Nurse AMHPs: an exploratory study of their experiences
| Date | 11 March 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2018-0039 |
| Published date | 11 March 2019 |
| Pages | 86-95 |
| Author | Kevin Stone |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Mental health education |
Nurse AMHPs: an exploratory
study of their experiences
Kevin Stone
Abstract
Purpose –Mental health and learning disability nurses have been eligible to become approved mental health
professionals (AMHPs) since 2008, when the Mental Health Act 2007 was implemented. Despite this, there
have been proportionally low numbers of these nurses pursuing the AMHP role. The purpose of this paper is
to explore the experiences of these nurse AMHPs of training and practice.
Design/methodology/approach –Ten practicing nurse AMHPs were recruited from across four local
authority sites. Using semi-structured interviews, participants were asked to discuss their experiences of
being an AMHP.
Findings –The participants highlighted the need to navigate personal, cultural and structural factors relating
to accessing and applying for the training, difficulties with agreeing contracts terms, gaining comparative pay
and undertaking the role.
Research limitations/implications –The limitations of this study are the small number of participants and
therefore the generalisability of the findings. Also, respondents were practising AMHPs rather than nurses
who considered the role but then rejected it as a career option.
Practical implications –This study has led to gain a greater understanding of the experiences of nurse AMHPs.
Social implications –The results from this study will assist employing local authorities, and NHS consider
the barriers to mental health and learning disability nurses becoming AMHPs.
Originality/value –The value of this study is in the insight that provides the experiences of nurse AMHP from
applying to training through to being a practising AMHP.
Keywords Practice, Nurse, Training, Barrier, AMHP
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
This paper seeks to explore the experiences of mental health and learning disability nurses
(thereafter “nurses”) that have trained and practised as approved mental health professionals
(AMHPs). Since 2008 nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and psychologists have
been able to train through a regulated programme of study to becomean AMHP once approved
by a local authority.This opportunity was realised throughthe implementation of the Mental Health
Act (MHA) 2007, whichamended the earlier 1983 MHA repealingthe previous role of the approved
social worker (ASW) and extending approved work to other eligible professionals. Most ASWs
transitioned overnight to the new AMHP role with the benefit of some brief conversion training.
However, thisdoes not explain why we have not seen nursesbecoming more visible in the AMHP
role and in greater numbers(ADASS, 2018). This paper seeks to explorewhy more nurse AMHPs
are not more proportionally represented in the workforce given that 10 years have now passed
since statutes made it possible for nurses to train and practice as AMHPs.
Nursing and the emergence of the AMHP role
The inclusion of other eligible professionals who can be AMHPs has not resolved concerns about
the shortage of ASWs prior to the 2007 Act (ADASS, 2006; Campbell, 2010) as the numbers of
nurses coming forward to train have not been significant (ADASS, 2018). Social workers
Received 1 July 2018
Revised 2 October 2018
7 November 2018
Accepted 15 November 2018
Kevin Stone is based at the
Department of Health and
Social Sciences, University
of the West of England,
Bristol, UK.
PAGE86
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THE JOURNAL OF MENTALHEALTH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE
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VOL. 14 NO. 2 2019, pp.86-95, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1755-6228 DOI 10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2018-0039
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