Two-thirds of Scottish local authorities are facing shortfalls of social workers specialising in mental health law, despite demand for their services rising during the pandemic.

A total of 22 of 32 councils do not have enough Mental Health Officers to deal with cases, according to a new report that says there is a gap of nearly 2,000 hours they cannot cover every week.

The social workers act as key safeguards to ensure the correct guidelines – for example for adults who have a profound learning disability, a mental health condition or have dementia or Alzheimer’s – are followed in procedures including discharges from hospital.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), which produced the report, warned the staffing gaps could see delays in some of the most vulnerable people getting treatment or leaving hospital.

Earlier this year a watchdog warned best practice was not being followed when the number of detentions for treatment taking place without a Mental Health Officer’s consent rose to more than half for the first time. 

The number of people stuck in hospital during the pandemic because care was not available fell sharply in March and April 2020.

But ‘code 9’ delays – which includes cases where a patient is deemed to lack capacity to make their own decisions and legal processes must be followed – were harder to reduce. A recent report warned of “some endemic examples of poor practice” where the discharge process was deemed unlawful.

Public Health Scotland is set to consult on changes to how delayed discharges are reported.

The number of filled mental health officer positions went up by one in 2020 compared to 2019, to 704, but the Scottish Social Services Council said increasing workload means more than 50 extra workers are needed.

The most common area in which local authorities reported gaps were for adults with incapacity and older people.

Lorraine Gray, SSSC Chief Executive said: “While it’s positive to see fewer local authorities reporting they are short of Mental Health Officers, there are still challenges as the number of full time Mental Health Officers needed to meet the shortfall in hours has increased to 53, up from 49 the previous year.

“Our data reports help local authorities, the Scottish government and others with future workforce planning, including succession planning and making sure enough people are undertaking the training required to join the workforce.”

Read more: Call for mental illness detention times to be cut; Rise in teenage mental health detentions; Mental health detentions rise as safeguards drop

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