Social Work and Mental Health in Scotland

Steve Hothersall is a senior lecturer in social work at the Robert Gordon University. He has worked as both a practitioner and manager in childcare and was previously the Director of Post-qualifying and Masters programmes in Childcare at the University of York. Steve has also worked as a mental health officer, a nurse and a teacher. Mike Maas-Lowit practiced in mental health as an Approved Social Worker in England and Mental Health Officer in Scotland until he took up a lecturing post in social work in 1991, specialising in mental health law and policy. From 2005 to 2007 he worked as the Scottish Executive’s MHO advisor, helping to develop MHO services on a national basis and to revise MHO training in the light of the sweeping legislative and policy changes. He has since returned to his substantive post as a lecturer in the Robert Gordon University. Malcolm Golightley has worked in the mental health field for over twenty years, drawing on extensive experience as a community development workers, Approved Social Worker, trainer and researcher. As Head of the School of Health and Social Care he has responsibility for academic leadership and, with others, developing mental health research. Until recently he was a Mental Health Act Commissioner and carried out inspections on behalf of the Healthcare Commission.

• Perspectives, ethics and values in mental health social workThe legal and policy context (I): the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003The legal and policy context (II): support and protection of vulnerable adultsThe legal and policy context (III): the law relating to mentally disordered offendersWorking with vulnerable people: mental health and disorder in children and young peopleWorking with vulnerable people: adults who are short-term service usersWorking with vulnerable people: adults who are long-term service usersWorking across organisational and professional boundaries