Best Interest Assessor (BIA) Qualification

Course Outline:

The Best Interest Assessor role was created in 2007, with the amendment of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which introduced the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Bond Solon is approved by Social Work England to deliver the BIA qualification. We do so in association with Teesside University.

This 4 day BIA course is a standalone 20 credit module at Post Graduate Level 7, aimed at social workers, first level nurses, occupation therapists, chartered psychologists and Approved Mental Health Professionals. They will have at least two years post qualification experience and will have the skills and experience appropriate to the assessment. This must include an applied knowledge of the MCA and related Codes of Practice, the ability to keep appropriate records and provide clear, reasoned reports in accordance with legal requirements and good practice.

The key educational aim of this course is to ensure you are able to understand the role of, and practice as a BIA. The role was devised to carry out a specific function under this legal framework. It is driven by a strong commitment to human and equality rights, a person-centred approach, and demands defensible, evidence-based, informed decision making from practitioners. This will help to promote and safeguard adults with a mental disorder, who lack capacity to consent to their accommodation in hospitals and care homes, and who are deprived of their liberty. This is to ensure that their detention is compliant with the requirements of human rights legislation.

Due to the announcement in April 2023 that the LPS will be delayed beyond the lifetime of this parliament, it is now expected that the DoLS process will remain in place for the foreseeable future. This means that BIAs will continue to be in high demand to help tackle the hundreds of thousands of DoLS applications received each year.

Key Learning Outcomes:

Examine up to date case law in relation to mental capacity and deprivation of liberty
Explore both form and substance of evidence required from the BIA on the Form 3 assessments
Consider the importance of the role of the RPR to include relevant case law
Explore and consider up to date policy and research.

By the end of the course delegates will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding

Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and critical understanding of the concepts of capacity and risk, provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and their codes of practice and the wider legal framework and relevant case law
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of providing record-keeping and reporting that clearly justifies reasoned decisions made in accordance with legal requirements and good practice
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of a clear, sensitive approach in communication skills with the relevant key consultees, carers and advocates, as well as the service user within the process

Cognitive & Intellectual Skills

Integrate and synthesise knowledge of the MCA, DoLS, and the surrounding legal framework, into complex practical situations faced in daily practice
Synthesise information to make professional and independent judgements in complex
situations in their role
Collate, analyse, and evaluate complex evidence and different views to make informed, ethical decisions

Practical & Professional Skills

Demonstrate a critically reasoned application of the process, procedures and documentation of the DoLS and its code of practice, including an ongoing commitment to anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice
Critically appraise and manage their own values in relation to the value base of their profession and the sensitive nature of the subject
Demonstrate an advanced ability to operationalise the principles and practice of risk analysis and risk assessment
Demonstrate the ability to make professional, and independent judgement and decisions determining Deprivation of Liberty, Best Interests and duration of an authorisation

Course Details:

Duration: 4 days
Public course format and fee: Virtual | £1495 + VAT
In-house course format and fee: Virtual or face-to-face | Call for details

Book below if you want to attend a public course. Please call 020 7549 2549 or email info@bondsolon.com to discuss or book an in-house course.

Entry Requirements

There are nationally set entry requirements in order to become a BIA:

At least two years post-qualifying experience as either a social worker, occupational therapist, nurse, or chartered or registered psychologist
Registered with the appropriate professional body
Working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Human Rights Act 1998
As part of the assessment process you will need be required to shadow a BIA. It is the student's responsibility to arrange this. We recommend you have this in place before booking onto the course

Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to secure an observation opportunity, and we recommend that you have this in place at time of booking to avoid difficulties later.

Qualification Assessments

Students are required to complete two post-course assessments. The first is a case-study based essay due 6 weeks after the module and is a maximum of 2,500 words.

For the second assessment students are required to write a reflective account of a best interest assessment being completed. This is due 8 weeks after the module and is a maximum of 1,500 words.

Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to secure an observation opportunity, and we recommend that you have this in place at time of booking to avoid difficulties later.