2013 | Approved Clinician approval. Subsequent membership of the DHSC’s Midlands and East of England Mental Health Act Approval Panel. |
2011 | MA in Advanced Social Work (Mental Health & Practice Education), the Advanced Award in Social Work and the Higher Specialist Award in Social Work. |
2009 | Higher Specialist Award in Practice Education. |
2007 | Advanced Award in Social Work (under the previous PQ framework). |
2003 | Post Qualifying Award in Social Work. |
1998 | Mental Health Social Work Award. Initial ASW (AMHP) approval. |
1997 | Youth and Community Worker’s Certificate. |
1990 – 1994 | BSc. Honours (2:1) in Applied Social Science and Social Work, with the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work. |
1989 | CAC/AEB Combined Certificates in Counselling. |
1987 | Further and Adult Education Teacher’s Certificate. |
1984 | 5 GCE ‘O’ Levels, including Mathematics and English Language. |
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- Working with service-users who: have treatment resistant conditions, are difficult to engage, have personality disorders, are mentally disordered offenders and/or misuse substances.
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- Reviewing ‘out of area’ service-users, reporting to commissioners and senior managers about: treatment and care to date, risks management considerations and discharge planning concerns.
- Evaluating and making detailed recommendations about the functioning of Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment teams, alongside the overall development of acute mental health services.
- Consultation and training re: Section 136 MHA, Community Treatment Orders and Mental Health Tribunals.
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- Supervising/mentoring multi-disciplinary staff, including AMHPs & Approved Clinician candidates.
1997 to date Senior Social Worker, AMHP and Approved Clinician, for NCC and NSFT.
1.5.2015 to date: hospital social work team role, post NSFT ‘special measures’ & TUPE transfer.
Approved Clinician practice has been kept up to date by: regular participation in MDT meetings, multi-agency risk management reviews & DHSC regional panel meetings; training and conferences.
This role has also embedded a clear understanding of inter-agency responsibilities, viz the Care Act.
1.10.2013 to 30.4.2015: involvement in an innovative Approved Clinician pilot for CTO service-users, underpinned by evidence from seminal research papers and national guidance. The focus included:
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- Fostering a change in organisational culture towards employing [non-medical] Approved Clinicians, whilst significantly reducing bed occupancy levels through reduced re-admissions.
- In addition to building a strong business case, highly effective clinical outcomes were achieved. Using a naturalistic comparison – retrospectively and prospectively, for 18 month periods – KPIs demonstrated: zero serious untoward incidents and A&E attendance; harm minimisation and significant reductions in substance misuse; reduced medical input and agreeing clear pathways for discharging service-users from compulsory care, with improved levels of insight pro-term.
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- The final report provided a detailed rationale, including very positive feedback from service-users, staff and hospital managers. It was discontinued when NSFT entered ‘special measures.’
A very good reputation has also been built viz facilitating high quality treatment and care, including:
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- Undertaking circa 900 MHA assessments and developing an ASW (AMHP) Practice Manual.
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- Supplying detailed but concise psycho-social histories, tribunal and funding reports.
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- Embedding a court diversion scheme, for mentally disordered offenders in north Norfolk.
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- Making discrete recommendations re: Section 136 MHA, post-completion of MA research paper.
1996 – 1997 | Part-time Youth Worker, for Norfolk County Council. Reason for leaving: to pursue ASW (AMHP) training and the need to be on-call. |
1995 – 1997 | Community Resource Manager, for Suffolk Social Services. Significant staffing and carer’s resistance were sensitively managed, towards meeting the commissioners requirements for a more flexible and pro-active service, for service-users with learning disabilities and co-morbid mental health problems. Simultaneously, a warm and enabling environment facilitated discreet support, towards addressing educational and employment needs within the community. Reason for leaving: to fulfil a career ambition of becoming an ASW (AMHP). |
1993 – 1995 | Specialist Social Worker, for Essex Social Services. Complex assessments were undertaken – and sophisticated discharge care packages were devised – for people with multiple physical/learning disabilities and mental health needs. Regular reports were provided for four neighbouring commissioning authorities. Reason for leaving: career progression. |
1988 – 1994 | Various locum posts, for Reliance Social Care, in London. Work in the following specialisms widened my knowledge, skills and experiential base: older people’s mental health services; adolescent services; learning disability services; homeless and/or misused substance services. Reason for leaving: moved to Norfolk, post qualification. |
1988 – 1990 | Unqualified Mental Health Social Worker, for Hammersmith and Fulham SSD. This innovative community mental health project sought to engage disenfranchised service-users, who were frequently excluded from mainstream services and/or had been forensically assessed. I devised and gained a council grant to successfully manage an innovative Sports Club and the Food Co-op; these groups successfully challenged negative stereotypes and improved the local community relations per se. Reason for leaving: commencement of social work training. |
1987 – 1988 | Locum Residential Social Worker, for Haringey Social Services Department. Within a 20 bedded mental health unit, whilst providing flexible outreach support. Reason for leaving: career progression and a fixed term contract. |
1986 – 1987 | Assistant Job Club Leader / Prison Liaison Officer with NACRO. The second Job Club in the country was jointly established with a colleague, offering a highly successful employment and accommodation rehabilitation service for young offenders. A significant number had co-morbid mental health problems. Reason for leaving: career progression. |
1985 – 1986 | In/Out-Patient at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The experience of having been involved in a near-fatal RTA was ultimately beneficial, towards appreciating some of the trials and tribulations service-users regularly experience, when undertaking extensive rehabilitation programmes. |
1984 – 1985 | Voluntary Youth Worker at Lawshall Village Youth Club, in Suffolk. This youth club was established with a Senior Probation Officer. A small motocross track was developed and a weekly disco was provided, as a means of meaningfully occupy my peers, whilst subtly addressing social education and social inclusion issues. |
My wife and I are committed to continuous professional development and utilising evidence-based practice to develop services in a safe, sound and supportive manner. I have a dry sense of humour and a pragmatic attitude, which helps to sensitively manage change. I enjoy scuba, speaking Spanish, relaxing holidays and photography. I am registered disabled, with some muscular/skeletal problems.
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- Dr. William Crook, Consultant Psychiatrist. william.crook1[at]outlook.com
- Annette Duff, Nurse Consultant & Approved Clinician. annette[at]the-duffs.com
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- Dr. Ajay Wagle, Consultant Psychiatrist for NSFT Acute Services, in Norwich. ajay.wagle[at]nsft.nhs.uk