MHA : admin & management skills (2 day course) 13 & 14 May 2026 10:00-15:30

Mental Health Act : administration & management skills

PART ONE: 13 MAY 2026 10:00-15:30

PART TWO: 14 MAY 2026 10:00-15:30

Aims

This course aims to provide mental health administration staff and hospital managers with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage the Act in practice. It considers the necessary tools to ensure effective compliance with the legislation and Code of Practice.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the role of compulsion in the delivery of mental health care

• Familiarisation with the key elements of the Mental Health Act

• Understanding of the specific responsibilities of the Mental Health Act office and its staff

Programme

Session 1: The Building Blocks

Roles and definitions

The main civil powers – Part II of the Act

Appropriate treatment

Emergencies and holding powers

Informal/voluntary status

Section 17 and 18 - Leave and Absence without leave

Session 2: Rights and Protection

Part IV - Consent to Treatment Sections 58 including capacity

Duty to inform a person of their rights - Section 132

Nearest Relative

Session 3:  Rights of Appeal

Mental Health Tribunals – practice points

Hospital Managers hearings - organisation

Session 4:  Community Treatment Orders

CTOs - overview

Recall and revocation

CTO scrutiny exercise and justifying the need for recall

Managing Mental Health Tribunals for community patients

Session 5: Part III of the Act

Major Forensic orders

Relevant legislation outside the MHA

Treatment powers

The Mental Health Tribunal

Reporting requirements and restricted Section 41 orders

Session 6:  Receiving Papers and mechanics of administering the MHA

Fatal and non-fatal errors

Scrutiny and challenge

Brought forward systems, diaries, chasing RCs, databases, access to legal advice. Using Outlook and other diaries, reminders, and chasing

Session 7: Reporting and monitoring

Reporting to the Board – data collection – outputs and  outcomes.

Exception reporting

The role of the CQC – what does it look for in relation to MHA administration?

The Mental Health 2025 – what changes now and in the future

The course will be delivered by Helen Reynolds

Helen has over 20 years of experience working within NHS services. She specialises in mental health and in particular, the application of the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005. She currently leads a team dedicated to supporting the use of the Mental Health Act 1983, with a strong focus on legal compliance, governance, and regulatory alignment. She also manages the application of the Act across different providers.

Helen provides expert guidance to clinicians across all specialties, ensuring best practice in legal and ethical decision-making. She is highly experienced in liaising with regulatory bodies and contributing to strategic reporting, policy and service development.

Helen has an LLM in Mental Health Law, Policy and Practice. She is an experienced trainer, delivering education and training across both NHS and private sector organisations.  

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.