Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Mental Health Act Associate - Trustwide

The closing date is 03 June 2025

Job summary

Voluntary role of Mental Health Act Associate.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) are seeking to recruit to the voluntary post of Mental Health Act Associate to work at various locations across AWP.

This post is not open to anyone who has a substantive position within AWP

Main duties of the job

Mental Health Act Associates are lay members of the community who are trained to hear Reviews of Detention of unrestricted patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (Section 23 of The Mental Health Act 1983).

The Role of the Associate is to be a member of a panel at Review Hearings either face to face or remotely, on average half a day per month. You will have the ability to listen and interpret information from professional staff, patients and relatives, question the views of professionals and patients in a structured and supportive manner.

Training to carry out the role will be given, certain skills are required for the role such as an interest in mental health issues, good listening skills, fast reading skills, ability to enable patients to express their views, wishes, feelings, needs, and opinions, ability to balance the facts gained against agreed criteria for discharge from detention etc.

A session fee is payable plus travel expenses.

For a copy of the role description and application form please contact: - Wendy Moore on 0117 354 6030 or email wendymoore@nhs.net

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust):a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Details

Date posted

20 May 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience Per session

Contract

Voluntary

Working pattern

Home or remote working

Reference number

342-MHAA-0525

Job locations

Various sites across AWP

Bristol

BS4 5BJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Activities

Be a member of the panel at Review Hearings on average half a day per month, exercising the responsibilities fairly and reasonably.

Listen and interpret information from professional staff, patients and relatives.

Question the views of professionals and patients in a structured and supportive manner.

Understand and take advice on relevant legislation.

Work closely with other panel members participate fully in the decision-making process.

Undertake necessary training, attending at least 1 session per year.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Activities

Be a member of the panel at Review Hearings on average half a day per month, exercising the responsibilities fairly and reasonably.

Listen and interpret information from professional staff, patients and relatives.

Question the views of professionals and patients in a structured and supportive manner.

Understand and take advice on relevant legislation.

Work closely with other panel members participate fully in the decision-making process.

Undertake necessary training, attending at least 1 session per year.

Person Specification

Core Criteria

Essential

  • Previous admin experience
  • Compassionate and understanding
  • Basic understanding of mental health

Desirable

  • Previous experience as a mental health associate
Person Specification

Core Criteria

Essential

  • Previous admin experience
  • Compassionate and understanding
  • Basic understanding of mental health

Desirable

  • Previous experience as a mental health associate

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Various sites across AWP

Bristol

BS4 5BJ


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Various sites across AWP

Bristol

BS4 5BJ


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Trust Mental Health Act Manager

Wendy Moore

wendymoore@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

20 May 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience Per session

Contract

Voluntary

Working pattern

Home or remote working

Reference number

342-MHAA-0525

Job locations

Various sites across AWP

Bristol

BS4 5BJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)