Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) takes on the role previously assigned to the Approved Social Worker- the AMHP is takes the lead role in a Mental Health Act Assessment
- before the Mental Health Act 2007 this role was taken by a social worker who had undergone specialist training - an Approved Social Worker (ASW)
- this role has now been extended to other clinicians (e.g. community psychiatric nurses) who have undergone special training
- the AMHP will act on behalf of the nearest relative by coordinating the assessment and making the formal application