A social worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared her experience of being punched at work due to a lack of police support while assessing a client with a history of violence and assault when ill. The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Cymru expressed concerns that reducing police attendance at mental health call-outs would put staff in danger. This initiative, Right Care, Right Person, aims to free up police resources while ensuring people receive the most appropriate mental health care. However, social workers fear that by reducing police attendance, more workers could be hurt or killed.
The Social worker, who is an approved mental health professional (AMHP), assesses whether people with severe mental illness are a risk to themselves or others and need to be detained or sectioned to hospital. Before each visit, AMHPs look at potential risks, such as a history of violence, to ensure their safety as well as the safety of others. There are times when the risk is so great that they call on police for support while making a Mental Health Act assessment.
The police told the social worker to call 999 if something happened, which she did after she was attacked at work. She said the situation was distressing and sad because it could have been managed appropriately. Sadie, not her real name, believes work is becoming more dangerous and challenging as an increase in assaults takes an emotional toll. The lack of support is also detrimental to clients’ recovery as messy assessments can be distressing.
The roll-out of Right Care, Right Person in the UK is of concern to Sadie, who believes the situation will get worse. Social worker David also noted that AMHPs would likely die in the future if it continued to become increasingly difficult to get police support, even when there is evidence of weapons or a threat to others. BASW Cymru has expressed worries that the new scheme will put professionals at grave risk of danger. According to ACC Wendy Gunney, Wales lead of Right Care, Right Person, all Welsh police forces will implement the scheme, and they will work in collaboration with health and social care to ensure its success
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More