Best Interests Assessor

The training staff include:

• Matthew Graham: Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Module Leader. Matt is a registered social worker who has been an academic in social work since 2007. Matt has extensive experience working in local authority mental health services and academia. He has a passion for teaching, writing and researching the subjects of mental health, mental capacity and associated legislation. Matt is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In addition to book chapters and journal articles, Matt is co-author of A Practical Guide to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Jessica Kingsley Publishers).

• Mary-Clare Davidson: Lecturer in Social Work (Adult Social Care). Mary-Clare is a registered social worker who has considerable experience working in both education and local authority social work practice. Before joining UCLan in 2019, Mary-Clare was a senior social worker in a local authority where she specialised in working with adults with severe symptoms of dementia. Mary-Clare is a Level 2 Practice Educator and teaches about the Mental Capacity Act (2005) on the BA and MA in Social Work. Mary-Clare is a practising Best Interests Assessor.

• Doug Feery: Barrister. Doug is well known for his work in Mental Health, Public and Human Rights Law. In addition to working for Liverpool Civil Law Barristers’ Chambers, Doug delivers education on mental health and mental capacity legislation. He also works in an advisory and consultative capacity with a range of local authorities. This is in regard to their compliance with equality legislation and national policy. Doug has been teaching on UCLan’s AMHP and BIA courses for several years.

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards provide a legal framework to protect the rights and liberties of people who lack the mental capacity to consent to the care or treatment they need, where care or treatment could amount to a deprivation of their liberty. The module is targeted at practitioners who wish to undertake the role as a BIA accredited by the Secretary of State.

During the training the following will be considered in detail:

The Mental Capacity Act 2005; Human Rights Act 1998; Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended 2007); relevant case law; roles and responsibilities of the BIA, Independent Mental Capacity Advocate and Mental Health Assessors; Social Work England’s standards for BIA practice; models of mental capacity and the impact of lacking capacity on service users, carers and families; Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards procedures, including the six assessments. Risk issues, assessment and management within the context of mental capacity; range of relevant research.

20 Credit Module at Level 7

This module enables participants to understand the key skills, knowledge and values underpinning the role of the BIA. On successful completion of the training and assessment, participants will receive an official University transcript confirming they have passed the module. At this stage, they will be eligible to Supervisory Bodies to undertake the BIA role.