Anatomy of a Mental Health Act Assessment

Even though every formal assessment under the Mental Health Act 1983 is different, the actual procedure tends to follow a typical pattern.
Assessments have a similar structure, or series of steps, which have a logical sequence, and need to be followed if the assessment is to meet legal, ethical and professional standards.
The steps are as follows:
1 The Referral
2 Gathering Information
3 Organising the Assessment
4 The Interview
5 Reaching a Decision
6 Completing the application ( if one is to be made)
7 Arrangements for the Admission
8 The Admission
9 The Aftermath
In this video I illustrate these steps by referring to a real assessment I undertook: Robina, a woman in her early 80’s living alone, with steadily worsening dementia.

[@MrKST78]

Thank you. This was a great insight into your role.

[@maskedamhp]

Thank you!

[@annemarshall5605]

Thank you. I've sent this on to my new AMHP candidate. It's a very clear explanation of the process of an assessment and some of the complexities that can arise. Very helpful! 🙂

[@maskedamhp]

Thank you!

[@dmmd4994]

I have a question to you both, Masked AMHP and Anne, how can I be new candidate. I have an experience with psychiatric patients from other country, now I apply for HCPC registration, but I think it is long way, I want to start experience now as a future AMHP, how can I do this?

[@dmmd4994]

I already found other video, where is a lot a propos my question

[@lotustarangini7369]

thank you for what you do.

[@maskedamhp]

Thank you!

[@Smmychin]

This would be good content on AMHP training courses.

[@maskedamhp]

Thank you! I've lots more stuff coming up that I hope will be useful to AMHPs, trainees, and students.

[@thomasj.scottrobson7338]

Very helpful video.

[@alishamiah111]

Thank you! This was really informative and gave extremely good insight into how a MHA is done. When carrying out the MHA, what questions do you ask to assess their mental health? Is there a particular set of questions? Thanks :)

[@Imagineim]

I randomly stumbled across this. This is really interesting. I was wondering if it was possible for you to break down the mental health act in an understandable way. Explaining the it means to be sectioned, the types sections, inpatient facilities, how adult services differ to under 18 services, mental health tribunals, etc.

[@seaninherts]

I would also avidly consume this content… though it’s worth bearing in mind that there are 149 sections to the Mental Heatlh Act 1983 in England and Wales. It is alas, far from easy to go through. I’ve genuinely heard AMHPs get their own title wrong. Genuinely heard one Approved Mental Health Professional describe themselves as “practitioner”. Love this explainer and, it has to be said that this is a FAB job.

[@Fred-hx7uc]

Have you done any assessment on patients with Anorexia? It'd be interesting if you could do a video on that please :)

[@maskedamhp]

I may do that in due course.

[@markbenjamin1703]

Have you ever been involed in the sectioning of someone say before:Christmas, a birthday, a christening, day before they go on holiday or any other important occasions?

[@maskedamhp]

I once had to detain someone on Christmas Day, which also happened to be their birthday!

[@markbenjamin1703]

@@maskedamhp bloody hell. How did he/she take it, and how long were they in hospital for?

[@maskedamhp]

@@markbenjamin1703 He was catatonic, so didn't have anything to say. He was in for about a month. He continued to have catatonic and psychotic episodes for many years.

[@stevejelly3161]

Many thanks for your video 🙂 . And i confess that due to slight trauma that i only got a few mins in and i SWEAR that the following opinion does NOT relate in any way to the content of your video !!! . My friend.... i am possitive that the Mental Health Act was introduced in 1983 to prevent vindictive or greedy family members from "ganging up" on close family and friends for personal gain . And (yes) ... i understand that we all live our lives and adheare to Acts of Parliment by "proxy" 🙂 . But that same GOOD act is being "rigged" and false information that is known to be totally untrue is being logged behind the civilians back and kept in obeyance for even up to decades when that same person is unaware but carries a suspician ???? . As this can result in a lot or harm in many ways . Many Thanks for reading