Mental Health Review Tribunal
Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme
Introduction
Mental Health Review Tribunals are independent judicial bodies that operate under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983.
The main function of the tribunals is to review the cases of compulsorily detained patients and decide whether or not such patients can be discharged.
To connect you with the legal advice you need, the SRA operates the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme.
Solicitors and solicitors' employees who are on this scheme can advise and represent at tribunal hearings patients who have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Many members of the scheme are also able to offer legal advice and assistance in other related areas of the law affecting mental illness and incapacitated persons—in wills and probate, Court of Protection cases and powers of attorney.
Only legal practitioners who meet the SRA's strict requirements are permitted to join the scheme. When you see the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme logo, you'll know that the practitioner's skills, knowledge and experience have been rigorously and independently assessed.
Information for prospective members
Solicitors, legal executives, trainee solicitors and solicitors' clerks can apply for membership.
Anyone who applies for membership of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme is required to apply for an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). We will provide you with a CRB enhanced disclosure application form and detailed instructions on how to apply. You can download our policy statements on employment of ex-offenders and assessment of character and suitability (PDF 26K) and secure storage, handling, use, retention and disposal of Criminal Records Bureau disclosures and disclosure information (PDF 26K).
In order to become members, practitioners must
- complete a detailed application
- attend a compulsory training course (PDF 47K)
- satisfy specific experience and knowledge criteria
- be interviewed by two experienced solicitor members of the scheme and be recommended for membership by the interviewers
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme, please download
- the Professional accreditation schemes application criteria and guidance notes (PDF 80K), and
- the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme criteria and guidance notes (PDF 47K).
The above documents contain comprehensive information about applying for membership.
After reading them, download, complete and submit an application form (PDF 32K) for membership of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme.
Detailed information
Only approved course providers are permitted to offer the training course that must be completed by all Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme applicants.
The Law Society has issued written guidelines for mental health legal practitioners who conduct representation at tribunals.
Scheme members must complete continuing professional development (CPD) activities as outlined in the SRA's CPD requirements.
If you are already a scheme member, view information about maintaining membership, known as re-accreditation.
Useful links
Tribunals Service – Mental Health Review Tribunal
Mental Health Review Tribunals are operated and administered by the Tribunals Service, which is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. Download Tribunals Service contact information (PDF 28K).
The Mental Health Lawyers Association (MHLA) represents about one-half of all mental health legal practitioners in the United Kingdom.
The SRA operates a dedicated website for scheme members, providing secure access to the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme logo.
Find a scheme member
To search by postcode or location for solicitors' firms with a Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme member, click the link below.
When the search screen opens, enter your postcode or location, specify any further criteria (e.g. wheelchair access), and click Search.
Search by postcode for firms with Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme members
- Firms are listed in ascending distance order (in miles) from your specified postcode or location.
- To consult firm details, click on the name of the firm.
Approved course providers
The training course that must be completed by all applicants for membership of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme is exclusively offered by three SRA-aaproved course providers:
- Central Law Training
- Legal Action Group
- Peter Edwards Law Training
Download the contact details of approved course providers (PDF 16K) or consult them below.
Please contact providers directly for course dates and enrolment information.
Central Law Training
Wrens Court
52-54 Victoria Road
Sutton Coldfield
Birmingham
B72 1SX
DX 708700 Sutton Coldfield
Contact Mr N Wilkinson
Tel 0121 355 0900
Fax 0121 355 5517
www.clt.co.uk
Legal Action Group
242 Pentonville Road
London
N1 9UN
DX 130400 London (Pentonville Road)
Contact Mrs K Lewis
Tel 020 7833 7434
Fax 020 7837 6094
www.lag.org.uk
Peter Edwards Law Training
Ventura House
Market Street
Hoylake
CH47 2AE
Contact Mr P Edwards
Tel 0151 632 6699
Fax 0151 632 0090
Representation at tribunals
The Law Society's Mental Health and Disability Committee offers guidelines (PDF 28K) designed to help solicitors, legal executives, trainee solicitors and solicitors' clerks who represent patients before Mental Health Review Tribunals.
As tribunal work is not exclusive to scheme members, the guidelines (PDF 28K) are also potentially of assistance to other legal representatives.
Mental Health Review Tribunal application forms
Download standardised forms (Word and/or PDF) to be used by legal representatives in applications to the Mental Health Review Tribunals (MHRT), Department of Health:
- Application form – non-restricted patient (PDF 19K, DOC 64K)
- Application form – restricted patient (PDF 18K, DOC 56K)
- Application form – section 2 patient (PDF 18K, DOC 58K)
An MHRT communication (PDF 32K), dated 28 October 2005, explains the need for solicitors and other legal representatives to utilise the above forms.
Download up-to-date MHRT contact information (PDF 28K).
Continuing professional development
The SRA requires all Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme members to familiarise themselves closely with changes in law, practice and procedure by undertaking continuing professional development (CPD) activities every year.
For the purposes of re-accreditation, we require you to provide us with details of all CPD training you have completed during the period of your scheme membership.
Re-accreditation
Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme membership doesn't last forever. Every three years, it must be renewed; the process is called re-accreditation.
Re-accreditation is a way of assuring consumers that members of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme continually meet the requirements for membership.
Information for scheme members
If you are a scheme member and think your membership is about to expire, you don't need to do anything. We will automatically send you the forms and all of the details you need at least two months before your membership expires.
To ensure the forms reach you promptly, review your entry in Find a solicitor, and immediately advise us by email if the contact details that appear there are incorrect.
Applications for re-accreditation are assessed by experienced and qualified assessors who—in most instances—have been scheme members for several years.