Many nurses do not receive any training on giving evidence to review tribunals

UK law now requires mental health nurses to testify at patient review hearings if asked. This is important given such nurses now have more powers, such as the ability to detain people under the Mental Health Act and to determine their leave of absence from mental health units. However, this study shows most nurses at one hospital had not received any specific training to give evidence or prepare reports for such hearings.

A study of mental health nurses in a district hospital has found that many do not receive any training on giving evidence to review tribunals and their preparation is limited to 'learning by experience'.

The study, reported in the latest issue of Mental Health Practice, shows that only 20 per cent thought their current training was adequate, despite changes to legislation that require them to give written and oral evidence at tribunals when requested.

The authors of the study said the results showed that although the status of nurses in mental health has improved, they have not been supported to take on some of the additional responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities include management of people with serious mental illness, a range of interventions such as cognitive behaviour therapies and acquiring powers to detain people under the Mental Health Act.

'Recent changes in tribunal rules make it mandatory for nurses to prepare a legal document specific to tribunals and to give evidence in the quasi-court settings of tribunals,' the researchers said. 'To do this effectively, nurses should have a sound knowledge of Mental Health Act and mental health review tribunal rules. They should be competent to write legal reports and to give evidence in formal settings.

'Unlike doctors, who have greater access to formal and informal training and supervision to prepare them for their role in tribunals, for nurses preparation is restricted to learning from experience of presenting in tribunals, with no provisions for feedback.'

Source: http://www.mentalhealthpractice.co.uk