Approved social worker to approved mental health professional: evaluating the impact of changes within education and training
| Pages | 19-26 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/jmhtep.2010.0362 |
| Published date | 19 July 2010 |
| Date | 19 July 2010 |
| Author | Jo Parker |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
19
The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice Volume 5 Issue 2 June 2010 © Pier Professional Ltd
10.5042/jmhtep.2010.0362
Approved social worker to approved
mental health professional:
evaluating the impact of changes
within education and training
Abstract
The Mental Health Act 2007 (HM Government,
2007) replaced the approved social worker (ASW)
with the approved mental health professional
(AMHP), opening up the role to some non-
social work professions. AMHP training, however,
remains linked to the General Social Care Council
(GSCC) post-qualifying social work framework,
with AMHP training now incorporated into the
higher specialist social work award, set at masters
level (level M) rather than first degree (level H)
(General Social Care Council, 2007).
Analysis of data from the first year of AMHP
training at Bournemouth University illustrates some
of the challenges that have arisen particularly in
relation to the masters level study. Evaluation of
the first year highlights some important areas for
future consideration in terms of student selection,
pre-course preparation and student support. The
data also demonstrate that there have only been a
very small number of non social workers enrolling
on programmes at the present time. This article will
explore some of the possible reasons behind this.
Key words
AMHP; post-qualifying education and training;
academic learning; practice competence; student
selection; support; AMHP preparation pathways
The changes to approved mental health
professional training – an overview
The re form of mental hea lth law in England and Wales
with the amendm ents to the Menta l Health Act 198 3
(HM Govern ment, 1983 ) has important implications for
the education and tr aining of approved m ental health
professi onals (AMHP s) in terms of the prof essional
background of students and the aca demic level of t he
awards. The new AMHP competencies were publi shed in
the Mental H ealth (Approved Mental He alth Professionals)
(Approval) (England) Regulations 20 08 (HM Government,
2008), these are v ery similar to the previous approved
social worker (ASW) competenc ies, with the f unctions of
the AMHP bein g broadly the same as the ASW (although
with add itional r esponsibilities in relation to su pervised
community treatment ). The amendments to the 1983
Act (HM Government, 2008) broadened the grou p of
professionals who can carry out the statut ory fu nctions
and responsibil ities under the Act by extendi ng the ASW
role to nurses, occupat ional therapists and psychologists.
The local authority retain responsibility for approving
AMHPs, ho wever the require ment t hat AMHPs are
employed b y the local authority ha s been removed. The
inclusion of other professionals has occur red to addre ss
the shor tages of ASWs i n some areas (Hu xley et al,
2005a) and reflects changes in service provision in lin e
with integrat ion of healt h and social services in to multi-
disciplinary community mental h ealth teams (Nat ional
Institute for Mental Health in Eng land, 2 005; Ra paport,
2005). The change also recognise s tha t dra wing AMHPs
from n ursing and other disciplines may add to the
diversity and quality of the ro le ( Jones et al, 2006) and
create a further p ath for career progression for mental
health workers. It is worth highlighting that nurses in
other cou ntries suc h as Australia and New Zealand have
been perform ing this r ole for ma ny years ( Hurley &
Linsley, 20 05).
Jo Parker
Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader, MA Advanced Mental Health Practice, Bournemouth University, UK
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