Approved Mental Health Professional CPD Update #3 – Wider Contexts

Course Outline:

The Mental Health Act 1983 does not exist in a vacuum, and practice as an AMHP requires an understanding of a broad legal framework that incorporates law and policy outside of health and social care.

In addition to reviewing key developments in law and policy relevant to AMHP practice, this course will focus on law that surrounds the core framework of mental health and capacity. 
The European Convention on Human Rights 1950 and its partial incorporation into UK law through the Human Rights Act 1998 is the starting point, as their ‘FREDA’ values (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity and Autonomy) represent a human-rights-based approach to health and social care. The course will explore those legal rights most relevant to AMHP practice, before moving on to consider issues such as data protection through the Data Protection Act 2018 / GDPR, and equal treatment thought the Equality Act 2010.

In this way, delegates will overview a wide range of law, all of which will aid in continuing professional development for the AMHP role. Delegates will also have the opportunity to meet and discuss these matters with other AMHPs while achieving a proportion of their yearly CPD requirement.

The course learning outcomes below give a good idea of the coverage of the course, which is one of four written specifically for the purpose of updating AMHPs in line with statutory and best practice requirements. All courses are also directly relevant to the Professional Standards AMHPs are bound by within their roles.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Recognise what is meant by human rights and discuss their place in contemporary society 
• Explore ‘FREDA’ values through the application of human rights to complex situations that AMHP practice engages with
• Examine principles underpinning data protection, discussing both safeguarding and sharing sensitive personal data in line with the duties of an AMHP
• Discuss core considerations of equality such as non-discrimination and the right to equality, equal treatment and positive action, applying them to AMHP practice though the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998
• Review developments in case law over the last year and any changes to AMHP practice