Response by Robert Brown, Independent trainer of Approved Social Workers and Mental Health Act Commissioner

Responses to the Draft Mental Health Bill

THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE APPROVED SOCIAL WORKER
Key elements of this article were originally included in two separate lectures at conferences hosted by the Institute of Mental Health Act Practitioners on 7th February 2000 and on 7th March 2001. The material has been revisited in the light of the publication of the Draft Mental Health Bill.(1) Although a new Mental Health Bill was omitted from the Queen’s Speech on the 13th November 2002, the Government has stated its intention to introduce one has soon as time allows.

Summary
There has been concern in social work circles that mental health law reform will lead to a dilution of the role of the Approved Social Worker (ASW). This is against a background of major changes in the way social workers are employed in the mental health field. The article considers: key issues affecting ASWs in recent proposals, the history of the ASW, their key tasks under the current Mental Health Act, and changes in the way ASWs are being employed. There is then some discussion of the potential future for Approved Social Workers.

Footnotes:
(1) Draft Mental Health Bill. Cm 5538-I. Department of Health 2002

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