CPD Session Tools
Mental Health & Mental Capacity
Interactive tools supporting practitioners to explore mental health complexity, Mental Capacity Act (MCA) practice, capacity assessments and best interests decision-making when supporting adults in social care and support.
BASW-approved CPD tools for mental health social work and Mental Capacity Act practice — covering capacity assessments, best interests decisions, AMHP practice and working with mental health complexity in adult social care.
About this practice area
Mental health and mental capacity practice sits at one of the most complex intersections in adult social care. Practitioners need to hold the nuance of mental health complexity alongside a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, to carry out robust capacity assessments, and to make best interests decisions that genuinely reflect the person at the centre of their care.
The DCC-i Mental Health & Mental Capacity pillar provides interactive CPD tools, decision-support resources and training materials for social workers, AMHP practitioners, Best Interests Assessors and social care professionals working with adults experiencing mental health challenges. Resources are grounded in the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended), and current best practice guidance.
What this pillar covers
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 — the five principles and their application
- Capacity assessment: process, recording and defensible decision-making
- Best interests decision-making under the MCA
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Liberty Protection Safeguards
- Mental health complexity and working with fluctuating capacity
- AMHP practice: assessments, applications and professional accountability
- Trauma-informed approaches in mental health social work
Who this CPD is for
These resources are designed for qualified social workers, Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs), Best Interests Assessors (BIAs), community mental health practitioners, social care support workers and team managers working across community mental health, inpatient settings, local authority care management and independent sector provision.
Supporting AMHP and BIA programmes
DCC-i runs specialist CPD programmes for AMHPs and BIAs, including structured peer supervision, critical analysis and reflective practice resources. These sit within the broader Mental Health & Mental Capacity pillar and are used by AMHP leads, local authority workforce development teams and NHS mental health trusts across the UK. All programmes are BASW-approved.
Explore the tools below or get access to the full DCC-i Portal to unlock the complete mental health and mental capacity suite for your team.