Children and Young People and The Mental Health Act Training

to 11:00am
About this event

This session explores the application of the Mental Health Act (MHA) to children and young people. It will provide an overview of The Act in relation to children and young people and any age related criteria. The session will examine the relationship between the nearest relative and parental responsibility, and critically consider the scope and limits of parental control. The session will address capacity and competence, including Gillick principles. Relevant case law shaping application will be highlighted. Participants will explore how the MHA interfaces with CAMHS Tier 4 gatekeeping processes and emerging guidance in this area. The learning will support confident, lawful, and rights-based practice in complex multi-agency contexts.

⭐ Learning Outcomes :-

• Outline key reference materials and resources for use in practice

• Identify age-related provisions and criteria within the Mental Health Act for children and young people

• Recall the statutory definition and functions of the nearest relative and its interaction with the concept of parental responsibility in MHA processes

• Describe the concept of the zone of parental control and its relevance to consent and admission

• Outline the principles of Gillick competence and its relevance to decision-making and use of the MHA

• Analyse the limits of parental responsibility, including when it cannot authorise deprivation of liberty

• Distinguish between different legal frameworks and each may be required

• Consider how CAMHS Tier 4 gatekeeping and system pressures influence legal decision-making and care pathways

Trainer Bio -

Christina Cheney is a qualified social worker, AMHP and BIA. She has a wealth of operational practice and strategic leadership experience having worked in and lead a range of mental health and social care services. She has provided strategic leadership regionally and nationally in relation to social work and AMHPs within NHS and Local Authority environments and as social care advisor to NICE and chair of the National AMHP Leads Network.

Christina’s varied career provides a unique perspective that is able to connect the strategic aims of policy makers and the evidence from academic research with the realities and pressures of front line practice. Christina has been active in the academic community and co-ordinated a number of regional and national conferences as well as speaking, either independently or on behalf of organisations and networks. Christina works as in independent trainer, offering regular training for Social Workers, AMHPs, s12 and Approved Clinicians. She also delivers services as a supervisor, coach and mentor and service development consultant.

Delivered using MS Teams in an interactive virtual classroom with limited group sizes. Corporate multi booking rates available - contact ProfDE@basw.co.uk for details.

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