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Written question asked by Alex Ballinger (Labour) on Thursday, 6 February 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 February 2025. It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Thursday, 13 February 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Psychiatry and Social Workers: Training

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of mandatory training for (a) psychiatrists, (b) psychiatric nurses and (c) social workers on legal obligations under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Answer

Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 requires local social services authorities and National Health Service commissioners to provide or arrange for the provision of aftercare to adults or children detained in hospital for treatment under section 3, 37, 45A, or transferred under section 47 or 48 of the Act who then leave hospital. No assessment of patients is required to determine whether they are eligible for s117 aftercare although professionals would of course be expected to work with a patient to understand their individual needs.

There are no plans at present to introduce any such mandatory training or require mandatory recording of the number of people eligible for section 117 who local social services authorities and NHS commissioners have responsibility for.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
29711
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Psychiatry Training Social workers Psychiatric nurses
Legislation
Mental Health Act 1983
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk