Curriculum Vitae

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Name: Miles France
Telephone: withheld 
SWEng. No.: SW25511
E-Mail: miles[@]milesfrance.co.uk


2013 Approved Clinician approval. Subsequent membership of the DHSC’s Midlands & East, plus South of England Mental Health Act Approvals Panels.
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.

    • Working with service-users who: have treatment resistant conditions, are difficult to engage, have personality disorders, are mentally disordered offenders and/or misuse substances.
    • 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.
    • Supervising/mentoring multi-disciplinary staff, including AMHPs & Approved Clinician candidates.

1997 to 2020 Senior Social Worker, AMHP and Approved Clinician, for NCC and NSFT.

1.5.2015 to 26.1.2020: hospital social work team role, post NSFT ‘special measures’ & TUPE transfer.

Approved Clinician practice was kept up to date by: regular participation in MDT meetings, multi-agency risk management reviews & DHSC MHA Approvals 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:

    • 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.
    • 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 was also been built viz facilitating high quality treatment and care, including:

    1. Undertaking circa 900 MHA assessments and developing an ASW (AMHP) Practice Manual.
    • Supplying detailed but concise psycho-social histories, tribunal and funding reports.
    • Embedding a court diversion scheme, for mentally disordered offenders in north Norfolk.
    • 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.