Welcome to the Mental Health Act (MHA) Department

The Medical Records/Mental Health Act Department separated late December 14, with the Medical Records Department remaining in the original office (Room  F08) and the Mental Health Act Dept moving to the old Occupational Health Dept (Room F31).  The management of the Mental Health Act Department transferred to the Medical Directorate and Christine Hutchinson was appointed as Associate Medical Director Consultant Nurse - Approved Clinician to lead the team.

The departments have separated to enable each to focus on their individual areas of expertise, and as part of the action plan to address issues raised during the CQC visit.
The MHA Department are focussing on raising awareness of the law and regulations for nursing patients detained in hospital, and helping individuals know and understand the responsibilities relevant to their roles to be able to adhere to the Codes of Practice and improve the Trusts compliance of working within the Acts.

New developments to raise the MHA profile and assist all staff to work within the Acts will include:

  • A Sharepoint portal to provide easy access to rights leaflets, information, guidance, and links to the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act, including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Codes of Practice, along with copies of the summary briefings as they are issued.  
  • Training events 
  • A topic from the Act will be summarised each month and circulated using the Core Brief.
  • Members of the MHA team will visit wards on a regular basis to build on communications, and promote team working, offering advice and support.
  • Audits on a monthly basis to check compliance, and provide assurances to the Board.

Manager:
O'Neill Heather
     
MHA Administrator:
Austen Karen

Please feel free to contact one of us if you would like a visit anytime, and also let us know if there is a specific topic you would like covering.