The second professional and detention renewal: an exploration of a generic statutory role

The amended Mental Health Act of 2007 introduced the generic statutory role of the second professional in the renewal of authority for detention, with the purpose of providing an additional safeguard for patients. Completed detention renewals from a National Health Service (NHS) Trust were systematically collected over 12 months (n = 47). Second professionals identified on Form H5 were requested to return a questionnaire designed to explore the role and the eligibility, knowledge base and attitudes of those fulfilling it, in comparison to the requirements as described in the code of practice and in relation to the stated purpose of the role. Twenty-eight second professionals completed questionnaires, giving a response rate of 60%. Several factors were identified which appeared to conspire against the notion that the aim of the role had been achieved in a meaningful way. The reasons underlying this included tokenistic statutory paperwork and a clear lack of specific training. Training needs identified included increasing legal knowledge and raising awareness of the ethical issues associated with a statutory role with a responsible nature. The findings challenge the assumption of readiness in those being asked to act in the generic statutory role of the second professional and highlight the potential for difficulties in the process of moving towards a cultural change of distributed responsibility in psychiatry, both in terms of the introduction of generic statutory roles in the absence of training and also with relevance to the changing nature of traditionally defined professional roles as suggested by new ways of working.