This section is a type of rolling on-line newsletter, we try to highlight recent interesting reports with information on where you can follow them up. Or just give a little snippets of information, helpful and appropriate to all those working in Mental Health Services

If you have seen anything you would like us to include here please contact us

New All London Child Protection Procedures Draft

Written as a recommendation for all London ACPC's this draft version has been released for a consultation period lasting till October 2002 with an expected implementation date of January 2003. To download a copy of the procedures and the appendices click on the links below.

Consultation Document (1.92mb)

Consultation Appendices (1.16mb)

Please note: The documents are in pdf format (you will need Adobe Acrobat to read them) and they are quite large (the draft policy is 292 pages) so the download may take some time. Also if you decide to print them, do it in small chunks of 20/30 pages at a time this should stop any 'out of memory' or similar errors.

Young Women and self harming...

The Howard League for penal reform has published a report that shows that over 25% of self harm in women's prisons is by women under 21.

This figure cannot take account of incidents that have remained undetected by staff, and the research shows a link between self-harm and previous abuse. This self harming is described as "for many a normal part of their life."

For further information on this report and how to obtain a copy call 0207 249 73773 xtn.100

* FREE *

New edition of - "Contact - a directory for mental health"

The Department of health has just issued a new, updated edition of this very useful booklet giving details of over 160 organisations providing help and information for both service users and professionals.

It is FREE on request and copies are available from Department of Health Publications, PO Box 777, London SE1 6HX. There is a fax number: 01623 724 524 and an e-mail address: doh@prolog.uk.com  

It is pocket sized, nicely produced with masses of information about contact organisations with a mental health focus

So who really knows their Mental Health Law ?

The June 2001 edition of the Journal of Mental Health law includes an article reporting on a national survey of mental health professionals' knowledge of mental health law. * The results show "a higher level of knowledge among Approved Social Workers and s12(2) psychiatrists" but "the relatively low level of knowledge shown among GPs is of concern."

Peay, Roberts and Eastman say that the higher level of knowledge shown among the former groups "may serve to protect GPs against their own relatively inadequate knowledge." This finding may only confirm the practice experience of ASW's, but we need to ask how we can help GPs to gain a better understanding of what the law requires of them in a way they will find both acceptable and digestible ! Any ideas ? Let us know

The Journal of Mental Health Law is published by the University of Northumberland, published twice yearly, and information on subscribing can be obtained from Emily Gibson on 0191 232 2048

* Peay J., Roberts C., & Eastman N., "Legal Knowledge of Mental Health Professionals - Report of a National Survey" Journal of Mental Health Law, University of Northumberland , June 2001.

Dave Sheppard recommends...

We asked Dave Sheppard of The Institute of Mental Health Law and Dave Sheppard Associates to name the two books he would want to see on the bookshelf of all mental health professionals - not counting Jones' Seventh Edition !

He suggests Anslem Eldergill's "Mental Health Review Tribunals - Law and Practice " published by Sweet and Maxwell at £62 - ( a very special gift for someone !)

Dave also recommends the "Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Care and Treatment of Kevin Hewitt " published in July 2001. Available from Leicester Health Authority, Gwendolen Road, Leicester, LE5 4QF.

He adds that "The Report of the Inquiry into the care and Treatment of Christopher Clunis" published by HMSO in 1994 remains as relevant to current practice as it was when it first came out, and suggests that we would all find it worth re-reading