Wednesday 28 June 2017

How to Become an AMHP

The Masked AMHP's AMHP Warrant. Honest
Members of the Masked AMHP Facebook Mental Health Forum quite often ask what is entailed in becoming an Approved Mental Health Professional. I also get a number of people emailing me asking about it. Here, then, are some guidelines about the process.

Who is eligible to become an AMHP?

In order to be eligible to train as an AMHP, you have to be a qualified professional. Eligible professionals are social workers, mental health nurses, occupational therapists and clinical psychologists. Professionals will need to have at least 2 years post-qualification experience in order to be considered for training.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is responsible for approving training courses for AMHPs. They state:

The criteria for approving AMHP programmes are designed to equip individuals with the threshold skills necessary to engage in safe and effective AMHP practice. They set out the processes and procedures that education providers delivering AMHP training must have in place, and the knowledge, understanding and skills that an individual must have when they complete their AMHP training.

AMHP training courses are almost invariably provided by universities. They may take different forms, and be of different lengths, but will generally last for between 6 and 12 months. They may be part-time, or have a combination of part-time and full-time modules. A practice placement, during which trainees are placed with AMHPs and take part in Mental Health Act assessments, is an essential and integral part of the training process.

At present, there are 20 universities and training consortia providing a total of 32 different qualifying programmes. All the courses are at postgraduate level, and the successful candidate will be awarded a range of qualifications: from a Postgraduate Certificate to a Postgraduate Diploma up to a MA or MSc degree.

How do I get onto an AMHP course?

The Code of Practice, para14.35, states that local authorities are responsible for ensuring that sufficient AMHPs are available to carry out their roles under the Act”. Your employing authority must therefore maintain an AMHP service that can fulfil their legal obligations. The local authority will therefore be responsible for paying the course fees and would have to authorise you to undertake the training. This would generally involve writing some sort of reflective piece relating to their experience and desire to train as an AMHP, as well as a formal interview involving the local authority and the academic lead of the course.

What if I don’t have a local authority prepared to give me the training?

I have to say that it is almost impossible for someone to train independently as an AMHP. 

Almost.

While nearly all courses will refuse to take an independent student, the course on which I teach did take such a student this year. They, of course, had to pay the full cost of the course out of their own pocket, and also pay for a placement with the local authority sending students to the course.

At the end of the course, unless the student was prepared to work for the local authority as an AMHP, they would not actually be approved, but would be given the necessary evidence to show a prospective employer that they have successfully completed the qualifying training.

What does the training entail?

I teach on one of these AMHP training courses, so I will describe in more detail this particular course. The course is based within the university School of Social Work.

The course is at post-graduate level, and successful candidates receive a Postgraduate Diploma and will also receive credits towards a Master’s degree.

There is an initial part-time period of occasional days in university from October to December, then a full time segment from February through to June. There is a month of intensive teaching of the law and practice relating to AMHP practice and mental health, then a two month placement period, during which the candidates are placed with AMHPs and have to shadow at least 6 MHA assessments during the course of the placement.

The AMHP trainees then have to produce a portfolio, which must include evidence supporting a range of competencies, which are stipulated in the HCPC guidance. These competencies cover seven broad areas of practice: 
  • knowledge
  • autonomous practice
  • informed decision making
  • equality and diversity,
  • communication,
  • collaborative working, and 
  • assessment and intervention.

There is also a Law Test, which consists of case studies covering a cross section of the sort of assessments that AMHPs are likely to encounter, with questions designed to elicit the AMHP’s knowledge of law and practice.

Phew! Then what?

This is not, however, the end of the process. The HCPC points out:

Successful completion of an approved programme only makes an individual eligible to be approved to act as an AMHP. Only those who have completed approved training and have been approved to act as an AMHP by a Local Social Services Authority in England may perform the functions of an AMHP.

This means that, having completed the course, the LA in which they will be practicing has a panel meeting, during which each candidate if formally approved. They will then be issued with a warrant.

In our local authority, the newly warranted AMHP is then expected to undertake three Mental Health Act Assessments, during which they will be shadowed by an experienced AMHP. They are then deemed to be fully competent to practice independently.

See also the next post : The Interview

33 comments:

  1. Note AMHP courses in Wales are accredited by Social Care Wales.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I should have made it clear I was only looking at courses in England.

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  2. Who is liable for AMHP abuses of authority?

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  3. As long as the AMHP was acting on behalf of a local authority, it is that LA who is liable for damages etc arising from abuse of authority. But it would have to be proved that the AMHP was acting in bad faith, rather than, eg. through incompetence.

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  4. If you have an MSW and many years practice in mental health, what would be the advantage of doung this designation?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Because doing specialist AMHP training is the only way to be approved to practice as an AMHP.

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  5. hi would a M.B.B.S DR. be able to apply for an AMHP? and if so what would they need to do in terms of courses?

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    Replies
    1. This is a medical degree. Only mental health nurses, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists and qualified social workers are eligible to train as AMHPs.

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  6. which university?

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  7. if an AMHP has not practiced for over 2 years, is the requirement to complete the course in full.

    Many thanks

    theflyingamhp@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, you should just need to do some standard mandatory update training and some shadowings.

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  8. If you have completed the AMHP training over a year ago and have not been warranted for personal reasons, is it mandatory to retrain?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you successfully completed the training, then it should only be necessary to do some refresher training as all AMHPs must do, as well as some shadowing.

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  9. Hi - I'm considering on applying for ASYE SW in NHS setting. They've confirmed that AMHP training is avaialable. My question is - is NHS funded AMHP training the same course as in LA usually? SO would I be able to work with in LA in future?

    One last question - Is AMHP training usually applicable to both Adults and Child services settings? Say if AMHP training was completed in child MH setting?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Training courses are funded by the local authority, as AMHPs, even if employed by the NHS, are acting on behalf of the LA, and will be approved by the LA. So the course will be exactly the same, and you would be able to work in an LA in future if wished.

      Placements will be managed by a practice educator who will generally be an AMHP, and you will be expected to have the full range of experience, including children, adults, older people, and people with learning disabilities, as when acting as an AMHP you will be expected to take on any requests that come your way.

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  10. Brilliant - thats really helpful.

    So even if I complete the traning in CAMHS, I would be able to work in a adult MH team as a qualified AMHP.

    One quick last question - in your experience as the training is funded by the LA, presumably that would tie most trainees to a post qualification period where you would have to remain with that LA? Say two years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If your NHS employer has permitted you to train and given you time off, etc, you would continue to work for the MH Trust, but would have to be available for the LA AMHP rota. That's how it works in my area.

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  11. Thanks that's helpful. Sorry one last question - Im presuming that most local authorities/NHS trusts would expect you to remain with them for a certain period post training (as they funded it). I'm just trying to figure out a timeline in terms of perspective positions and wondered if you had experience of this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While LA's usually have a clause that you should work for them for a certain length of time after training, my experience of our local NHS Trust, they don't have any stipulation. I've therefore known MH nurses be paid to train as CBT therapists, and then after only a few months they've resigned and gone freelance. You'd need to enquire of your LA/NHS Trust what their requirements are.

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  12. Thanks for all this info - has really helped me make a more informed decision.

    One last question - In your experience can SW traineD in CAMHS and completes AMHP training there ultimately work in adult MH as well?

    i realise you stated teh AMHP qualification is universal. I just want to make sure there is potential for cross-over.

    Thats the last question. Thanks

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  13. When obtaining Amhp Approval is a certificate provided.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sorry I should advise when the course in becoming an Amhp has been successfully completed is a certificate usually awarded

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for all this info - has really helped me make a more informed decision.

    One last question - In your experience can SW traineD in CAMHS and completes AMHP training there ultimately work in adult MH as well?

    i realise you stated teh AMHP qualification is universal. I just want to make sure there is potential for cross-over.

    Thats the last question. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Courses generally ensure that trainees do their placement in a different area from their specialism. You will have a generic training and be approved for all AMHP work with any service user group.

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  16. Good evening sir
    I am a bank staff working regularly at a private hospital. I also do some shifts in the NHS as bank staff. I am considering doing the Amhp course. How best can I approach the situation since I'd founded by local authority according to you information.

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  17. I am a registered LD Nurse, I have a social work degree but never practiced. I have worked in CAMHS for approx 10 years, would I be able to get on a course despite not being a registered MH Nurse.

    Thank you

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    Replies
    1. I am aware of a RMHN being on our local AMHP course, so I think it's possible. May need some extra training.

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  18. Is it still hard for independence social worker to become an AMHP or has it changed since you wrote this??

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  19. Hi, I have BSc Psychology (2.1) and finished my 1 year training programme (PGdip) funded by MH NHS England last year. I finished my PG Dip in Mental Health Practice last year so am I considered as an approved mental health practitioner? I am so confused? I am not a nurse or a social worker?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. An Approved Mental Health Professional under the Mental Health Act, regardless of other qualifications, has to be practicing as a social worker, a mental health or mental handicap nurse, an occupational therapist or a clinical psychologist. They have to undertake specific training as an AMHP, and have to be approved to practice by a local authority.

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  20. Whilst I understand that the AMHP course can be paid for by your employer, how do people generally fund daily living costs themselves whilst undertaking the course?
    My assumption is that your salary stops if you are in full time education for a few months... is this correct?
    Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If your employer pays for you to engage in full time training to be an AMHP, they will of course pay you your full salary while you are training. I taught on an AMHP course for several years, and all the trainee AMHP's were on full salary. The only one who weren't were self funding the course. After all, if they actually want you to work for them as an AMHP, they're not going to suspend your pay. Years ago, I was seconded to undertake social work qualifying training for two years, and was paid my full salary for all of that time. The only undertaking I had to make was to continue working for my employer for at least 2 years post qualification. They should also pay traveling expenses.

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