Crew Blog
Evolution not Revolution!
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Brighton #AMHPTrip #MHP21
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I was summonsed (invited) to Brighton by @SteveyBMH aka the now retired National Mental Health Co-ordinator @CollegeofPolice Steve is a tip top fella & this was his gig & final hurrah. Steve is/was very clear, that the girls & boys in blue, should not be the first line of response to people experiencing mental health crisis. However the reality is, that far too often, the girls & boys in blue #Team999 & the almost ubiquitous S.136, are the only response on offer.
I have been to a couple of these conferences now & to be fair, the girls & boys in blue really do appear to get it. They now know what an #AMHP is & does. They mostly know that the “P” stands for “Professional”. They know that the #AMHP has to find a S.12 Dr or 2 & that the #AMHP doesn’t do beds. They know all about S.140 & that NHS compliance with this particular section of the MHA, is part of the solution. Most of them now know, that S.136 is actually an arrest (preserved power of & not for an offence). They know that coordinating a Mental Health Act Assessment in custody, too often represents a huge challenge for #AMHPs & they also know that we #AMHPs probably need somewhere to park.
They, like you & @seandilleyNEWS, also know (see article here), that the mental health system is dysfunctional & struggles to meet the demands placed on it. They acknowledge that they are sometimes placed between a rock & a hard place & they know who is actually placing them in that position.
The big cheese @DCCRachelBacon certainly appears to understand her brief & she is being ably supported by @BenjaminRoweso1 & Tony Jarred (needs to join @Twitter soon) @metpoliceuk. It isn’t very often, that a wee boy from Derry, gets to sit next to a Deputy Chief Constable.
It struck me as I listened & wandered about the very posh Grand Hotel, just how much these girls & boys in blue cared about this stuff. Police Forces from up & down the country, from over Hadrian’s Wall, from the Valleys & the PNSI were represented & they are all trying to do this stuff better. They are all trying to make multi agency partnership working, actually work.
So I stood up & did the A to Z of #AMHPing. I banged on about the need for better legal literacy & suggested that people actually need to read the MHA & the MHA Code of Practice & probably the MCA.
I may have mentioned S.140 & pointed out that the NHS (Dr & Bed Manager) is responsible for finding the bed. That a Mental Health Act Assessment is a thing of chaos, but that it is also a legal process.
That an #AMHP makes an application to detain a person/child to a hospital & not to a bed. We are all obsessed with the “bed”.
I might have suggested that the girls & boys in blue need more training in mental health. (but to be fair, the boss pays me to say that 😉)
They, like you & @seandilleyNEWS, also know (see article here), that the mental health system is dysfunctional & struggles to meet the demands placed on it. They acknowledge that they are sometimes placed between a rock & a hard place & they know who is actually placing them in that position.
The big cheese @DCCRachelBacon certainly appears to understand her brief & she is being ably supported by @BenjaminRoweso1 & Tony Jarred (needs to join @Twitter soon) @metpoliceuk. It isn’t very often, that a wee boy from Derry, gets to sit next to a Deputy Chief Constable.
It struck me as I listened & wandered about the very posh Grand Hotel, just how much these girls & boys in blue cared about this stuff. Police Forces from up & down the country, from over Hadrian’s Wall, from the Valleys & the PNSI were represented & they are all trying to do this stuff better. They are all trying to make multi agency partnership working, actually work.
So I stood up & did the A to Z of #AMHPing. I banged on about the need for better legal literacy & suggested that people actually need to read the MHA & the MHA Code of Practice & probably the MCA.
I may have mentioned S.140 & pointed out that the NHS (Dr & Bed Manager) is responsible for finding the bed. That a Mental Health Act Assessment is a thing of chaos, but that it is also a legal process.
That an #AMHP makes an application to detain a person/child to a hospital & not to a bed. We are all obsessed with the “bed”.
I might have suggested that the girls & boys in blue need more training in mental health. (but to be fair, the boss pays me to say that 😉)
I may have sneaked in a picture or two of the #AMHPhound (oh look, there she is) & I did touch upon Street Triage & Serenity Integrated Mentoring #StopSim.
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I may have said that @MentalHealthCop never ever said “No warrant, no police”.
That absolute star of the show was Milo @OscarKiloNine Your man Arden @Thalamos was very impressive & remember I am almost like a proper Luddite. Arden was also very helpful & supported me to not miss the train 😉 I have a terrible habit of missing the odd train here & there #AMHPskills So it was fun & informative & an opportunity to share & learn. The lesser spotted #GrumpyAMHP is available for future events - weddings, funerals & bar mitzvahs. Just ask the boss lady @DaisyBoggCons Signing off for the weekend @AsifAMHP 8th October 2021 |
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