Mark Mcilwraith Email & Phone Number

Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom

I have been the Team Manager of the Mental Health Officer (MHO) Team at West Lothian Council since November 2017. I manage a team of 10 MHO’s undertaking statutory functions under the Mental Health and Adults With Incapacity Acts.

Scotland, United Kingdom

In October 2005 I joined the AWI & MHO Team, West Lothian Council and experienced a steep learning curve in joining a Team working within a completely different legislative framework after a relatively short transitional training course to become an MHO. Whilst this was challenging initially I was able to recognise that the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 was only just coming into force and new for all practitioners and that having experience of a Tribunal based mental health system in England meant I had more experience than others in some areas of practice. Over the course of the next 13 years I was able to understand some of the significant challenges an MHO can face and the importance of the role in terms of providing checks and balances to the medical model of mental illness whilst also recognising the need to maintain good professional relationships with colleagues in the NHS, social work and the third sector. In developing my practice as an MHO I have been able to gain experience in the management of a number of complex cases, something which has been both stimulating and challenging at times. I have been required to provide evidence on a regular basis at Mental Health Tribunals addressing applications under the MH Act, provide evidence at the Sheriff Court on a number of occasions for AWI applications and have been involved in cases which have proceeded to appeals at with the Sheriff Principal and to the Court of Session. I have sought to share my knowledge and experience over the course of my career and despite independence and autonomy being central to the MHO role I believe that working as part of a team achieves the best outcomes for service users and their families. I have undertaken the role of Practice Assessor to a number of MHO Trainees across the Council since 2005 and take pride in providing a positive learning experience for prospective MHOs whilst being aware of the importance of having a competent and effective workforce.

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Since qualifying as a social worker in July 2000 I initially worked in as a social worker in an integrated Community Mental Health Team with Manchester City Council, latterly qualifying as an Approved Social Worker in 2003. At that time I worked with a large caseload of service users with severe and enduring mental health difficulties in a deprived inner-city area with limited resources available to meet the needs of service users. However, the role provided me with a firm grounding in multi-disciplinary working and awareness of some of the professional dilemmas that a lone social worker in a medically dominated CMHT can face.

Salford, England, United Kingdom

I worked as a community care assistant in a busy Community Mental Health Team.

Mental Health Social Work Award, Mental Health Social Work

Master'S Degree, Social Work

Bachelor'S Degree, Social Sciences, 2:1