1. Faculty of Medicine and Health
  2. School of Healthcare
  3. People
  4. Profile

Ms Mary Smith

  • Email: hcmls@leeds.ac.uk
  • Thesis title: Exploring the experiences of patients and carers making complaints about the safety of care on mental health in-patient units
  • Supervisor: Professor John Baker

Profile

I am a qualified Social Worker registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) - previously Approved Social Worker (ASW) - and a Best Interest Assessor (BIA) under the Mental Capacity Act. I am trained to MSc level in advanced interventions for mental health including family interventions, psychosocial interventions and cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis. I am an experienced Care Quality Commission (CQC) Specialist Advisor (SPA), working on individual specialist projects as well as on-site inspections.  I recently worked with the CQC to publish a review of AMHP services nationally.  I have held a variety of positions over my social work career, including team manager of a community mental health team and head of social work within a northern mental health trust and head of adult social care within a large local authority

Throughout my career I have been committed to developing and improving social work practice, ensuring the highest standards of adult social care across the teams I managed. As part of a health and social care Trust I led staff within an integrated service, and supported the move towards further integration with health.  I have supported the development of new models of care and led on integrated service delivery across both acute hospital services and within community settings. 

I am currently undertaking a three year Phd research project exploring the experiences of quality, safety and care for patients, families and carers using inpatient mental health services. 

Research interests

  1. Family interventions within mental health
  2. Experiences of Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs)
  3. Application of the Mental Heath Act and Mental Capacity Act
  4. Exploring experiences of patients, families and carers who have used mental health inpatient services
  5. Patient safety and quality of care within mental health services
     

Qualifications

  • MSc advanced interventions in mental health
  • Approved Mental Health Professional
  • Best Interest Assessor
  • BA Social Work / DiPSW