This course is designed for experienced practitioners in health and social care who wish to become a Best Interest Assessor.
The course is taught by experienced lecturers and practitioners in BIA, using a variety of learning and assessment methods, and innovative resources. The course is delivered fully online, spanning over five consecutive weeks, one day per week, plus a recall day.
The course's aim is to enable experienced practitioners to obtain the skills and knowledge to undertake Best Interest Assessment. By successful completion of this course, participants will be eligible to apply for approval of their regulatory body (e.g. Social Work England for social workers) to be registered as Best Interest Assessor.
Participants will have the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), its Code of Practice, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and interfacing legislation and policies relating to Adult Safeguarding and Whistleblowing policies.
Participants will build upon their professional experience exploring the practicalities of working with people, their carers and advocates in a non-oppressive and empowering way, as well as working with Mental Health Assessors and Interpreters. Participants will also be updated on future changes such as the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) and the Approved Mental Capacity Professional (AMCP).
If you have any queries about the module, please contact the module leader George Dzudzor via g.dzudzor@herts.ac.uk
The normal entry requirements for the programme are:
The programme is subject to the University's Principles, Policies and Regulations for the Admission of Students to Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes, along with associated procedures.
If you are interested in applying for the MSc Advanced Social Work programme, please contact the programme leader Kim Tran k.tran@herts.ac.uk in the first instance to discuss.
The assessment comprises of a written assignment, a test and a class presentation.
Knowledge and Understanding
Successful students will typically:
1. Have detailed knowledge of roles within MCA, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and human rights legislation, related codes of practice and practice guidance.
2. Critically reflect on the DoLS process and the importance of the safeguards in DoLS including Anti oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice and the effect of social and structural disadvantage on well-being and opportunity.
3. Understand the need to analyse and critically reflect on personal practice to identify achievements and opportunities for further development.
4. Be able to gather information effectively from a range of relevant sources and analyse and evaluate it to reach a conclusion that balances rights with risks.
Skills and Attributes
Successful students will typically:
1. Utilise a range of approaches, including relational practice and advocacy promotion to sustain partnerships
with people whose capacity and ability to communicate may fluctuate or be very limited.
2. Exercise the appropriate use of independence, authority and autonomy and use it to inform future practice as
a BIA.
3. Be able to confidently and critically apply professional ethical principles to decision making and practice,
using a legal and human rights framework and professional standards of values and ethics.
£1730.00
The price quoted above is per 30 credits and relates to students assessed as UK/home self-funded for fee purposes. Prices may differ for students that are assessed as EU Overseas/Overseas. Fees status will normally stay with the student for the remainder of their course. Here you can find further details along with, costs and when your fees need to be paid. You may be able to obtain a Post Graduate student loan, for which you must sign up for the whole MSc programme and not just individual modules or a Post Graduate Diploma, further details can be found at Gov.uk Master’s Loan