tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281Fri, 17 May 2013 12:19:54 +0000Munchausen SyndromeAMHP traineeSec.128AutobiographyLiudas PoderisOthello SyndromePayment by ResultsNature or degreeRebecca MartinAdjustment DisorderspolicetribunalsMental Treatment Act 1933ECTAdvance Directivesdissociative identity disorderTanya Patersonpsychopathic personality disorderReasons to be an AMHPHistory of Social WorkLunatic Asylums Act 1853National Assistance Act 1948AMHP Powers and DutiesSec.13(2)ClusteringI thought it was funny at the timeSec.136borderline personality diorderBryan JobsonSec.129Suicide Act 1961section 35Electroconvulsive TherapyDelusional DisorderDe Clerambault's SyndromeMental Capacity ActSec.126harry potterGuardian PiecesanorexiaNearest relativesSec 117Nearest relativePublic Placelearning difficultiesPresumptive Self-congratulationyoung personStatutory formsdiogenes syndromeschizophreniaSec.139section 4Bipolar affective disorderSootyKerrie Wooltortoncommunity treatment ordersConveyance to hospitalDolphinsSec.127Equality Act 2010Janey AntoniouSec.141CTO1959 Actappealsdementiastatisticsemotionally unstable personality disorderInquestSec.58ASec.37Hoardinghttp://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)Blogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-6691934198581002563Thu, 16 May 2013 16:56:00 +00002013-05-16T17:57:05.676+01:00learning difficultiesHistory of Social Work Part 6 in an occasional series about my early years as a social worker (also known as Reminiscence Therapy.) May contain triggers for abuse Bobby’s story has been buzzing around in my mind for months, but I’ve been hesitating to write it down. It is so outlandish as to be almost unbelievable. And yet, when I inherited his case as a very junior, inexperienced and unqualified social worker inhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/NKiH1jmd_Ao/origins-6-more-of-my-first-caseload.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/NKiH1jmd_Ao" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/05/origins-6-more-of-my-first-caseload.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-5850352855620603342Mon, 06 May 2013 14:33:00 +00002013-05-06T15:35:08.641+01:00InquestMental Capacity ActBryan Jobson The inquest on Bryan Jobson, who lived in Leeds, was concluded on 1st May 2013. Mr Jobson hanged himself with a noose suspended from his loft hatch in February 2011.   What was particularly remarkable in this case, and which resulted in the inquest being reported not only in the Yorkshire Evening Post, but also in the DailyMirror, was that two mental health nurses from the local Crisis Teamhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/NRj5qCSD2PA/when-do-you-intervene-when-someones.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/NRj5qCSD2PA" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/05/when-do-you-intervene-when-someones.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-7122164950901107481Wed, 01 May 2013 17:29:00 +00002013-05-01T18:31:30.335+01:00AMHP traineeElectroconvulsive TherapyECTSec.58A The Masked AMHP unobtrusively observing his AMHP trainee while she is leading a Mental Health Act Assessment I’m currently a practice educator for one of our Approved Mental Health Professional trainees from the local AMHP course. It’s a real pleasure. I’ll tell you why.   AMHP trainees by definition are qualified and experienced workers. Our current intake consists of a mixture of social http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/vDxVvSOuZ9I/on-joys-of-supervising-amhp-trainee.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/vDxVvSOuZ9I" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/05/on-joys-of-supervising-amhp-trainee.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-6079558511522838396Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:34:00 +00002013-04-24T18:34:40.367+01:00Munchausen Syndrome The Masked AMHP assessing "nature or degree" in the hit Edinburgh Fringe play "How to Survive a Mental Health Tribunal -- Missus" The following account may contain triggers for self harm. It’s nearly 10 years since I last had any contact with Eunice, but I still think about her from time to time.Eunice was, and still is a mystery. I don’t think I ever really did get to the bottom of what http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/XgZMUPLDvU4/when-service-users-seek-to-deceive-part.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/XgZMUPLDvU4" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/04/when-service-users-seek-to-deceive-part.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-2664284768962530960Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:37:00 +00002013-04-06T20:05:45.893+01:00community treatment ordersCTO   I recently read the abstract of the OCTET research into the use of Community Treatment Orders for patients with psychosis published in the Lancet on 26th March 2013. I’ve only read the abstract because, despite the research being funded from public money via the National Institute of Health Research, the full report is only available behind a paywall. So I apologise now if I’ve missed http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/Zr8URT12yK8/are-ctos-any-good-observations-on-octet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)9<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/Zr8URT12yK8" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/04/are-ctos-any-good-observations-on-octet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-5965969470457088273Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:25:00 +00002013-04-10T17:18:02.877+01:00Nearest relativeI thought it was funny at the timeSooty What’s that, Sooty? You want to know what to do if a patient’s Nearest Relative unreasonably objects to making an application for admission under Sec.3 Mental Health Act? Well, Sooty, that’s an interesting question. Let’s just put the question in context for our readers, shall we? Let’s say that Sweep became mentally ill and needed to go into hospital for treatment. But Sweep doesn’t http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/hjv136qiyq4/how-to-displace-nearest-relative-as.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/hjv136qiyq4" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-displace-nearest-relative-as.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-3817343563773684650Sat, 23 Mar 2013 10:03:00 +00002013-03-23T10:04:45.578ZBipolar affective disordercommunity treatment ordersCTO Patients subject to CTOs at 31 March 2012, by gender and by year Community Treatment Orders were introduced into the MHA 1983 by the 2007 amendments. The Code of Practice (25.2) states that: “The purpose of SCT is to allow suitable patients to be safely treated in the community rather than under detention in hospital, and to provide a way to help prevent relapse and any harm – to the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/slY4HLbJuck/when-do-you-stop-extending-community.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/slY4HLbJuck" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/03/when-do-you-stop-extending-community.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-8676356793466258819Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:36:00 +00002013-03-08T20:37:15.607Zborderline personality diorderemotionally unstable personality disorder   The DSMV (yes, I am that up-to-date), when discussing the diagnostic criteria for personality disorder, states:   “The essential features of a personality disorder are impairments in personality (self and interpersonal) functioning and the presence of pathological personality traits. To diagnose a personality disorder, the following criteria must be met: Significant impairments in self (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/Dt_I-ItHK2k/should-people-with-personality.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)13<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/Dt_I-ItHK2k" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/03/should-people-with-personality.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-2741714427463152661Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:34:00 +00002013-02-26T15:34:03.553Z   Claire Barcham is an AMHP who has been closely involved for a long time with the development of AMHP practice, including involvement with The College of Social Work as a professional practice development advisor. Based on her own experience, she has written a clear and concise guide to Mental Health Act Assessments.   The book is very easy to navigate (take note, Richard Jones). Of coursehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/j3mlEhJttOA/review-pocketbook-guide-to-mha.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/j3mlEhJttOA" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-pocketbook-guide-to-mha.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-2792409997667092419Sat, 09 Feb 2013 09:19:00 +00002013-02-09T09:19:51.595Z It was reported yesterday (8th February 2013) that the Parliamentary Public Affairs Committee has severely criticised the Department of Work & Pensions for their handling of assessments of the sick and disabled claimants for their capability to work. Responsibility for conducting these assessments has been delegated to ATOS, which was paid £112.4m to carry out 738,000 assessments in 2011/12. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/b6ngN963gxA/they-dont-give-atos-public-accounts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/b6ngN963gxA" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/02/they-dont-give-atos-public-accounts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-1062276942447003081Sun, 27 Jan 2013 09:28:00 +00002013-01-27T09:29:12.762ZMunchausen Syndrome For about 15 years, from the early 1980’s to the late 1990’s, I used to do sessions on the Social Services Standby Team. You would cover nights and weekends, as well as doing your fulltime day job. It always seemed to be that the oddest and most perplexing cases turned up outside normal working hours. Nigel was certainly one of those. One Saturday afternoon, I received a call from the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/JYtTSlfrdRM/when-service-users-seek-to-deceive-part_27.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/JYtTSlfrdRM" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/01/when-service-users-seek-to-deceive-part_27.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-8359652847135105485Sun, 20 Jan 2013 09:57:00 +00002013-01-20T10:13:45.204ZMunchausen Syndrome Borrowed from the excellent Little People Blog   Warning: this post may contain triggers for abuse.   During the more than 20 years that I have been based in a CMHT, I have worked with literally hundreds of women and men who have been the victims of childhood sexual abuse, rape and domestic violence.   One of the greatest fears that abuse survivors have when they disclose their abuse ishttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/ij6NDVMCi6Q/when-service-users-seek-to-deceive-part.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/ij6NDVMCi6Q" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/01/when-service-users-seek-to-deceive-part.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-1335726495492083794Sat, 12 Jan 2013 09:49:00 +00002013-01-12T11:46:54.521ZClusteringPayment by Results   The Masked AMHP was recently featured on guerillapolicy.org's site in the Frontline series. Banging on about clustering and Payment by Results again. Here is the post in full. It can also be found here   I am a mental health social worker and Approved Mental Health Professional working in a community mental health team. My AMHP role means that I have the power to apply for the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/RntUmO9B_Xw/the-masked-amhp-featured-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/RntUmO9B_Xw" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-masked-amhp-featured-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-8743225822488389250Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:03:00 +00002013-01-04T19:55:46.898Z1959 Actsection 4Nearest relative The Masked AMHP (with briefcase) informs the Nearest Relative of their rights -- with hilarious consequences. Publicity shot for the West End Hit “Principal Changes in the Mental Health Act 2007 – Missus!”   The Nearest Relative, as defined within the Mental Health Act, has an important role to play.   The Reference Guide (Chapter 33) states:   “33.2 The Act confers various rights on http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/vU08wamFaj8/powers-rights-and-functions-of-nearest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/vU08wamFaj8" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2013/01/powers-rights-and-functions-of-nearest.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-4777937657991480519Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:08:00 +00002012-12-27T19:33:52.368Z Reconstruction by actors. The Masked AMHP is being played by the woman at the back  (Before reading this cautionary tale, I want to make clear to readers that this post is in no way intended to imply that people on benefits are scroungers. Quite the contrary – most mental health service users that I know who are reliant on benefits would dearly love to be able to do a meaningful and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/UoMsialRCgc/when-service-users-seek-to-deceive-part.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/UoMsialRCgc" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/12/when-service-users-seek-to-deceive-part.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-8005140894404602505Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:19:00 +00002012-12-12T22:19:32.302ZI thought it was funny at the time   Just in time for Christmas, the Masked AMHP™’s extensive team of Tech guys have completed the brand new, shiny and indispensable Masked AMHP™ App!    One of the Masked AMHP's Tech guys Crammed with useful tools for the busy Approved Mental Health Professional, you won’t know how you ever lived without it! The Masked AMHP™ App comes preloaded with a fully searchable database http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/lm2-McSlym0/get-masked-amhp-app-this-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)11<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/lm2-McSlym0" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/12/get-masked-amhp-app-this-christmas.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-2122603210493871627Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:56:00 +00002012-12-05T13:29:05.402ZAMHP Powers and Duties The Masked AMHP (in a suit) attempting to interview in a suitable manner -- with hilarious results. Publicity shot from the stage production of "Ooer, Missus, It Shouldn't Happen to an AMHP!"  Every five years, AMHP’s have to provide evidence to their local authority of their competence to continuing practicing. One of my local authority’s recent mandatory requirements for being reapproved http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/MY2QlVfUfNo/on-being-observed-while-doing-your-job.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/MY2QlVfUfNo" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/12/on-being-observed-while-doing-your-job.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-7000324008514813327Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:09:00 +00002012-11-28T11:53:42.931Zpolice All AMHP’s will be familiar with being asked to do assessments under the Mental Health Act when it is not appropriate, but is motivated by the desire on the part of the caller to pass the buck. They might, for example, receive a request to assess an elderly person who actually just needs residential care, not a hospital admission, or to assess someone who is in emotional distress, where the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/S9o3vaDwSyE/on-inappropriate-mental-health-act.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/S9o3vaDwSyE" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/11/on-inappropriate-mental-health-act.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-6696681394381957840Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:40:00 +00002012-11-15T19:40:38.227Zschizophrenia  The Schizophrenia Commission published their report on Schizophrenia and psychosis yesterday (14th November 2012). You can find the full report here.   It's a pretty scathing report. It lays bare the devastating effects on individuals experiencing this illness in the social, health and economic spheres. It finds that “people with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia still die http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/hyd6PHLzKL4/the-abandoned-illness-schizophrenia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/hyd6PHLzKL4" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-abandoned-illness-schizophrenia.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-4374986336988319761Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:57:00 +00002012-11-02T17:46:51.959Zsection 4community treatment ordersSec.136police What a tasty graph!   The latest statistics for people detained in hospital or on Community Treatment Orders has just come out. These cover the period from 1st April 2011 – 31st March 2012. I always get a little moist looking at these statistics. I guess some people might think that’s just wrong, but what these statistics do is to lay bare some curious and perhaps unexpected consequences ofhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/AkBYYZ9IWjU/detentions-under-mental-health-act-1983.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/AkBYYZ9IWjU" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/11/detentions-under-mental-health-act-1983.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-3993910628992647395Sun, 28 Oct 2012 09:27:00 +00002012-10-28T12:37:44.471Zpolice   Perhaps it’s the dismal weather we’ve had recently, perhaps it’s the shortening days. Whatever the reason, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the dead. In particular, my first hand encounters with death.   Thankfully, I’ve seldom come face to face with a dead body during my career as a social worker. However, on four occasions I have been in the unfortunate position of being directly http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/IxA2Lsvx6bs/social-work-with-dead.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/IxA2Lsvx6bs" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/10/social-work-with-dead.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-5527352371998800031Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:49:00 +00002012-10-19T16:50:08.339+01:00Guardian Pieces You can read the fascinating things The Masked AMHP has to say to the Guardian about himself and his blog here.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/HLig-787BXE/the-masked-amhp-profiled-in-guardian.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/HLig-787BXE" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-masked-amhp-profiled-in-guardian.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-6709539511280431022Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:45:00 +00002012-10-15T20:45:56.648+01:00section 4police Over the years, I have frequently found myself in a position where I have had to assess someone under the Mental Health Act where their presentation on assessment is directly at odds with the reports from relatives and other professionals of their behaviour and symptoms. What is the AMHP supposed to do in these situations? While it is important for the AMHP to “interview in a suitable http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/8c0bxctojw4/on-assessing-people-who-conceal-their.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/8c0bxctojw4" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/10/on-assessing-people-who-conceal-their.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-4819030114624464443Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:20:00 +00002012-09-27T18:20:58.171+01:00ClusteringPayment by Results Most mental health service users will be completely unaware that when they are assessed by Community Mental Health Teams or in hospital their mental health problems and symptoms are now subjected to an arcane system known as Clustering. The Department of Health issued guidelines in October 2011 (a link is here) which proudly announced: “2012-13 is the introductory year for what is a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/aFiKJExQBeo/clustering-and-payment-by-results-end.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/aFiKJExQBeo" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/09/clustering-and-payment-by-results-end.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380213133018137281.post-2185940044253063131Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:01:00 +00002012-09-21T18:02:09.335+01:00History of Social WorkAutobiography   Part 5 of an occasional series about my early years as a social worker in the 1970’s. Within a few months of starting as an unqualified social worker in Charwood Area Social Services Department it was decided that I could take part in the Area on call rota. Charwood provided a local out of hours emergency service. Every social worker in the team had to be on the rota. This meant http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~3/BpFZ5nbQZRc/origins-5-death-in-charwood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Masked AMHP)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/HmGIK/~4/BpFZ5nbQZRc" height="1" width="1"/>http://themaskedamhp.blogspot.com/2012/09/origins-5-death-in-charwood.html