Job summary
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is offering an exciting opportunity for 4 motivated Mental Health Tribunal and Renewal Hearing Clerks. The post holder will be expected to provide comprehensive assistance at the Mental Health Tribunals and Renewal Hearings and be responsible for supporting key tasks throughout the hearing.
There are a number of venues throughout Merseyside and Cheshire covering Secure Care Division and Mental Health Care Division, the successful candidate must be flexible and willing to travel.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will check that the allocated room is appropriate and adequately set up for the hearing. They will introduce themselves to the members of the Tribunal, escorting them to and from the hearing room and ensure they are familiar with the facilities. The clerk must make sure the members of the Tribunal have any necessary paperwork and reports required for the hearing and take instruction from the judge on any missing information. The clerk will draw up a list of everyone attending the hearing for the judge and take any final instruction before calling the first case.
During the hearing the clerks do not sit in the hearing room but must remain close by to make themselves available should the tribunal need them, this could include contacting the tribunal office at the Judge's request.
After the hearing the clerk collects the confirmation of the Tribunal decision, leaving a copy for the Mental Health Law Administrator. They will also check the tribunal room and securely dispose of all the documents relating to the proceedings.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be expected to work with the minimum amount of supervision to ensure that an efficient service is provided. The post holder will be expected to work with a flexible approach while maintaining confidentiality at all time.
Tribunal Assistants must be present at the tribunal venue half an hour before the hearing is to begin.
- Check the room allocated for the Tribunal is appropriate and adequately set up for the tribunal hearing in line with The Minimum Security Requirements and Amenities for Tribunal Hearing Rooms in Hospitals Document issued by HMCTS.
- Introduce yourself to members of the Tribunal on arrival and familiarise them with facilities.
- Check that members have all the necessary papers and take instruction from the judge on any missing information.
- Ensure all reports produced on the day are distributed to the panel members and as advised by the tribunal judge to those attending the hearing.
- Ensure all section 2 reports are submitted at least half an hour before the hearing and distributed as advised by the tribunal judge.
- Ensure patients clinical records are made available to the tribunal.
- Draw up a list of the parties names for the tribunal judge.
- Take final instructions from the tribunal judge before calling the first case.
During the hearing
- Assistants do not sit in the hearing room during proceedings however they will need to make themselves available should the tribunal need them. At the judges behest it may be necessary on occasions to contact the designated member of staff at the tribunal office.
NB Assistants must withdraw during the tribunals deliberations but remain close by so they can be recalled if necessary.
Post Hearing
Tribunal Assistants should spend up to a maximum of half an hour carrying out the post hearing duties.
- Collect the Confirmation of Tribunal Decision without Reasons (Form P6) leaving a copy with the Mental Health Administrator.
- Fax documents to the tribunal if requested to do so by the Tribunal Judge.
- Carry out a check of the tribunal room and securely dispose of all documents relating to proceedings.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be expected to work with the minimum amount of supervision to ensure that an efficient service is provided. The post holder will be expected to work with a flexible approach while maintaining confidentiality at all time.
Tribunal Assistants must be present at the tribunal venue half an hour before the hearing is to begin.
- Check the room allocated for the Tribunal is appropriate and adequately set up for the tribunal hearing in line with The Minimum Security Requirements and Amenities for Tribunal Hearing Rooms in Hospitals Document issued by HMCTS.
- Introduce yourself to members of the Tribunal on arrival and familiarise them with facilities.
- Check that members have all the necessary papers and take instruction from the judge on any missing information.
- Ensure all reports produced on the day are distributed to the panel members and as advised by the tribunal judge to those attending the hearing.
- Ensure all section 2 reports are submitted at least half an hour before the hearing and distributed as advised by the tribunal judge.
- Ensure patients clinical records are made available to the tribunal.
- Draw up a list of the parties names for the tribunal judge.
- Take final instructions from the tribunal judge before calling the first case.
During the hearing
- Assistants do not sit in the hearing room during proceedings however they will need to make themselves available should the tribunal need them. At the judges behest it may be necessary on occasions to contact the designated member of staff at the tribunal office.
NB Assistants must withdraw during the tribunals deliberations but remain close by so they can be recalled if necessary.
Post Hearing
Tribunal Assistants should spend up to a maximum of half an hour carrying out the post hearing duties.
- Collect the Confirmation of Tribunal Decision without Reasons (Form P6) leaving a copy with the Mental Health Administrator.
- Fax documents to the tribunal if requested to do so by the Tribunal Judge.
- Carry out a check of the tribunal room and securely dispose of all documents relating to proceedings.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Clear Understanding of the role of the Tribunal the paramount importance of it's independence and the need for confidentiality. Ability to accept and convey instructions and requests from the Tribunal Judge. Approachable and confident manner. Presentable reliable and punctual. Willing to travel to different sites across the Trust
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement. Accountability. Respectfulness. Enthusiasm. Support
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both verbally and non-verbally. Tact / diplomacy
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Clear Understanding of the role of the Tribunal the paramount importance of it's independence and the need for confidentiality. Ability to accept and convey instructions and requests from the Tribunal Judge. Approachable and confident manner. Presentable reliable and punctual. Willing to travel to different sites across the Trust
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement. Accountability. Respectfulness. Enthusiasm. Support
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both verbally and non-verbally. Tact / diplomacy
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.
