Mental Health Officers

Mental Health Officers are Social Workers who have had specialist training in mental health and the law. They have a range of duties connected with the Mental Health Act and the Adults with Incapacity Act. This means that you are most likely to have contact with them in situations where legal matters arise.

Although they work closely with doctors and other health staff, they are independent of the health care system. Part of their involvement will be to ensure that you are aware of your legal rights, to ensure that your rights are protected and to help you obtain independent advice and support. They will also try to ensure that you get the right kind of help to get well and stay as well as long as possible.