The Secretary of State instructs an approval body to exercise the approval function in accordance with these Instructions and any agreement made under 12ZA of the 1983 Act which is in force between the Secretary of State and the approving body. 

Professional Requirements

The professional requirements are that the person who has applied for approved clinician must be one of the following:-

(a) a registered medical practitioner;

(b) a practitioner psychologist listed in the register maintained by the Health and Care Professions Council (a);

(c ) a first level nurse, registered in Sub-Part 1 of the Nurses' Part of the register maintained under article 5 of the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (b), with the inclusion of an entry indicating their field of practice is mental health or learning disability;

(d) an occupational therapist listed in the register maintained by the Health and Care Professions Council; or

(e) a social worker listed in the register maintained by the Health and Care Professions Council

The decision whether or not to grant Approved Clinician  approval is governed by the Instructions with respect to the exercise of an Approval Function in relation to Approved Clinicians issued by the Department of Health.


First Time Application for Doctors on GMC Specialist Register in Psychiatry, or Doctors who are in their final year of supervised psychiatric training recognised by the RCPsych

 

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 Medical practitioners who are not section 12(2) approved also need to attend a Section 12(2) Induction course.

 


First Time Application for Doctors who are not on the GMC Specialist Register in Psychiatry and Multi-Professionals.

AC Portfolio Route

 

It is expected that medical practitioners have been Section 12(2) approved for at least 12 months before applying via the portfolio route. 

 


Mental Health Act 1983 Instructions (Amended 2015)

 

Section 12(2) and Approved Clinician Powers

 

All approved practitioners are required to apply for re-approval every 5 years. Providing you have informed us of any change in work or contact details, the Approvals Team will email an invitation to renew 9 months before your expiry date with the application pack.

The Approval Team are happy to help and advise on any aspect of AC approval and the process.

Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.