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The Mental Health Act 2007 (HM Government, 2007) replaced the approved social worker (ASW) with the approved mental health professional (AMHP), opening up the role to some nonsocial work professions. AMHP training, however, remains linked to the General Social Care Council (GSCC) post‐qualifying social work framework, with AMHP training now incorporated into the higher specialist social work award, set at masters level (level M) rather than first degree (level H) (General Social Care Council, 2007).Analysis of data from the first year of AMHP training at Bournemouth University illustrates some of the challenges that have arisen particularly in relation to the masters level study. Evaluation of the first year highlights some important areas for future consideration in terms of student selection, pre‐course preparation and student support. The data also demonstrate that there have only been a very small number of non social workers enrolling on programmes at the present time. This article will explore some of the possible reasons behind this.

Mental health and learning disability nurses have been eligible to become approved mental health professionals (AMHPs) since 2008, when the Mental Health Act 2007 was implemented. Despite this, there have been proportionally low numbers of these nurses pursuing the AMHP role. The purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of these nurse AMHPs of training and practice.

Ten practicing nurse AMHPs were recruited from across four local authority sites. Using semi-structured interviews, participants were asked to discuss their experiences of being an AMHP.

The participants highlighted the need to navigate personal, cultural and structural factors relating to accessing and applying for the training, difficulties with agreeing contracts terms, gaining comparative pay and undertaking the role.

The limitations of this study are the small number of participants and therefore the generalisability of the findings. Also, respondents were practising AMHPs rather than nurses who considered the role but then rejected it as a career option.

This study has led to gain a greater understanding of the experiences of nurse AMHPs.

The results from this study will assist employing local authorities, and NHS consider the barriers to mental health and learning disability nurses becoming AMHPs.

The value of this study is in the insight that provides the experiences of nurse AMHP from applying to training through to being a practising AMHP.

This paper presents the outcomes of a small qualitative study investigating the experience of mental health practitioners working with dual diagnosis in an early intervention in psychosis (EIP) team with a focus on the use of a specifically developed screening tool. Interviews were conducted with mental health professionals who were employed as care co‐ordinators within an EIP team. Grounded theory was adopted as a method for making sense of the data obtained. Six themes that emerged from the data are described: the importance of the cycle of change in treatment planning; service accountability and responsibility; the nature of psychotic illness; assumptions about substance use; confidence; and using the tool as part of the recovery process. These themes were discussed in relation to research surrounding psychosis, substance use and screening methods.Despite identifying the importance of a more integrated method of working with this complex service user group, gaps remain in practice. Modifications to the screening tool are recommended and a need for substance‐use‐specific interventions training for practitioners working within EIP services is identified.