61 Replacement of mental welfare officers by approved social workers.E+W
(1)After the expiration of the period of two years beginning with the day on which this Act is passed the functions conferred by the principal Act and this Act on mental welfare officers shall be discharged by officers of local social services authorities to be known as approved social workers.
(2)A local social services authority shall appoint a sufficient number of approved social workers for the purpose of discharging the functions referred to in subsection (1) above; and no person shall be appointed as an approved social worker unless he is approved by the authority as having appropriate competence in dealing with persons who are suffering from mental disorder.
(3)In approving a person for appointment as an approved social worker a local social services authority shall have regard to such matters as the Secretary of State may direct.
(4)Any appointment of a person as a mental welfare officer for the purposes of the principal Act and this Act shall terminate at the expiration of the period mentioned in subsection (1) above but without prejudice to anything previously done by that person or to the continuation by an approved social worker of anything which is then in process of being done by that person.