Best Interest Assessors

Overview

Best Interest Assessor is an interprofessional module which aims to equip experienced practitioners in health and social care with the skills and knowledge required to enable them to undertake a Best Interest Assessment (BIA). A BIA is a specific task related to implementing the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and on completion of the module and successful assessment, participants will be eligible to apply for approval to their Supervisory Board as a Best Interest Assessor having met in full the training requirements specified by the Department of Health. This is a one week intensive course.

Entry requirements

Two years post-registration experience as either an approved mental health professional or social worker registered with Social Work England.

Course content

The syllabus is laid down in the requirements of the five professional capabilities for Best Interest Assessors (DoH) which are embedded within a series of 6 one-day workshops and practice learning opportunities.

1. Mental capacity legislation and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), their related codes of practice, national and local policy guidance
2. Relevant parts of other legislation, codes of practice, national and local policy guidance, in particular the Human Rights Act 1998, the Mental Health Acts 1983 and 2007, and law/policy related to Adult Safeguarding
3. The formal two-stage assessment of capacity
4. The impact of mental disorder on mental capacity, including the effect of social, physical and developmental factors on a person’s ability to make decisions

Please note, the content of this course will be updated as and when specific details of the new requirements in line with the liberty protection safeguards are released.

Key features

• Taught by qualified and experienced BIAs and mental health academics
• Free e-book for every student
• Interactive teaching live online

Teaching dates

• Monday 11-15 September 2023 (+ 1 recall day 03/11/23)
• Monday 20-24 November 2023 (+ 1 recall day 05/01/24)
• Monday 22-26 January 2024 (+ 1 recall day 08/03/24)
• Monday 22-26 April 2024 (+ 1 recall day 07/06/24)

Teaching will be delivered online via Zoom.

How to apply

To apply for this course you must :

• Have two years post-registration experience as either an approved mental health professional or social worker registered with Social Work England
• Be a first level nurse registered in Part 1 of the Register, an occupational therapist registered in Part 6 of the Register or a chartered psychologist registered with the BPS
• Provide a reference from a current or your most recent employer
• Be able to organise to shadow a BIA conducting an assessment

Please email our CPD Social Work Administration team to express an interest in this programme

This one-day online course has been specially designed for those who are already qualified BIAs, but who need a refresher to enable them to continue practising.

Subject to demand, we also run a one-day BIA refresher course (£135), please contact us for information and dates.

Next course

Date/time: 26th June 2023 10am-4pm
Date/time: 7th December 2023 10am-4pm
Date/time: 13th June 2024 10am-4pm

Delivery: Virtual, Zoom

Please email our CPD Social Work Administration team to express an interest in this programme.

"I was very excited to do this course and it did not disappoint…everything just came together beautifully. Thank you for your excellent teaching."
Shawndell, Nursing Home Registered Manager (April 2021)

“I found the module very informative. I have gained a lot of knowledge and awareness that will guide and inform my practice.”
BIA trainee, Nov 2022

“I really enjoyed the links to case law and the opportunity to link to case studies. The lecturers’ knowledge is brilliant and really helped me to grasp what I will be expected to do as a BIA.”
BIA trainee, Nov 2022

"Really enjoyable course, packed with information. I feel I learned a lot. Thank you to everyone."
Christine, NHS Continuing Healthcare Case Manager and Assessor (April 2021)

“I came into the module very anxious and worried that I would not cope/complete it, but the way it was structured made it very easy for me to complete all areas of the course. The trainer...was very knowledgeable... " BIA student, (May 2020)