Course description
The key educational aim of the course is to ensure that you recognise your role in the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards implementation. This includes a strong commitment to Human Rights, ADP and ensuring the principles of valuing diversity and equality are maintained. The programme of study is relevant to all practitioners who work with adults in a Health and Social Care setting who have a condition that may affect their mental capacity and decision making.
What's covered in the course?
As a BIA, you will need to be employed by the local authority who has a legal responsibility to authorise a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard as a Best Interest Assessor. This can be as an independent assessor or as a BIA who is already employed by the LA. You will be able to promote and safeguard the well-being of vulnerable adults who lack mental capacity in a care setting and ensure that their detention is compliant with Human Rights legislation.
The Best Interest Assessor course is a standalone 20 credit module at post graduate level 7. The module team that deliver the following modules consist of experienced social work academics, BIA practitioners and a legal expert in mental capacity issues.
You will be exploring the ethical dilemmas involved in practice focusing on case law, cutting edge research and evidence based practice in deprivation of liberty and mental capacity work.
You will shadow a BIA assessment in practice PRIOR to coming on the course and reflect on this as part of your summative assessment.
There is a range of teaching and learning methodologies available that will meet your needs as a graduate student.
The staff have years of experience of delivering high quality BIA training in the region.
You will be part of one of the largest universities in the country and the learning campus is in the heart of Birmingham, in Edgbaston.
There are a range of students support services from wellbeing services to learning support services, library and an active students union.
Why Choose Us?
- Experienced academic social work staff in the field of Dols/ mental capacity/ mental health practice who deliver high quality teaching and learning at postgraduate level
- Pastoral and academic tutorial support. Individual tutor support for each student on the course
- Contribution from a range of practicing BIAs who work in the heart of an inner city to the course delivery and assessment
- Period of study leave to prepare for the assessment.
- Law teaching by a legal expert in the field of deprivation of liberty, human rights and mental capacity
- Focus on underpinning values of diversity and anti-oppressive practice in Health and Social Care
Course structure
The course is of a ten day duration and there is a separate two day induction programme a week before to introduce you to the module.
The week consists of four full days teaching with study time at the end of the week and time for a mock VIVA exam to discuss your shadowing experience.
You will be offered a tutor to support you individually.
Module content
As a BIA student you will be able to explore legislation that is specific to this statutory role such as the Human Rights Act 98, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental health Act 83 amended 2007.
You will be considering case law and judgements made regarding deprivation of liberty safeguards and the less restrictive alternatives.
Accreditation
This course has been approved by the Department of Health and has had excellent student reviews with an intake that spans across the UK.
Do you work at this organisation and want to update this page?
Is there out-of-date information about your organisation or courses published here? Fill out this form to get in touch with us.