Open Course: Embedding human rights legal duties in mental health inpatient care
Starting in September 2026, BIHR is excited to be re-running our 3-part online training programme focused on implementing the legal duties placed on staff working across mental health services to take a human rights-based approach.
Applications for our 2026 course have now closed. We run this course on an annual basis - if you would like to receive updates about our 2027 course, please contact us on training@bihr.org.uk.
This open course has been accredited by the CPD Certification Service.
About this course
We are pleased to be re-running this online open course, designed for senior mental health practitioners working with the Mental Health Act, the main piece of legislation covering the assessment, treatment and rights of people experiencing mental distress in England and Wales.
With the new Mental Health Act bringing forward reforms which will be implemented in the coming years, it will be essential to get the foundations right. This training course aims to enhance the knowledge and confidence of senior leaders in inpatient mental health care to promote human rights-based approaches and build a culture of respect for human rights in their service. The ultimate aim of the course is to ensure that people drawing on mental health services have their human rights respected, protected, and fulfilled.
This course is aimed at staff working in NHS mental health trusts across England and Wales (Band 7 or above) and we will also consider applications from equivalent roles in local authority mental health teams and in independent mental health inpatient services.
This is not open to individuals paying for themselves. Bookings must be made by the organisation who can put forward up to 10 suitable candidate(s) – this is because we believe that to achieve meaningful practice change there needs to be a commitment to a human rights-based approach from the wider organisation.
BIHR is a leading provider of human rights capacity-building support in the UK. We have decades of experience training staff across health and social care services to feel confident in their understanding of the Human Rights Act and to increase their ability and accountability to uphold people’s rights in practice.
At the end of the course, participants will:
• Understand the Human Rights Act, the legal duties it places on public officials, and how it works alongside mental health legislation.
• Be able to apply key human rights in inpatient mental health care, and be able to navigate difficult situations by balancing rights.
• Be able to adopt new practical frameworks into the application of policies and processes to guide rights-respecting decision-making across their organisations.
This open course has been accredited by the CPD Certification Service.
Wednesday 23rd September
10am – 12.30pm
This workshop provides an introduction to the Human Rights Act as a legal framework, including the duties it places on public authorities, how it functions alongside other laws, and how the rights work together. We’ll also explore why human rights matter in the context of mental health inpatient care.
Wednesday 7th October
10am – 12.30pm
Co-delivered with a Lived Experience Expert!
The workshop focuses on supporting you to identify and work with key rights in the Human Rights Act that often apply in mental health inpatient settings.
Wednesday 21st October
10am – 12.30pm
The final workshop translates theory to practice. You will apply your learning so far to practice-based scenarios using a practical decision-making framework to deliver a human rights-based approach. We will be joined by a guest speaker, and the course will conclude with your reflections on how you can embed your learning.
Course Costs
£450 per person*.
Discounts:
10% off for block bookings (book 5 spaces and any additional spaces will get a 10% discount, up to 10 spaces per organisation.)
5% off for returning BIHR clients (since 2023).
*No VAT is payable on our fees. As a registered charity, BIHR is an eligible body under the VAT Act 1994, Schedule 9, Group 6 and our provision of education and training is therefore exempt from VAT.
Applications for this programme have now closed
We are no longer accepting applications from organisations to take part in this open online training programme for Autumn 2026.
This course runs on an annual basis and will take place again in 2027.
If you work in a mental health services and you would like to find out more about how to work with BIHR, you can find out training & support offers below. You can also sign up to our practitioners email group to stay updated on our latest news and opportunities for public officials.