150 Mental Health Officers (MHOs) attended a major conference in Scotland earlier this month and debated the key issues currently confronting their practice.
Participants at the MHO Forum Study Day – More for Less: Finding the Way, held in Perth on 6 October, heard from a number of leading figures in their field and debated a range of the issues they raised. These included:
• Meeting people’s needs – how can we provide competent, confident services in mental health? Peter MacLeod, ADSW Vice President
• Update on legislation. Joanna Keating, Head of Policy and Legislation Team, Mental Health Division, Scottish Government
Also read Joanna Keating’s summary of useful legislation
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Book launch
The event also featured the launch of an insightful new book that could benefit all MHO practitioners. Crossing The Acts: The Support and Protection of Adults at Risk with Mental Disorder; Across the Scottish Legislative Frameworks, explores the risks of adults with a mental disorder and how the relative Scottish legislation, policy and practice frameworks interrelate to provide them with support and protection.
Written by Tom Keenan, the book is available online for £17.95 from the BASW bookshop today.
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In a separate MHO Forum further discussion took place on the following issues:
• Providing an out of hours service, particularly in rural areas
• Variations in pay for MHOs across Scotland
• Establishing the judging criteria for the Wilma McDonald MHO Annual Award
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Over to you
The Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW – part of BASW) will be taking these and other issues forward, if you aren’t already a SASW member, why not join today … if you are a member, maybe you want to continue debating the day’s themes by visiting http://my.basw.co.uk/ and discussing the issues with your counterparts.
Other issues from the workshops are also being collated and there will be further threads of debate contributing to change in policy and practice through MyBASW and working groups. If you have any queries, please email j.grant@basw.co.uk