Best Interests Assessor
Introduction
Best Interests Assessors are needed to ensure that decisions about patients/ service users which affect their liberty are taken with reference to their human rights and to safeguard their best interests (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards).
Who the module is aimed at
Professionals including Social Workers, Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Chartered Psychologists who already demonstrate a high level professional practice in their specialism. You will be able to work independently and autonomously and have a working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and human rights legislation.
You will have a minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience.
Benefits of taking the module to the individual, the organisation and the patient
Health and social care organisations have to request assessments on those patients and service users where decisions need to be taken. This module meets the requirements of the DoLS regulations, covering the expected skills and knowledge of a Best Interest Assessor.
Patients need the safeguards to be in place to ensure any decisions about their health and care are taken in their best interests and to help protect their liberty.
What you learn
Aims are to equip you to have legal and policy knowledge and practice assessment skills to be able to undertake the role of BIA to a competent level.
You will be able to gather relevant information from a range of sources, weigh up evidence to inform sound decision making and complete legal paperwork to a high standard.
General areas covered
- Mental Capacity Act (2005) and DoLS Codes of Practice
- Other legislation - e.g. Human Rights and Mental Health Act (1983)
- Assessment, judgments and decision making in complex risk situations
Fees and Funding for 2024/25
| Indicative price for stand-alone module |
Home student: £860 EU / International students: £1,435 - this is part-time study and therefore cannot provide sponsorship for Tier 4. |
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| How to apply |
To apply for a self-funded place, please complete and return the application form below To apply for a Workforce Development / Workforce Transformation funding WDF/WTF funded place, please complete and return the relevant application form below Further information and Workforce Development Funding / CPD Funding online application form |
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Entry requirements
• Relevant professional qualification - Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Nursing or Chartered Psychology (in practice)
• A minimum of 2 years post-qualification work experience in Health and Social Care
• Experience of carrying out capacity assessments and knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act
• Access to shadow 3-4 BIA/DoLS assessments must be availableIf you are being sponsored by your employer, please indicate on the application form that they are offering you the required shadowing opportunities. If you are self-funded or your employer does not have DoLS responsibilities, they you must provide a letter from a DoLS Team Manager stating that they are willing to offer you the shadowing opportunities.
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Attendance
Delivery Method:
This module is delivered via distance learning
View our statement on notional study hours »
Provisional timetable
The next available intake (that is 6 days of teaching) runs in February 2025, on the following dates:
- 24 February 2025
- 25 February 2025
- 26 February 2025
- 23 March 2025
- 24 March 2025
- 25 March 2025
We plan to run a further intake in November 2025.
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Assessment
Module assessment is made up of one or more assessment tasks. The assessment task(s) for this module are:
- Written Assignment
- Viva: typically, a combination of a presentation/demonstration to one or more academics, with discussion, questioning and oral feedback
Successful completion of this module will earn you 15 level 7 credits
Further details
For further information please contact the module leader Alan Marshall - Alan.Marshall@shu.ac.uk