(1)A local social services authority shall appoint a sufficient number of approved social workers for the purpose of discharging the functions conferred on them by this Act.
(2)No person shall be appointed by a local social services authority as an approved social worker unless he is approved by the authority as having appropriate competence in dealing with persons who are suffering from mental disorder.
(3)In approving a person for appointment as an approved social worker a local social services authority shall have regard to such matters as the Secretary of State may direct.
Valid from 01/10/2007
(1)The relevant Council may, in accordance with rules made by it, approve courses for persons who are or wish to become approved mental health professionals.
(2)For that purpose—
(a)subsections (2) to (4)(a) and (7) of section 63 of the Care Standards Act 2000 apply as they apply to approvals given, rules made and courses approved under that section; and
(b)sections 66 and 71 of that Act apply accordingly.
(3)In subsection (1), “the relevant Council” means—
(a)in relation to persons who are or wish to become approved to act as approved mental health professionals by a local social services authority whose area is in England, the General Social Care Council;
(b)in relation to persons who are or wish to become approved to act as approved mental health professionals by a local social services authority whose area is in Wales, the Care Council for Wales.
(4)The functions of an approved mental health professional shall not be considered to be relevant social work for the purposes of Part 4 of the Care Standards Act 2000.
(5)The General Social Care Council and the Care Council for Wales may also carry out, or assist other persons in carrying out, research into matters relevant to training for approved mental health professionals.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 114A inserted (1.10.2007) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 19, 56 (with Sch. 10); S.I. 2007/2798, art. 2(a)
An approved social worker of a local social services authority may at all reasonable times after producing, if asked to do so, some duly authenticated document showing that he is such a social worker, enter and inspect any premises (not being a hospital) in the area of that authority in which a mentally disordered patient is living, if he has reasonable cause to believe that the patient is not under proper care.