Giving Evidence at a Mental Health Tribunal A Professionals’ Handbook

Part 1 – Introduction, Mental Disorder, and Treatment

Chapter 1. Understanding Mental Disorder

Russell Foster

Chapter 2. The Role of Medication in Treatment

John S Watts

Chapter 3. Psychotherapeutic Treatment

Jane Roberts and Andy Cook

Chapter 4. Occupational Therapy in Context of Mental Health Services

Philip Jones

Chapter 5. Nursing Care and Support

Helen Rees, Victoria Tracey and Catherine Stobbs

Chapter 6. Exploring Community Mental Health Services

Barbara Deacon-Hedges and Helen Rees

Chapter 7. Compulsory Admission into Hospital (Restricted and Non-restricted)

Ahmad F Ramjhun

Part 2 - Tribunal, La,w and Practice

Chapter 8. The Purpose and Function of the Mental Health Tribunal

Joanne Briggs

Part 3 - Evidence in Brief

Chapter 9. Giving Evidence at the Tribunal

Kristian Garsed

Chapter 10. The Nursing Evidence

Helen Rees and Jennifer Oates

Chapter 11. The Responsible Clinician's Evidence

Gareth Rees

Chapter 12. The Care Coordinator’s Evidence

Ruairi Mulhern and Lorraine Summers

Chapter 13. The Patient, Nearest Relative, and Advocate’s Evidence

Amy Rushen

Chapter 14. The Legal Representative

Shazad Malik

Biography

Toyin Okitikpi is a qualified social worker with over 40 years’ experience in the field of social work and social welfare both as a practitioner and as an academic. He currently sits on several tribunals, and he is an external examiner for Tavistock Portman Foundation and University of East London. He has been involved in research and has written and co-authored academic publications that explore practice-related areas.

Herbert Mwebe is a registered mental health nurse and independent prescriber. He has a combined experience of working clinically and in education of over 20 years. He has written and co-authored academic publications in mental health. He is a specialist advisor to the Care Quality Commission and sits on the First-Tier Mental Health Tribunal as a specialist member. He is an external examiner at Bournemouth University.

Helen Rees is a registered nurse and health visitor. She has worked in mental health nursing education since 2012 and currently holds the role of Professional Nurse Educator Lead for Priory group. Helen currently sits on Mental Health Tribunals as a specialist member and is a steering committee member for the Royal College of Nursing.

'The Mental Health Tribunal provides a necessary review of a patient’s MHA detention, but for the Tribunal to perform at its best in considering a case with due diligence and urgency, the evidence of witnesses also need to be at its best.  This book, with contributions by a range of experienced Tribunal members, provides valuable guidance to those giving written or oral evidence.  I would encourage this to be read by anyone in that position.'

- Carolyn Fyall, District Tribunal Judge and Training Lead,
Manchester Civil Justice Centre

'Clinicians often struggle to understand their role in tribunals. This book will go a long way in helping them and is an important publication which I hope all facilities with detained patients will use.'

- Meera Roy, Medical Member, Mental Health Tribunal, HESC

'Many professionals appearing before the Mental Health Tribunal do not have adequate training on either how to write reports for the Tribunal or how to give best evidence. This practical approach is an excellent guide to enabling them to do so.'

- Carolyn Taylor, Tribunal Judge, Mental Health Tribunal, HESC