How to arrange a Mental Health Act assessment

A Mental Health Assessment is activated by telephoning the Duty ASW.  Other arrangements may be in place depending upon local policy.

Where a GP does not have a telephone number for the ASW Service it should be possible to contact the duty ASW both during and out of normal office hours by ringing the general telephone number for the social services authority or local council.

He or she will need the following information:

• name
• date of birth
• address
• reason for assessment
• previous history, including name of keyworker, next of kin (if known) and past history of violence of self harm (if known).

He or she will need enough information to decide if there is the possibility of an admission under the Mental Health Act 1983 and that the full assessment process is warranted.

Management of the patient should be discussed with the duty ASW (or the duty consultant, depending on local policy.)

The ASW will then take responsibility for co-ordinating the assessment, bringing relevant papers, ensuring the process complies with the law and arranging for the transport of the patient.

Last edited: 12/1/2004

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