Providing person-centred and place-based services, our Mental Health Social Workers (MHSWs) assigned to the Devon Partnership Mental Health Trust, work in well-established, multidisciplinary and specialist teams, focusing on providing safe, personalised, recovery-focused and sustainable care.

In Adult Mental Health, we work across network areas and clinical directorates, Adults, Older Person’s Specialist, and Secure Services. Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) at DCC are qualified social workers, nurses and OTs, who do not carry caseloads. Rather our AMHP undertake a number of statutory and preventative roles, working in conjunction with multiple partner agencies to ensure the individual receives the best possible outcome.

Our Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) service is a recognised national example of good practice, and has led in the development of the National AMHP Service Standards, dialogical interviewing approaches, strategies to avoid the use of compulsion, and a whole host of national initiatives. The service is comprised of locality and service-based AMHP daytime and ‘out of hours’ AMHP teams who work seamlessly to provide an immediate consideration and prioritisation of requests for assessment under the Mental Health Act.

All AMHPs are given a comprehensive, flexible package of refresher training. Professional and peer support is central to our service model. This is further supported by e-learning packages provided jointly by the Trust and DCC as well as face-to-face learning in areas such as the Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding and the Mental Health Act.

Watch Diana’s story about why she chose to become a Mental Health Social Worker.