Mental Health and Mental Capacity Law for Social Workers

Simon Godefroy is Director of the London and Thames Valley Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) courses for Bournemouth University.

Introduction to mental health and the law What is the law? Historical perspectives Introduction to the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005 Application to practice Principles and values Assessment Providing care Care outside of hospital Other provisions and safeguards Mentally disordered offenders Deprivation of liberty safeguards Safeguards

Godefroy's text is a timely introduction to mental health law aimed particularly at the mental health social worker. It will most likely prove invaluable to students choosing to specialise in mental health. He provides very detailed and clear expectations of the processes involved in formal mental health assessments, what needs to take place in practice and how this happens. This will prove very illuminating and insightful for the non-AMHP and practitioner considering embarking on AMHP qualification. -- Matthew Gough