| |  | | | |  | |  | | Mental Health Act Managers | | | | | Section 23 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) gives the "Hospital Managers” the power to discharge certain patients from the Hospital.
At St. Andrew’s Healthcare, this function is performed by a panel of no less than three members of the Mental Health Act Managers team. It is their duty to review the patient’s detention under the Mental Health Act at intervals and upon the patient’s request. These “Managers” are appointed by the organsiation, although not employed.
St Andrew's Healthcare has appointed a number of people from Northamptonshire and Essex to carry out this function. All our existing Managers have varied professional backgrounds. Experience of working with a wide range of community groups is desirable, though not essential. The role is essentially voluntary. MHA Managers are not appointed as staff of St Andrew's, nor do they have a financial interest in St Andrew's Healthcare. Managers are initially trained in the relevant aspects of the Mental Health Act and the Code of Practice Mental Health Act 1983. They then embark on a period of shadowing experienced panel members until they feel confident with their role and the organsation is satisfied they are ready to sit on the panels. The Manager’s activity will be maintained by declaring their availability three months in advance of panel dates.
We have a large number of detained patients at St Andrew's and their statutory rights are continually being monitored by the Mental Health Act administrative team and the clinical staff that care for the patient’s. The Manager’s role is to consider written and verbal evidence given by the patient’s Consultant and other clinical team members and to meet with the patient on their ward. The Manager’s panel must consider whether the grounds for continued detention under the Act are still satisfied.
This is a challenging and important role for the Managers and for the organisation. Patient’s detained under the Act need to know that their legal rights are maintained at all times and can have the opportunity to have their detention reviewed. We believe those people appointed as Managers should have the skills to communicate with people at all levels in the Hospital and to allow the patient to communicate their own feelings about their detention in the Hospital and how their treatment plan is progressing.
The Managers conduct their hearings in a manner that is fair, in good faith and without bias to ensure all parties concerned have the opportunity to state their case. The patient’s health, safety and protection of themselves and others is the key to this role.
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