Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018

Alert Sample

View the Parallel Parliament page for the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018

Information between 30th January 2024 - 26th October 2026

Note: This sample does not contain the most recent 2 weeks of information. Up to date samples can only be viewed by Subscribers.
Click here to view Subscription options.

Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 mentioned

Live Transcript
Note: Cited speaker in live transcript data may not always be accurate. Check video link to confirm.
19 May 2025, 9:36 p.m. - House of Commons "passing of the mental health units use of force act 2018, otherwise " Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript

Parliamentary Debates
Mental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Ninth sitting) 97 speeches (19,160 words) Committee stage: 9th sitting Tuesday 24th June 2025 - Public Bill Committees Department of Health and Social Care Mentions: 1: Jen Craft (Lab - Thurrock) Currently, the use of restraint is governed by the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018, which - Link to Speech 2: Stephen Kinnock (Lab - Aberafan Maesteg) moving it on her behalf.The new clause seeks to recreate some of the duties from the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act - Link to Speech
Mental Health Bill [Lords] 147 speeches (40,481 words) 2nd reading2nd Reading Monday 19th May 2025 - Commons Chamber Department of Health and Social Care Mentions: 1: Jim Dickson (Lab - Dartford) Despite the passing of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018—otherwise known as Seni’s law—which - Link to Speech
Mental Health Bill [HL] 68 speeches (14,843 words) Report stage Wednesday 2nd April 2025 - Lords Chamber Department of Health and Social Care Mentions: 1: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (LD - Life peer) accountable.There is a model for the use of a responsible person at unit level, in the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act - Link to Speech 2: None That is underlined particularly by the delays in the implementation of both the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act - Link to Speech
Mental Health Bill [HL] 100 speeches (21,212 words) Report stage part one Monday 31st March 2025 - Lords Chamber Department of Health and Social Care Mentions: 1: Baroness Hollins (XB - Life peer) Although I acknowledge the introduction of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018, this legislation - Link to Speech 2: Baroness Merron (Lab - Life peer) On Amendments 3 and 55, there is a requirement in the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 to - Link to Speech
Mental Health Bill [HL] 92 speeches (27,232 words) Committee stage part one Monday 24th February 2025 - Lords Chamber Department of Health and Social Care Mentions: 1: Earl Howe (Con - Excepted Hereditary) This fact was recognised in the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018, which came into effect in - Link to Speech 2: Baroness Merron (Lab - Life peer) noble Lord, Lord Kamall.The amendment largely replicate duties under Section 6 of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act - Link to Speech
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill 120 speeches (34,830 words) 2nd reading Friday 15th March 2024 - Commons Chamber Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mentions: 1: Steve Reed (LAB - Croydon North) important measures she aims to bring into law.My private Member’s Bill, which became the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act - Link to Speech

Select Committee Documents
Friday 28th February 2025 Written Evidence - Mind MHB0025 - Mental Health Bill Mental Health Bill - Human Rights (Joint Committee) Found: This could be modelled on the responsible person role in Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018
Wednesday 19th February 2025 Written Evidence - Article 39 MHB0023 - Mental Health Bill Mental Health Bill - Human Rights (Joint Committee) Found: Change:  Member’s accounts of restraint and seclusion have been included in the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
Wednesday 19th February 2025 Written Evidence - Bristol University MHB0022 - Mental Health Bill Mental Health Bill - Human Rights (Joint Committee) Found: Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 (Seni’s law).

Written Answers
Mental Health Services: Restraint Techniques Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough) Friday 17th July 2026 Question to the Department of Health and Social Care: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has`made of the adequacy of guidance available to NHS staff on the use of restrictive practice within inpatient mental health services. Answered by Preet Kaur Gill The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 requires every mental health unit to publish a policy on how it is minimizing the use of force, including restrictive practices. This includes preventative action the unit is taking to minimise use of force, staff training on how and when use of force is appropriate, and how use of force is recorded and reported. There is ongoing work to reduce restrictive interventions within mental health inpatient units using quality improvement approaches including through the Culture of Care Standards Programme. Resources such as the NHS England’s Identifying restrictive practice guidance and the Use of Force Act statutory guidance have been produced to reduce the use of force and ensure accountability and transparency about the use of force in mental health units.

Written Answers

Mental Health Services: Restraint Techniques
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Friday 17th July 2026

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has`made of the adequacy of guidance available to NHS staff on the use of restrictive practice within inpatient mental health services.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 requires every mental health unit to publish a policy on how it is minimizing the use of force, including restrictive practices. This includes preventative action the unit is taking to minimise use of force, staff training on how and when use of force is appropriate, and how use of force is recorded and reported.

There is ongoing work to reduce restrictive interventions within mental health inpatient units using quality improvement approaches including through the Culture of Care Standards Programme. Resources such as the NHS England’s Identifying restrictive practice guidance and the Use of Force Act statutory guidance have been produced to reduce the use of force and ensure accountability and transparency about the use of force in mental health units.

Parliamentary Research
Mental Health Bill [HL] 2024-25: progress of the bill - CBP-10317 Aug. 01 2025 Found: Care, Stephen Kinnock, said the clause would duplicate some of the duties from the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
Autism policy and services: Health and social care - CBP-10232 Apr. 02 2025 Found: a statutory footing through the Mental Health Bill (see section 1.6 below) The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
Mental Health Act reform - impacts on autistic people and people with a learning disability - POST-PN-0722 May. 03 2024 Found: Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018: statutory guidance for NHS organisations in England,

Bill Documents
Aug. 01 2025 Mental Health Bill [HL] 2024-25: progress of the bill Mental Health Act 2025 Briefing papers Found: Care, Stephen Kinnock, said the clause would duplicate some of the duties from the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
Jun. 24 2025 Written evidence submitted by Dr Jacqueline Dyer MBE (MHB63) Mental Health Act 2025 Written evidence Found: Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018. UK Parliament, 2018.
Jun. 19 2025 Written evidence submitted by Rethink Mental Illness: General submission on the Bill (MHB57a) Mental Health Act 2025 Written evidence Found: pertinent to the cohort of patients affected by the Mental Health Act: · the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
Jun. 19 2025 Written evidence submitted by Rethink Mental Illness: Further submission on the Statutory Implementation of the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) (MHB57b) Mental Health Act 2025 Written evidence Found: In the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018, there is also recent evidence that simply enacting
Jun. 10 2025 Written evidence submitted by Blooming Change (MHB15) Mental Health Act 2025 Written evidence Found: Change: • Member’s accounts of restraint and seclusion have been included in the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
Nov. 07 2024 Mental Heath Bill: Delegated Powers Memorandum Mental Health Act 2025 Delegated Powers Memorandum Found: e. the reasons for any use of force for example under the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018

Department Publications - Transparency
Tuesday 17th December 2024 Department of Health and Social Care Source Page: DHSC annual report and accounts: 2023 to 2024 Document: (PDF) Found: The majority of the provisions within the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018, also known as
Tuesday 17th December 2024 Department of Health and Social Care Source Page: DHSC annual report and accounts: 2023 to 2024 Document: (PDF) Found: The majority of the provisions within the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018, also known as

Arms Length Bodies Publications
Jan. 28 2026 NHS England Source Page: 2026/27 NHS Standard Contract – Technical Guidance Document: NHS Standard Contract 2026/27 - Technical guidance (PDF) NHS Standard Contract Found: Provider’s Responsible Person for the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 SC3.17 Where
Nov. 17 2025 NHS England Source Page: 2026/27 NHS Standard Contract draft technical guidance Document: 2026/27 NHS Standard Contract draft technical guidance (PDF) Consultation or consultation response Found: Provider’s Responsible Person for the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 SC3.17 Where
Sep. 25 2025 NHS England Source Page: Identifying restrictive practice Document: Identifying restrictive practice: Resource to support the reduction of restrictive practice within inpatient mental health services (webpage) Guidance Found: The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 applies in mental health units in England.
Apr. 03 2025 NHS England Source Page: NHS Standard Contract 2025/26 technical guidance Document: NHS Standard Contract 2025/26 technical guidance (PDF) NHS Standard Contract Found: Provider’s Responsible Person for the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 SC3.17 Where
Jan. 30 2025 NHS England Source Page: NHS Standard Contract draft 2025/26 technical guidance Document: NHS Standard Contract draft 2025/26 technical guidance (PDF) NHS Standard Contract Found: Provider’s Responsible Person for the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 SC3.17 Where
May. 13 2024 NHS England Source Page: Research demand signalling: mental health nursing Document: Research demand signalling: mental health nursing (webpage) Report Found: lifespan collaborative working with patients, families, and carers supporting the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
May. 07 2024 NHS England Source Page: Service specification: specialist children’s and young people’s mental health medium secure in-patient service (MSUs) Document: Specialist children’s and young people’s mental health medium secure in-patient service (MSUs) (PDF) Service specification Found: Department of Health Offender Mental Health Pathway 2005 • The Autism Act 2009 • Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
Feb. 22 2024 NHS England Source Page: NHS Standard Contract 2024/25 – Technical guidance Document: NHS Standard Contract 2024/25 - Technical guidance (PDF) NHS Standard Contract Found: (Not applicable to the shorter form) Provider’s Responsible Person for the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
Feb. 12 2024 NHS England Source Page: Commissioning framework for mental health inpatient services Document: Commissioning framework for mental health inpatient services (webpage) Guidance Found: The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act, commonly known as Seni’s Law, gained Royal Assent in 2018

Deposited Papers
Tuesday 18th March 2025 Department of Health and Social Care Source Page: I. Letter dated 14/03/2025 from Baroness Merron to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding deposit of delegated power policy papers relating to the Mental Health Bill. 1p. II. Clause 4, Learning disability and autism: statutory guidance. 2p. III. Clause 4, Learning disability and autism: Registers of people at risk of detention. 4p. IV. Policy paper: Clause 4, Learning disability and autism: Duties on integrated care boards and local authorities. 3p. V. Clause 18, Electroconvulsive therapy. 3p. VI. Clause 20, Care and treatment plans.4p. VII. Clause 31, References to tribunals for patients concerned in criminal proceedings. 3p. VIII. Schedule 3, Independent mental health advocates. 3p. Document: Clause_20_Care_and_Treatment_Plans.pdf (PDF) Found: (e) the reasons for any use of force for example under the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018

Deposited Papers

Tuesday 18th March 2025
Department of Health and Social Care

Source Page: I. Letter dated 14/03/2025 from Baroness Merron to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding deposit of delegated power policy papers relating to the Mental Health Bill. 1p. II. Clause 4, Learning disability and autism: statutory guidance. 2p. III. Clause 4, Learning disability and autism: Registers of people at risk of detention. 4p. IV. Policy paper: Clause 4, Learning disability and autism: Duties on integrated care boards and local authorities. 3p. V. Clause 18, Electroconvulsive therapy. 3p. VI. Clause 20, Care and treatment plans.4p. VII. Clause 31, References to tribunals for patients concerned in criminal proceedings. 3p. VIII. Schedule 3, Independent mental health advocates. 3p.
Document: Clause_20_Care_and_Treatment_Plans.pdf (PDF)

Found: (e) the reasons for any use of force for example under the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018

Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 mentioned in Welsh results

Welsh Committee Publications
PDF - LCM MH07 - Mind Cymru Inquiry: The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Mental Health Bill Found: Welsh Government should use the Mental Health Bill as an opportunity to extend the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act
PDF - report Inquiry: The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Mental Health Bill Found: ensure it aligns with evolving needs, and for the Welsh Government to extend the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act

Welsh Government Publications
Wednesday 7th June 2023 Source Page: Liberty protection safeguards Document: Equality impact assessment (EIA): Liberty Protection Safeguards (PDF) Found:  Extending the powers of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act, ‘Seni’s Law’, to seclusion.
Monday 14th June 2021 Source Page: Guidance on reducing restrictive practices in childcare, education, health and social care settings Document: Consultation document (PDF) Found:  Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice for Wales (Welsh Government, 2016)  Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act

Welsh Senedd Debates
2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Wednesday 7th May 2025 Mentions: 1: Julie Morgan (Welsh Labour - Cardiff North) With this in mind, would the Minister look into the extension of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act - Link to Speech