Changes must be backed, says Young Minds’

The government will struggle to reject an amendment from peers that stops children being placed in adult wards, says charity Young Minds.

Young Minds senior policy officer Kathryn Pugh said that if the government was to pride itself on supporting children’s issues then it had to back the amendment.

The government tabled its own amendment in the Lords to give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to refuse treatment, against the wishes of their parents. It has also agreed to look at introducing extra safeguards over the use of electro-convulsive therapy on under-18s.

And it has also promised to look at ensuring mental health tribunals consult a child mental health specialist in children’s cases.

The bill and approved mental health practitioners

Concerns have also been raised over plans in the bill to replace approved social workers with approved mental health professionals, who could be drawn from other professions.

The British Association of Social Workers wants the new professionals to be accountable to councils, rather than the health trusts responsible for detaining patients. BASW said guidance attached to the bill could prevent local authorities from completely handing over their AMHP service.

Further information
Young Minds – The Mental Health Bill

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   Simeon Brody