The focus of this report is on the MHA and its interface with the MCA, Deprivation of Liberty and the implications of the Supreme Court judgment (P v Cheshire West and Chester Council and P and Q v Surrey County Council [2014] UKSC 19). The latter has made it clearer and easier for providers and decision makers to identify where a person is being deprived of their liberty but has also led to a considerable increase in the numbers of people in England and Wales who are considered to be deprived of their liberty for the purposes of receiving care and treatment. The paper summarises the findings from a survey on the court judgment impacted on AMHP practice and service delivery. They show that there has been significant impact on AMHPs and service providers, but the situation appears to be more challenging for certain local authorities where a large proportion of their Best Interests Assessors for DoLS are drawn from the AMHP service. Landmark changes impacting AMHP practice and the local authorities on behalf of which the professionals act have been made as result of the Cheshire West judgement but there remain barriers and challenges in fully implementing these changes arising from the complex and bureaucratic DoLS framework. The Law Commission has been tasked to look for a framework that is simpler, while still protecting the rights of vulnerable people with mental health problems and those who lack capacity, with final report and draft legislation due to be published in summer 2017.
(Edited publisher abstract)
The focus of this report is on the MHA and its interface with the MCA, Deprivation of Liberty and the implications of the Supreme Court judgment (P v Cheshire West and Chester Council and P and Q v Surrey County Council [2014] UKSC 19). The latter has made it clearer and easier for providers and decision makers to identify where a person is being deprived of their liberty but has also led to a considerable increase in the numbers of people in England and Wales who are considered to be deprived of their liberty for the purposes of receiving care and treatment. The paper summarises the findings from a survey on the court judgment impacted on AMHP practice and service delivery. They show that there has been significant impact on AMHPs and service providers, but the situation appears to be more challenging for certain local authorities where a large proportion of their Best Interests Assessors for DoLS are drawn from the AMHP service. Landmark changes impacting AMHP practice and the local authorities on behalf of which the professionals act have been made as result of the Cheshire West judgement but there remain barriers and challenges in fully implementing these changes arising from the complex and bureaucratic DoLS framework. The Law Commission has been tasked to look for a framework that is simpler, while still protecting the rights of vulnerable people with mental health problems and those who lack capacity, with final report and draft legislation due to be published in summer 2017.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
mental capacity, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, surveys, approved mental health professionals, local authorities, mental health law, Supreme Court;
Presents the findings of a review of the role, activities and financial situation of the College of SocialWork, examining the possible functions of a professional college, its membership function, the practice and policy development function, the conferences, events and training functions, its accreditation function, the College’s systems and website, its organisational capability, staffing
(Edited publisher abstract)
Presents the findings of a review of the role, activities and financial situation of the College of SocialWork, examining the possible functions of a professional college, its membership function, the practice and policy development function, the conferences, events and training functions, its accreditation function, the College’s systems and website, its organisational capability, staffing and governance, and the finance. The report informed the decision to close the college due to a lack of funds. It highlights a significant gap between income and expenditure in 2013/14 and a further projected gap in 2014/15 of just over £240K. The report however argues that a reinvigorated and sustainable College could have played a prominent and authoritative role in delivering high quality social work practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
social work, professional associations, professional role, social workers;
This document describes the six areas of capability Best Interest Assessors (working within the Deprivation of Liberty Process) need to practise effectively within the role. They reflect and build on the requirements of the regulations in relation to the capabilities needed. The six areas are: the ability to apply in practice, and maintain knowledge of, relevant legal and policy frameworks; the ability to work in a manner congruent with the presumption of capacity; the ability to take all practical steps to help someone to make a decision; the ability to balance a person’s right to autonomy and self-determination with their right to safety, and respond proportionately; the ability to make informed, independent best interest decisions within the context of a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessment; and the ability to effectively assess risk in complex situations, and use analysis to make proportionate decisions.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This document describes the six areas of capability Best Interest Assessors (working within the Deprivation of Liberty Process) need to practise effectively within the role. They reflect and build on the requirements of the regulations in relation to the capabilities needed. The six areas are: the ability to apply in practice, and maintain knowledge of, relevant legal and policy frameworks; the ability to work in a manner congruent with the presumption of capacity; the ability to take all practical steps to help someone to make a decision; the ability to balance a person’s right to autonomy and self-determination with their right to safety, and respond proportionately; the ability to make informed, independent best interest decisions within the context of a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessment; and the ability to effectively assess risk in complex situations, and use analysis to make proportionate decisions.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
mental capacity, assessment, skills, Mental Capacity Act 2005, professional role, Best Interests Assessors;
Provide detailed guidance on the assessment of social work students using the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for all those involved in placements taking place from autumn 2013. In particular, it outlines the implications of holistic assessment for the decision making of practice educators. It builds on guidance previously issued by the College of SocialWork (TCSW), which constitutes
(Edited publisher abstract)
Provide detailed guidance on the assessment of social work students using the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for all those involved in placements taking place from autumn 2013. In particular, it outlines the implications of holistic assessment for the decision making of practice educators. It builds on guidance previously issued by the College of SocialWork (TCSW), which constitutes part of the expectations of programmes required for endorsement.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
student social workers, practice placement, assessment, skills, Social Work Degrees;
This paper examines how social work can play a role in improving adult mental health services and achieve better service user, family and community outcomes. It proposes five key areas of practice that should frame the deployment and development of social workers in adult mental health. Under each heading specialist capabilities can be developed which are further described in the main document. The five key areas are: enabling citizens to access the statutory social care and social work services and advice to which they are entitled, discharging the legal duties and promoting the personalised social care ethos of the local authority; promoting recovery and social inclusion with individuals and families; intervening and showing professional leadership and skill in situations characterised by high levels of social, family and interpersonal complexity, risk and ambiguity; working co-productively and innovatively with local communities to support community capacity, personal and family resilience, earlier intervention and active citizenship; and leading the Approved Mental Health Professional workforce.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This paper examines how social work can play a role in improving adult mental health services and achieve better service user, family and community outcomes. It proposes five key areas of practice that should frame the deployment and development of social workers in adult mental health. Under each heading specialist capabilities can be developed which are further described in the main document. The five key areas are: enabling citizens to access the statutory social care and social work services and advice to which they are entitled, discharging the legal duties and promoting the personalised social care ethos of the local authority; promoting recovery and social inclusion with individuals and families; intervening and showing professional leadership and skill in situations characterised by high levels of social, family and interpersonal complexity, risk and ambiguity; working co-productively and innovatively with local communities to support community capacity, personal and family resilience, earlier intervention and active citizenship; and leading the Approved Mental Health Professional workforce.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
mental health care, mental health services, adults, social work, professional role;
This report focuses on the Children’s SocialWork Practices Summit, held by the College of SocialWork (TCSW) in London on 16th October 2014, to draw out and evaluate principles for innovation in children’s services in the light of learning from the social work practice (SWP) pilots. SWPs are autonomous, small groups of social workers, similar to GP practices and independent of their local
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report focuses on the Children’s SocialWork Practices Summit, held by the College of SocialWork (TCSW) in London on 16th October 2014, to draw out and evaluate principles for innovation in children’s services in the light of learning from the social work practice (SWP) pilots. SWPs are autonomous, small groups of social workers, similar to GP practices and independent of their local authorities and their top-down management style. They are designed to carry out innovative work with children and families, to build stronger and more lasting relationships with service users, to adopt a more responsive, proactive style of working with children and families, and to have more control over budgets to fund the placements, support and activities they deem best for children. The paper argues that SWPs provide a workable model for LAs looking to diversify children’s services and try out new, more innovative approaches. For LAs in search of new ideas SWPs can be the key to experimentation, culture change, stronger leadership, better commissioning, decision-making and autonomy, and independence and enterprise.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
evaluation, social work, organisational structure, professional role, social workers, looked after children, childrens social care;
Provides an overview of current legislation that underpins children and family social work. Law is evolving, and the difference between statute, regulation, case-law and guidance is clarified, together with an exploration of the important difference between duties and powers. The module covers the Children Act 1989, children’s rights, and provides a summary of more recent children's legislation. Both public and private law is covered in the module.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Provides an overview of current legislation that underpins children and family social work. Law is evolving, and the difference between statute, regulation, case-law and guidance is clarified, together with an exploration of the important difference between duties and powers. The module covers the Children Act 1989, children’s rights, and provides a summary of more recent children's legislation. Both public and private law is covered in the module.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
law, training materials, social workers, social work;
This activity pack collects all of the activities included across the TCSW’s ‘Return to social work’ ten modules into one place. It can be used to dip into and refresh learning at any point, or exercises can be taken out and used to support taught courses in conjunction with the slides included in the return to learn presentations material.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This activity pack collects all of the activities included across the TCSW’s ‘Return to social work’ ten modules into one place. It can be used to dip into and refresh learning at any point, or exercises can be taken out and used to support taught courses in conjunction with the slides included in the return to learn presentations material.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
social work, training materials, skills, social workers;
Incorporating the views of practitioners and stakeholders across the country, this review considers what updates are required to ensure the Professional Capabilities Framework reflects the changing context and contemporary practice needs. The report makes a series of recommendations, including: that PCF level descriptors should be enhanced and made a focal point for signposting and integration; that The domain of professional leadership is reviewed so that it encompasses a broader and more up to date definition of leadership, and establishes a coherent relationship with the Knowledge and Skills Statements for practice leaders and practice supervisors; that joint statements are developed to explain priorities and relationships between the PCF and other guidance, including the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Child and Family social work, the Knowledge and Skills Statement for social workers in Adults Services and the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England; and that visual presentation of the PCF is improved, and the refreshed version is disseminated widely.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Incorporating the views of practitioners and stakeholders across the country, this review considers what updates are required to ensure the Professional Capabilities Framework reflects the changing context and contemporary practice needs. The report makes a series of recommendations, including: that PCF level descriptors should be enhanced and made a focal point for signposting and integration; that The domain of professional leadership is reviewed so that it encompasses a broader and more up to date definition of leadership, and establishes a coherent relationship with the Knowledge and Skills Statements for practice leaders and practice supervisors; that joint statements are developed to explain priorities and relationships between the PCF and other guidance, including the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Child and Family social work, the Knowledge and Skills Statement for social workers in Adults Services and the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England; and that visual presentation of the PCF is improved, and the refreshed version is disseminated widely.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
professional role, standards, social workers, skills, staff development;
These additional statements supplement the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) with a descriptor for each domain to reflect the requirements of the Care Act 2014 and support and facilitate the application of the framework. The PCF sets out capability statements to aid social workers in understanding what is expected from them at the level at which they practise. This paper can be used to: support discussion and action to enhance professional development; identifying current strengths and future priorities for development; and support managers in developing role and job descriptions. The key domains covered include: professionalism, values and ethics, diversity, social justice and economic rights, knowledge, critical reflection, skills and interventions, contexts and organisations, and leadership.
(Edited publisher abstract)
These additional statements supplement the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) with a descriptor for each domain to reflect the requirements of the Care Act 2014 and support and facilitate the application of the framework. The PCF sets out capability statements to aid social workers in understanding what is expected from them at the level at which they practise. This paper can be used to: support discussion and action to enhance professional development; identifying current strengths and future priorities for development; and support managers in developing role and job descriptions. The key domains covered include: professionalism, values and ethics, diversity, social justice and economic rights, knowledge, critical reflection, skills and interventions, contexts and organisations, and leadership.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Care Act 2014, professional conduct, professional role, standards, social workers, skills;