22.01.13
AMHP consultation launched
A consultation on the draft criteria for approving Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) education programmes is now open.
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has taken on statutory responsibility for approving the programmes in England and are seeking views from stakeholders on the new criteria.
The draft criteria will be used to check providers are managing their programmes appropriately and ensure professionals meet the necessary competencies. Registered social workers, mental health and learning disabilities nurses, occupational therapists and practitioner psychologists can train to become AMHPs.
Michael Guthrie, director of policy and standards at the HCPC, said: “When drafting the criteria, we considered the key competencies set out in mental health legislation, our own standards of education and training, as well as the GSCC’s standards and learning from their own approval of AMHP courses.
“We also held a stakeholder event involving professionals, employers, educators, service users and carers. We asked them about their expectations of safe and effective AMHP training and asked them to look at our draft criteria. We are very grateful to those who attended for their involvement as their feedback was invaluable.”
The consultation is running until 19 April, and HCPC hopes to publish approved criteria this autumn.
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