New Roles in Mental Health: The Creation of the Approved Mental Health Practitioner

Abstract

The current role of the approved social worker (ASW) will be changed to that of the approved mental health practitioner, who may be a nurse or other mental health professional, if proposed legislation comes into force in England and Wales. This has implications for service users, carers and the mental health workforce. This article draws on literature and a conference discussing this change attended by practitioners and policy‐makers. It considers the complexity of the ASW role and the implications for the AMHP, and sets the related issues in the context of integrated working.

Citation

Rapaport, J. (2006), "New Roles in Mental Health: The Creation of the Approved Mental Health Practitioner", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 14 No. 5, pp. 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/14769018200600038