health programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.
To view the Adolescent Health programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.
NHS healthcare staff in England
The Adolescent Health programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this elearning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.
Further details are available here.
Not an NHS organisation?
If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.
To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ‘OpenAthens’ portal.
Registering large numbers of users
If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Adolescent Health programme, please contact elfh directly.
Organisations wishing to use their own LMS
For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.
More information
Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.
How to license
In the event that you do not qualify for free access to the Adolescent Health programme, you are able to license access through eIntegrity, a community-interest company established for this purpose.
You can check whether or not you qualify for free access by clicking on the ‘Register’ button above.
For more information on the licensing options available for the Adolescent Health programme, please visit the eIntegrity website.