AMHP Re-approval (3 day course) 20, 21 and 22 October 2026

The whole course provides the annual statutory requirement of 18 hours. The course requires attendance online each day from 09:30 to 16:30.

Aims

The course is to help staff confirm they meet the competences required to practise as an AMHP. It revisits the 5 main areas of competence required by the Mental Health (Approved Mental Health Professionals) (Approval) (England) Regulations 2008: application of values; knowledge of law and policy; knowledge of mental disorder; skills of working in partnership; and, skills of making and communicating informed decisions. It is recommended that staff complete this course as they approach their formal five year re-approval stage. It should contribute to the provision of evidence of the required competences. It is also designed to meet the needs of those returning to AMHP work after a few years out of practice. In each of the years between re-approval staff are required to undertake at least 18 hours of relevant training.

The course is delivered by:

Lisa Holmes is an independent trainer in mental health law. A former local authority AMHP lead and forensic lead, she has over 20 years' experience working in the field of mental health social work. Lisa also works for the Care Quality Commission as a Mental Health Act reviewer and provides external AMHP lead supervision to local authorities. Lisa is the programme director for the Bournemouth University AMHP programme, based in both London and Bournemouth. She is still an active AMHP and Best Interests Assessor.

Christine Hutchison has been a Director of Edge Training and Consultancy Ltd since 2013. She worked in local authority and NHS mental health services for over 30 years as an ASW and then AMHP from 1995 to 2013. Christine was a Mental Health Act Commissioner with the CQC from 2009 to 2013, a lecturer/practitioner on university social work degree courses & lecturer on the AMHP/BIA programmes at Bournemouth University for over 10 years. She currently sits as a Specialist Member of the Mental Health Tribunal Service and is co-author of several publications including The Mental Health Tribunal: An Essential Guide 2021 (Sage). She delivers training to AMHPs, doctors & others across England and Wales.

Participants need to have available at the start of each day:

• The slides for the session, to enable them to take notes. For this purpose the slides are sent with three per page as that leaves room for notes.

• A copy of the Mental Health Act 1983 (e.g. as contained in Jones’ Manual or in Barber, Brown and Martin – discounted copy via this flyer. The Act is also available on line at www.legislation.gov.uk by typing in “Mental Health Act” & “1983”).

• And, if possible, Rob Brown’s 2020 edition of “The AMHP’s Guide to Mental Health Law” which contains the full list of AMHP competences and further related exercises. Again this is available as a discounted copy via this flyer.

Programme Summary

Day One (Lisa Holmes)

09.30 – 12.30 Introduction to the course. Origins of the AMHP role.

Judicial precedents. Related exercise.

Mental health assessments in Emergency Departments,

Bed shortages and the impact on AMHP work. On-screen exercise.

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 – 16.30 The Human Rights Act and its impact on AMHP work.

The Nearest Relative – impact of the Enfield case.

European Court of Human Rights and mental health.

ECtHR and deprivation of liberty.

Day Two (Christine Hutchison)

09.30 – 12.30 Introductions, programme and issues for participants

 s.7 guardianship

s.17 leave

Community Treatment Orders and on-screen exercise.

s.117 MHA.

What is mental disorder? (s.1 revisited).

Code of Practice. AMHP outline reports.

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 – 16.30 Policing and mental health- current issues for AMHPs

s.135 MHA definitions exercise & feedback.

S135 MCQ & feedback. Issues arising.

s.136 Intro issues + police guidance. MCQ & feedback.

Patient’s rights exercise.

Final questions

Day Three  (Lisa Holmes)

09.30 – 12.30 

Part 3 MHA, s37/41 conditional discharge and social supervision.

The Calocane (Nottingham) case. The CQC review, the Court of Appeal decision, the NHS commissioned review & Public Inquiry.

Mental Capacity Act revision. MCA & MHA –issues for AMHPs

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

(Schedule 1A) & the eligibility assessment (Schedule A1)

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 – 16.30 Approved clinicians and Responsible clinicians.

Exercise on ACs and RCs.

The return of the voluntary patient?

The Mental Health Act 2025 & the impact of the Calocane case.

More general revision exercises (if time allows).

Preparing evidence of competences for re-approval.

Summary and evaluation.

Any final questions

All Event Bookings must be made online with payment made in full by credit / debit card.  We do not send invoices/use Purchase Order numbers for Event Bookings for NHS delegates.   (This policy does not affect our commissioned bookings)

Course access details will be emailed direct to delegate(s) upon completion of your booking.  

Includes all course materials and a certificate. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email events@edgetraining.org.uk  or call 07341 277487.