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What does a Mental Health Social Worker do?

I think there’s a lot of misunderstandings about what I actually do at work. What do social workers who are in mental health services do? What do social workers who work in adult services do? I hope by reading, some people get to learn a little of my...

Published 2 Aug 2011 7:36 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, Best Interests Assessor, carer, cmht, Community mental health service, health, mental health social work, mental health, mhsw, NHS Trust, personal, social care, social work, social work in the uk, social worker, what does a mental health social worker do, what does a social worker do, work
Sadness, Sympathy and Self

Sometimes, some days feel filled with sadness. I had one of those days this week. I don’t like to use the word ‘hardened’ but to put it this way, in over 10 years of frontline social work practice in some of the most deprived areas of the country and...

Published 28 Jul 2011 6:38 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, health, injustice, Mental disorder, mental health, personal, philosophy, politics, Sadness, social care, social work, uk, work
On Being Shadowed

Last week, I had the pleasure of having a second year social work student shadow me as I worked. She was a student in a voluntary agency that I had come across because she had been doing some work with … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 22 Mar 2011 6:46 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, mental health, mental health act assessment, mental health assessment, personal, shadowing a social worker, social care, social work, Student, student placement, work
Weekend Links 8

I want to start in solidarity with a couple more British Mental Health Social Work blogs – go and visit them and comment as an incentive for them to continue writing. I really want a community of blogging social workers … Continue reading →...

Published 5 Mar 2011 6:12 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, links, mental health, work
Placements and PQ – GSCC reports on Social Work Education

Community Care carries details from the GSCC (General Social Care Council) annual report on social work education in England and it shows a fall in the amount of social work placements provided by local authorities. This came as absolutely no …...

Published 19 Jan 2011 6:09 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, ASW, General Social Care Council, health, local authority, local government, mental health, personal, politics, social care, social issues, social work, work
Rising Admission Rates

Yesterday, via Twitter, I was alerted to the publication of the ‘Mental Health Bulletin – Fourth Report from Mental Health Minimum Dataset (MHMD) returns 2010’. I know it’s a bit of a mouthful but briefly, it means statistics about admission, …...

Published 12 Jan 2011 6:06 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, Best Interests Assessor, discrimination, elderly, England, health, MCA, Mental disorder, mental health, mental health act 2007, mental health act assessment, mental health statistics, old age, older people, personal, politics, social care, social issues, social work, work
Looking ahead to 2011

I’m almost reluctant to write up my thoughts for the coming year and it is a battle to contain my more pessimistic urges. I wrote this post and sat on it for a while because it came across as too … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 31 Dec 2010 5:46 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, big society, British Association of Social Workers, local government, personal, politics, social work, work
The Complainant

It was never going to be a visit I was looking forward to. While our manager no longer sidles up to us and drops a physical paper file on our desks by way of allocation, she now sends emails with … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 13 Dec 2010 7:26 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, carer, carers, Complaint, dementia, elderly, health, local authority, local government, mental health, old age, older people, personal, social care, social work, work
10 things learnt in 10 years as a Social Worker

I qualified as a social worker in 2000. I don’t remember the exact date I started my first ‘qualified’ post. It was sometime in the early summer I think - in those days before registration was required and all I … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 30 Oct 2010 6:40 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, ASW, discrimination, Employment, government, health, local authority, local government, mental health, old age, older people, personal, politics, social care, social issues, social work, uk, work
Rising Detentions

Community Care have a short report about figures were published yesterday by the NHS which indicate that there has been an increase in detentions under the Mental Health Act over the last year. As the article says The numbers of … Continue reading...

Published 6 Oct 2010 5:56 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, health, hospital, mental capacity act, mental health, mental health act, personal, psychiatric hospital, social care, social work, socialcare, uk, work
To Section – as a verb

Is ‘to section’ a verb we should be using? My understanding and instruction was always that we should try, if at all possible, not to refer to ‘sectioning’ someone. It seems a bit flippant. It seems to imply a decision … Continue reading →...

Published 28 Sep 2010 6:06 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, health, mental health, mental health act, nearest relative, personal, sectioning, social work, to section someone, uk, work
Sectioned – A Quick Review

Probably not the most in-depth review as I haven’t had a lot of time to process the programme shown on BBC 4 on Wednesday called ‘Sectioned’ as a part of the ‘Out of Mind’ season about mental illness. The programme’s aim was to allow a greater insight...

Published 21 May 2010 6:45 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, BBC Four, bbc4 out of mind season, health, hospital, Involuntary commitment, Janet Street-Porter, Mental disorder, mental health, patient, sectioned, tv programme, tv review, work
Into the Night

Image via Wikipedia Although the nature of AMHP work is that it will be crisis-orientated, I have found that assessments are usually planned to some extent. Last week, we received a referral to our team at about 3.30pm. For reasons that smack of ageism...

Published 8 Feb 2010 7:12 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: Add new tag, Ambulance, AMHP, approved mental health professional, ASW, carer, carers, elderly, health, hospital, london, long-term care, mental health act 1983, mental health, old age, older people, personal, social care, social work, social worker, work
Looking Back – 2009

I was wondering how to finish the year off and mark it. So I looked at last year’s posts for inspiration to see how I marked the end of the last year. I ran a couple of posts – one looking back on the year in my first ‘proper’ year of blogging and another...

Published 31 Dec 2009 6:43 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: 2009, AMHP, ASW, asw to amhp, blogging review, dols, in review, local authority, looking back, mental health, new horizons, old age, older people, personal, social care, social issues, social work, social work taskforce, work
The GJ judgement and DoLs

I’m coming back to Best Interests Assessments and DoLs for a while now so excuse my indulgence but it is something that has and is creeping back into my workload after a few ‘dormant’ months and a part of the reason has been the impact of the ‘GJ’ judgement...

Published 14 Dec 2009 6:50 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, Best Interests Assessor, bia, Case law, court of protection case law, deprivation of liberty safeguards, dols, gj judgement, gj v foundation trust, health, MCA, mental health act 1983, mental capacity act, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental disorder, mental health, mental health act, mental health act primacy, mental health act v mental capacity act, old age, older people, personal, social work, work
A day in the life.. of Approved Mental Health Professionals

Today, Deborah Orr in the Guardian has an article published today detailing a day out that she has spent with some AMHPs in the Camden Duty Office. It’s an interesting insight into the day to day work in their office and certainly worth a glance to understand...

Published 9 Dec 2009 6:39 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professionals, ASW, deborah orr, local authority, mental health, mental health act, personal, social care, social issues, social work, the guardian, work
The Importance of Information

I looked through my ‘draft’ folder this morning and for some reason, found each of my previously written posts (there are probably around 20 of them knocking around in various stages of the ‘gestation’ process) unsatisfactory. Some were just too detailed...

Published 30 Nov 2009 6:45 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, Foster care, foster carer, foster child, fostering, information, lack of information, mental health, mental health act, social care, social issues, social services, social work, work
Of CTOs

Community Treatment Orders – Supervised Community Treatment – however it is termed it is one of the aspects of the amended Mental Health Act that I thought I would likely not have significant contact with on a day to day basis. I was right. But my experience...

Published 5 Nov 2009 6:49 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, care in the community, community treatment order, cto, England, growth in ctos, health, medication, mental health act 1983, mental health, mental health act, mental health act 2007 amendments, personal, pink forms, social work, supervised community treatment, uk, work
At Court

One of the duties of my role is to make applications at the local magistrate’s court for warrants when they are necessary. A warrant is only necessary in the course of a Mental Health Act Assessment if we need to gain access to a property where we would...

Published 13 Oct 2009 6:52 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, court, in court, magistrate's court, mental health, personal, social work, warrant, work
Revisiting Best Interests Assessments

Last week, I carried out a Best Interests Assessment for a man whom I had first assessed six months ago. In fact, he was the first person I had assessed under the new Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. I had, at that point, recommended that the Deprivation...

Published 22 Sep 2009 6:43 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, best interests assessment, Best Interests Assessor, dementia, deprivation of liberties, deprivation of liberties safeguards, dols, elderly, health, local authority, MCA, mental capacity act, mental health, mental health act, old age, old people, older people, section 117, section 117 aftercare, social care, social issues, social work, uk, work
Choice

We have been taught and trained to regard choice and individuality, quite rightly, very highly. Choice is fundamental and giving people choice is a key task in developing strengths. Without allowing choice, we float around in a moral vacuum. Without choice...

Published 14 Sep 2009 6:56 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, autonomy, health, local authority, mental health act 1983, mental capacity act, Mental Capacity Act 2005, mental health, mental health act, old age, older people, personal, social issues, social work, social worker, work
A Gentle Man

I had arranged an assessment on the ward this week. I was assessing a man I had known for a few months in my capacity as his care co-ordinator. He has been on the ward under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act (for assessment – up to 28 days) for a few...

Published 7 Aug 2009 6:54 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, compulsory detention in hospital, elderly, health, hospital, mental health, mental health act assessment, old age, older people, psychiatric hospital, section 2, section 3, sectioning, social work, social worker, to section, ward, work
Abduction

There is a story that has been concerning me over the weekend. It was reported by The Daily Telegraph and while the details of the story are troubling taken prima facie, I can’t help thinking there is a lot that we aren’t being told. Under the inflammatory...

Published 6 Jul 2009 5:47 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, Christopher Booker, health, mental health, personal, social care, social issues, social work, The Daily Telegraph, work
Repeat Assessment

I was at work early yesterday in order to carry out a Mental Health Act Assessment. It needed to be completed early in order to ensure that Mr F was in. He liked to go out for walks and we wanted to make sure we caught him in – quite literally. It always...

Published 5 Jun 2009 6:37 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, elderly, health, hospital, mental health act 1983, mental health, mental health act, old age, older people, police, social care, social issues, social work, work
Greed before Welfare

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I watched ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. It was all meant to be relatively mindless light-heartened ‘family’ entertainment. It was uncomfortable to watch young children burst into tears, from 10 year old Natalie Okri last...

Published 1 Jun 2009 5:53 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, bgt, boyle, Britains Got Talent, duty of care, Got Talent, health, hollie steel, lack of duty of care, mental health act 1983, mental health, mental health act, natalie okri, personal, piers morgan, simon cowell, Susan Boyle, susan boyle and mental health act, susan boyle's mental health, the priory, work
Ginger

My duty as an AMHP (Approved Mental Health Professional) is fundamentally to co-ordinate and carry out assessments according to the Mental Health Act (1983 – as amended 2007). So in the case of a community assessment, I will request the doctor’s attendance...

Published 28 May 2009 6:15 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, animal warden, animals, approved mental health professional, approved social worker, ASW, cat, cat trap, health, hospital, local authority, mental health act 1983, mental health, mental health act, mha 1983, national assistance act, national assistance act 1948, national assistance act section 48, pets, s48, social care, social work, work
A Course

Last week I went on a training course. As an AMHP I am obliged to complete 3 (I think!) training days every year which specifically relate to my role as an Approved Mental Health Professional in order to maintain my warrant. So it was that last week there...

Published 19 May 2009 7:49 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, approved mental health professional, ASW, Case law, edt, emergency duty team, health, in-house training, Law, legal training, mental health act 1983, mental health, mental health act, mental health act assessment, social work, training, work
Rage

Yesterday I was at the end of the phone when a carer called – furious that the service was not able to deliver what had been expected of it. Honestly, the rage was mostly deserved. There I was, trying to explain why transport for an appointment had not...

Published 8 May 2009 4:52 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, anger with social worker, approved mental health professional, Best Interests Assessor, cancelling appointments, carer, dementia, ear bashing, elderly, health, local authority, local government, mental health act 1983, mental health, mental health act, old age, older people, personal, social care, social issues, social work, work
Snatched

The Mail, as well as a variety of other news sources, report today on the tragic story of an elderly woman, 86 year old Betty Figg, with dementia who has been ‘’snatched’ by social workers from the loving home provided by her daughter, Rosalind Figg,...

Published 23 Apr 2009 6:38 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, betty figgs, daily mail, dementia, elderly, health, human rights, mental health, mental health act, newspaper, old age, older people, social work, work
My First Best Interests Assessment

Yesterday I completed my first Best Interests Assessment since the relatively new Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards went live on 1 April 2009. In brief these assessments grew from the need to clarify the legal position of those who lack capacity when...

Published 18 Apr 2009 7:06 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, assessment, best interests assessment, Best Interests Assessor, bia, Care Quality Commission, dementia, deprivation of liberties, deprivation of liberties safeguards, dols, dols assessment, General practitioner, health, local authority, long-term care, MCA, mental capacity act, Mental Capacity Act 2005, mental health, mental health act assessment, old age, older people, social work, work
Assessing Liberty

Two weeks tomorrow, the Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards went live. As of this week, my borough have had two referrals for assessments. I know this as I was asked to complete the first assessment – after some discussion, gracefully withdrew as although...

Published 14 Apr 2009 6:57 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, best interests assessment, Best Interests Assessor, deprivation of liberties safeguards, dols, local authority, MCA, mental capacity act, Mental Capacity Act 2005, old age, older people, social issues, social work, social worker, socialcare, work
An Assessment

I mentioned in passing that I was out at an early morning assessment earlier in the week. I wanted to reflect on some of the issues that arose without mentioning too much of the detail. It was the second attempt to assess as the first visit, Mr A had...

Published 27 Mar 2009 6:20 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, assessment, ASW, elderly, General practitioner, health, hospital, mental health, mental health act assessment, old age, older people, Psychiatrist, social work, work, work-related stress
Countdown to DoLs

The Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards (DoLs) go ‘live’ in just over a week now. These were a part of the amended Mental Capacity Act (2005) which establish a legal framework by which someone who lacks capacity may be ‘deprived of their liberty’ if it...

Published 22 Mar 2009 6:50 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, Best Interests Assessor, bia, deprivation of liberties safeguards, dols, elderly, England, health, local government, long-term care, MCA, mental capacity act 2005. mental capacity, mental health, Mental Health Trust, NHS primary care trust, old age, older people, Primary Care Trust, social care, social issues, social work, work
Compulsion

The big difference between the work I am doing now and the work I was doing 18 months ago is the role that compulsion plays in my day to day work. A couple of weeks ago, a nursing student came up to our office - her placement is on the attached ward and...

Published 11 Mar 2009 5:30 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, elderly, health, london, MCA, mental health act 1983, mental capacity act, Mental Capacity Act 2005, mental health, mental health act, mental health act 2007, old age, older people, personal, social care, social issues, social work, social worker, uk, work
Last week’s work

Over the weekend, I realised that I hadn’t really posted anything relating to the work I did last week. Sometimes I had touched on the more general newsworthy items and sometimes on items more personal to me, but a definite aim of writing when I...

Published 9 Mar 2009 6:10 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, Best Interests Assessor, health, local authority, local government, MCA, mental health, mental health act assessment, old age, older people, social care, social issues, social work, work
Assessing Best Interests - Part 3

After some days back at work, the taught part of the Best Interests Assessor training resumed yesterday - and almost magically as we were promised, lots and lots of the pieces seem to have fallen into place. Just as a recap, this is a short university...

Published 27 Feb 2009 4:39 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, Best Interests Assessments, Best Interests Assessor, best interests assessor training, deprivation of liberty guidelines, dols, European Convention of Human Rights, health, human rights, local authority, london, MCA, Mental Capacity Act 2005, mental health, social work, uk, United Kingdom, work
On Call

As I’ve alluded to and outright said on various occasions, myself and a colleague are running a kind of rota for AMHP work between us. Seeing as the Trust we work in feels that it is more appropriate that those who work in specialist teams (of which...

Published 23 Feb 2009 6:40 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, local authority, london, management, mental health, social issues, social work, work, work grumbles
Assessing Best Interests - part 2

The training continues - it’s a fairly robust one as far as it goes and although it might not be apparent, despite the density of content, I am finding the substance interesting. As promised on the first day of the training, more of the bits and...

Published 20 Feb 2009 5:04 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, assessment, Best Interests Assessor, best interests assessor training, bia, conditions attached to authorisation, deprivation of liberty, health, hospital, Law, local authority, long-term care, MCA, mental capacity act, mental health, mental health act, old age, older people, personal, social care, social issues, socialcare, standard authorisation, urgent authorisation, work
Assessing Best Interests - Part 1

So I’m in the middle of a training course at the moment which will enable me to act as a Best Interests Assessor come April. It is fairly intensive training which, quite honestly, left me shattered at the end of the day - although I have to say...

Published 19 Feb 2009 5:35 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, best interests, best interests assessment, Best Interests Assessor, best interests assessor training, bournewood gap, capacity assessment, closing the bournewood gap, European Convention of Human Rights, health, Human Rights Act 1998, local authority, MCA, mental capacity act, mental health, mental health act, old age, older people, social care, social issues, social work, work
Guardianship - A Case Study

I have been working on another Guardianship application. It is an interesting scenario. I thought I would present a scenario based on some of the issues in the form of a fictional case study. I have been liberal with the actual details which have been...

Published 17 Feb 2009 6:41 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: AMHP, ASW, carer, carers, case study guardianship, dementia, elderly, Guardianship, health, hospital, long-term care, MCA, mental health, mental health act, old age, older people, section 7, section 8, social care, social issues, social work, using guardianship, work

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