Mental Health Act S12(2) / AC Approvals

Training and Approval of Medical Practitioners under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983 and Approved Clinicians

You are advised to book onto a refresher course and send in your renewal documents as early as possible.  Approval typically takes 6-8 weeks (but may take longer).  The Approvals office cannot give temporary extension to approval.

The current requirements for renewal of Approved Clinician Status.  Renewal of Approved Clinician Status automatically includes renewal of Section 12(2) approval, it is not a separate process

• Complete the application form and give details of two referees, the approvals office will send for the references by email.  There is a standard form for the references.
• Both referees need to have known you for a reasonable period of time; this has been agreed as 3 months.
• You need to have worked with at least one of the referees for 3 months in England or Wales during the last 12 months.
• Both referees need to be able to comment on your understanding of and ability to implement the Mental Health Act 1983.
• The first referee needs to be your current or most recent Medical Director, Clinical Director or equivalent.  If you are a trainee the first reference can be from your TPD.
• One of the referees has to be an Approved Clinician.
• The other referee can be another AC, an AMHP with whom you have worked within the past year or Medical or Clinical Director.
• You need to be up-to-date with CPD.  Evidence could be the RCPsych CPD Certificate of Good Standing which is issued annually, or if not registered with the College, the alternative could be a list of at least 50 CPD points (which is the College Standard) undertaken within the last 12 months and signed off by two members of your peer group.
• Complete and return the declaration form.
• Attend a one day AC refresher course ratified by an Approvals Panel within one year of the date of your application.
• Send an up-to-date CV.

The current requirements for renewal of Section 12(2) approval

• Complete the application form and give details of two referees, the approvals office will send for the references by email.  There is a standard form for the references.
• Both referees need to have known you for a reasonable period of time; this has been agreed as 3 months.
• You need to have worked with at least one of the referees for 3 months in England or Wales during the last 12 months.
• Both referees need to be able to comment on your understanding of and ability to implement the Mental Health Act 1983.
• The first referee has to be a Consultant Psychiatrist who has Section 12(2) approval.
• The other referee can be an AC, Consultant Psychiatrist who has Section 12(2) approval, an AMHP with whom you have worked within the past year or Medical or Clinical Director, or current professional appraiser.
• You need to be up-to-date with CPD.  Evidence could be the RCPsych CPD Certificate of Good Standing which is issued annually, or if not registered with the College, the alternative could be a list of at least 50 CPD points (which is the College Standard) undertaken within the last 12 months and signed off by two members of your peer group. Trainee applicants need to provide a copy of their last ARCP satisfactory outcome form.  GP applicants need to be on the National Performers list and provide evidence of having undertaken their annual appraisal. 
• Complete and return the declaration form.
• Attend a one day S12(2) refresher course ratified by an Approvals Panel within one year of the date of your application.
• Send an up-to-date CV.

First time applicants for Section 12(2) approval are advised to contact the approvals office to determine which “criteria” they apply under.

First time applicants for AC status are also advised to contact the approvals office as the process will vary depending on their circumstances i.e. ST6 applicants, applicants not on the specialist register in psychiatry and applicants on the specialist register in psychiatry and non-medical applicants.

For further information contact your local approvals office.