This pocketbook for Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) is a useful guide, not only for social workers but also those in the social care profession considering a route into AMHP and doctors. It provides a quick reference tool for helping to conduct assessments and implement decisions quickly.

“This updated accessible pocketbook is a helpful addition for all practitioners and decision makers operating within the Mental Health Act process.” Jason Brandon, Mental Health Social Work Lead, Office of the Chief Social Worker for Adults, England, UK “This book’s remarkable strength lies in its ability to navigate the intricacies of the AMHP role with both practicality and simplicity. I eagerly anticipate our candidates delving into this text, as it promises to provide invaluable insight and guidance for AMHP practice.” Sandra Wilkinson, Senior Lecturer & Programme Lead in Advanced Mental Health Practice, UK Returning in its revised and updated third edition, this celebrated and handy pocketbook provides key advice for busy professionals on the day-to-day aspects of using and applying the Mental Health Act. The practicing AMHP and student will find this guide invaluable for quickly finding the information they need to set up, undertake and complete an assessment under the Mental Health Act. The new edition features: Brand new and updated key points of law, highlights from the Code of Practice, checklists, key issues and reminders Updated references to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Additional information around assessing in specific situations, including a guide to undertaking assessments of people on the autistic spectrum Updated guidance on joint working with the police, particularly in relation to sections 135 & 136. This quick-reference guide to law, regulations and good practice is essential reading for student and experienced AMHPs, health professionals, the police, and all those practicing and studying to undertake Mental Health Act assessments. Claire Barcham has been a qualified social worker for over 30 years, and an AMHP (a role she has maintained through a range of other professional roles) for more than 25 years. She currently combines work supporting organisational development with a policy and practice role with ADASS.

Fully revised and updated, the new edition of this handy pocketbook provides key advice for busy practitioners on the day-to-day aspects of using and applying the Mental Health Act. The busy practitioner will find this guide invaluable for quickly finding the information they need to set up, undertake and complete an assessment under the Mental Health Act. The new edition features: * Up-to-date information reflecting the revised Mental Health Act Code of Practice, Reference Guide and case law * New advice on integrating the concept of Deprivation of Liberty in decision making during Mental Health Act Assessments * Points to watch out for when assessing homeless people, and young people experiencing mental health problems * New guidance on joint working with the police, particularly in relation to s135 * An expanded chapter focusing on using compulsion in the community, aimed at helping practitioners understand and use all available frameworks, including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) * Key points of law, highlights from the Code of Practice , checklists, flow charts and reminders provide clear and unambiguous guidance throughout This practical guide is not only suitable for new and experienced AMHPs, but also health professionals, the police and those considering studying for AMHP status. "This book is an invaluable guide through the Mental Health Act Assessment maze. AMHPs and others will find the common issues and dilemmas (and many of the less common ones) discussed in a refreshingly straightforward and easy-to-understand manner. Claire's extensive AMHP experience leaps off the page...I unhesitatingly recommend it." Steve Benson, AMHP Training Lead, Bradford Council, UK "I would wholeheartedly recommend this book as a useful resource not just for AMHPs, but also for AMHP trainees, social work and mental health nursing students, nurses, police, service users, and indeed anyone with a personal or professional interest in mental health and the Mental Health Act." Steve Matthews (The Masked AMHP) AMHP and Practice Consultant, University of East Anglia, UK "As both an AMHP and a lecturer on AMHP programmes I find this book essential. It provides a practical, hands-on and grounded account of the various tasks and activities that you need to think about in practice. This second edition builds on and updates the first, and maintains its practical approach. A vital addition to my AMHP bag!" Daisy Bogg, AMHP, Associate Lecturer (Canterbury Christchurch AMHP Programme) and Visiting Fellow, Bournemouth University, UK (AMHP and BIA lecturer)

Claire Barcham is a registered social worker with over 20 years’ experience, including practicing as an ASW/AMHP since 1996 and regularly providing training in this and other areas of social work practice. *** Fully revised and updated, the new edition of this handy pocketbook provides key advice for busy social work practitioners on the day-to-day aspects of using and applying the Mental Health Act. The practitioner will find this guide invaluable for quickly finding the information they need to set up, undertake and complete an assessment under the Mental Health Act. The new edition features: • Up-to-date information reflecting the revised Mental Health Act Code of Practice, Reference Guide and case law • New advice on integrating the concept of Deprivation of Liberty in decision making during Mental Health Act Assessments • Points to watch out for when assessing homeless people, and young people experiencing mental health problems • New guidance on joint working with the police, particularly in relation to section 135 • An expanded chapter focusing on using compulsion in the community, aimed at helping practitioners understand and use all available frameworks, including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards • Key points of law, highlights from the Code of Practice, checklists, flow charts and reminders provide clear and unambiguous guidance throughout This practical guide is not only suitable for new and experienced AMHPs, but also health professionals, the police and those considering studying for AMHP status. *** *This book forms part of a series of pocketbooks for social workers. These compact guides are written in an accessible and to-the-point style to help the busy practitioner locate the information they need as and when they need it—all bound up in A5 and under! The pocketbooks explore key practical skills involved in such areas as mental capacity, report writing and assessment.* 'This book is an invaluable guide through the Mental Health Act Assessment maze. AMHPs and others will find the common issues and dilemmas (and many of the less common ones) discussed in a refreshingly straightforward and easy-to-understand manner. Claire's extensive AMHP experience leaps off the page … I unhesitatingly recommend it'. Steve Benson, AMHP Training Lead, Bradford Council, UK 'I would wholeheartedly recommend this book as a useful resource not just for AMHPs, but also for AMHP trainees, social work and mental health nursing students, nurses, police, service users, and indeed anyone with a personal or professional interest in mental health and the Mental Health Act'. Steve Matthews (The Masked AMHP) AMHP and Practice Consultant, University of East Anglia, UK

Complete with a foreword by the late Terry Bogg, this handy pocketbook provides accessible guidance to health and social care practitioners on the day-to-day aspects of using and applying the Mental Capacity Act. This includes practical advice, explored with practice examples, on how to set up and undertake an assessment and how to make and implement informed decisions—quickly. The busy mental capacity practitioner, whether an AMHP, social worker, nurse or from other health professions who encounter vulnerable service users, will find this guide invaluable for efficiently locating the information they need to complete an assessment, supported with a working knowledge of the law. • Practice information, reflecting revised advice on the Mental Capacity Act and practice changes since Cheshire West • Guidance on undertaking assessments with the updated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Liberty Protection Safeguards • A dip-in, dip-out structure, with chapters dedicated to the legal landscape, understanding the scope of the Mental Capacity Act and linking the Mental Capacity Act with relevant legislation like the Mental Health Act • Examples of best practice and common pitfalls, including links to the law to make your decisions evidence-based and authoritative • Checklists and decision-making flow charts to simplify what can prove a complex area *** This book forms part of a series of pocketbooks for social workers. These compact guides are written in an accessible and to-the-point style to help the busy practitioner locate the information they need as and when they need it—all bound up in A5 and under! The pocketbooks explore key practical skills involved in such areas as mental capacity, report writing and mental health.

This pocketbook for Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) is a useful guide, not only for social workers but also those in the social care profession considering a route into AMHP and doctors. It provides a quick reference tool for helping to conduct assessments and implement decisions quickly.

Mental Health Act redefines mental disorder and removes the 'treatability' test. These and other changes have caused great controversy, but the legislation is in place there is a need to understand what it means for the individual practitioner when making decisions about the care of individual patients. This guide provided this understanding.