How to Become an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)
Mental Health Jobs · 29/09/2026
Approved Mental Health Professionals coordinate assessments under the Mental Health Act and decide whether to apply for someone's detention in hospital. It's one of the most responsible roles in mental health.
Who can become an AMHP?
Registered social workers, mental health or learning disability nurses, occupational therapists and practitioner psychologists. Doctors can't be AMHPs. Most AMHPs are social workers.
Training and approval
You complete an approved AMHP programme (in England these are approved by Social Work England), typically at postgraduate level, then receive approval from a local social services authority. Approval is time-limited and needs ongoing training to renew.
Pay and employers
Most AMHPs are employed by local authorities or work on AMHP rotas within integrated teams. Many councils pay an AMHP allowance on top of salary.
The Mental Health Act 2025
The Act received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 (House of Commons Library). Implementation will be phased: Kennedys Law reports workforce training in 2026-27 and the first major phase of reform in 2027, with a revised Code of Practice expected. Watch for changes to detention criteria and patients' rights that will affect AMHP practice. We'll update this guide as the details are confirmed.
Find AMHP and mental health social work jobs under Social Work and AMHP on Mental Health Jobs.