News

Plans published by the Scottish executive to radically change mental health legislation will enhance the role of social work qualified mental health officers in Scotland, in contrast to plans for their English and Welsh counterparts.

'Renewing Mental Health Law', published at the end of October and likely to be law in Scotland by early next year, will give key roles for social work qualified mental health officers in compulsory treatment in the community, in mental health tribunals and in advocacy services, as well as maintaining their current roles.

The plans contrast starkly with the mental health white paper published in December last year for England and Wales, under which sectioning orders will be made by two doctors and "another suitably trained mental health professional", who may not be a social worker. Under current legislation, two doctors must recommend detention, but it is the job of the approved social worker to assess the client socially and, if appropriate, apply to compulsorily admit someone to hospital.

Ruth Stark, Scottish policy officer for the British Association of Social Workers, said the proposals for Scotland would give mental health officers and social work generally a central role in what used to be seen as primarily medical tasks.

"The Scottish executive is demonstrating that social work skills are valued – a factor not evident throughout the government of the UK," she said.

"In Scotland we will be recruiting more mental health officers, emphasising the importance of social work training and skills. Yet elsewhere in the UK, social work appears to be running the risk of being demoted. Social work is a UK recognised qualification yet we are in danger of ending up with two grades of social worker – the higher in Scotland and the lower in England."