Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Mental Health Act Legislation Officer to join our forward thinking Trust.
The successful candidate will be part of a small team responsible for the provision of Mental Health Act administration across the Trust, based at Derwent Unit, Chesterfield.
You will need to be a self-motivated individual with good knowledge of the Mental Health Act. Responsibilities include: receiving and scrutinising MHA statutory documents, arranging for amendments to be made within the legal timescale: requesting reports and organising Mental Health Tribunals, sending out section expiry reminders to clinical teams.
The candidate will need to be able to prioritise their workload, liaise with consultants, clinical teams, social services, solicitors, Care Quality commission, service users and their relatives.
The candidate will need to have excellent administrative and organisational skills, together with the ability to communicate at all levels.
Main duties of the job
To work closely with colleagues in the Mental Health Act legislation team to ensure high quality systems and procedures are in place in order to comply with the administration requirements of the MHA.
A sound knowledge and good understanding of the complexities of the MHA and ability to disseminate information appropriately within your area of responsibility.
To develop and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally.
To support and advise colleagues, patients and their nearest relatives on the MHA and associated procedures.
About us
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of 'making a positive difference in people's lives'.
CQC rated us as 'GOOD' overall, commenting on how our colleagues "treated patients with compassion and kindness" and "felt positive and proud about working for the trust."
Benefits include:
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Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
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27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years' service
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Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
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Generous NHS pension scheme
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Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
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Health service discounts and online benefits
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Incremental pay progression
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Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
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Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
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Health and wellbeing opportunities
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Structured learning and development opportunities
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Understand the Trust's obligations under the MHA
- Scrutinise section papers and ensure any rectifiable errors are completed within the specified timescale
- Ensure efficient and accurate systems are in place to manage the MHA
- Be able to provide an accessible point of contact to advise patients and colleagues on the MHA and associated legislation
- Maintain appropriate contact with internal and external agencies to ensure MHA requirements are met
- Arrange hearings for patients detained under the MHA, requesting reports, liaising with appropriate agencies and booking venues to ensure they run smoothly
- to prepare statistics in relation to MHA reporting
- to assist with the auditing of the MHA
- Use your own initiative to manage and prioritise workload within the limitation of your own knowledge
- To escalate any areas of concern in a timely manner
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Understand the Trust's obligations under the MHA
- Scrutinise section papers and ensure any rectifiable errors are completed within the specified timescale
- Ensure efficient and accurate systems are in place to manage the MHA
- Be able to provide an accessible point of contact to advise patients and colleagues on the MHA and associated legislation
- Maintain appropriate contact with internal and external agencies to ensure MHA requirements are met
- Arrange hearings for patients detained under the MHA, requesting reports, liaising with appropriate agencies and booking venues to ensure they run smoothly
- to prepare statistics in relation to MHA reporting
- to assist with the auditing of the MHA
- Use your own initiative to manage and prioritise workload within the limitation of your own knowledge
- To escalate any areas of concern in a timely manner
Person Specification
Attainment and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
Desirable
- Certificate in Mental Health Law
- ECDL or equivalent
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively and clearly, verbally and in writing
- Computer literacy and keyboard skills
- Ability to organise a varied workload against a background of frequently changing priorities and the ability to meet deadlines
- Understand the concept and importance of confidentiality
- Ability to develop effective working relationships with staff from a variety of agencies and disciplines
- Proven ability to manage your own caseload
Desirable
- Used to working with the Mental Health Act and associated legislation
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Understand the essential principles and components of the Mental Health Act
- Work to deadlines and achieve the desired results
- Communicate and deliver information effectively and concisely to support a wide variety of stakeholders
- Experience of working in Mental health Act administration
Desirable
- Knowledge of issues concerning people with mental health problems
- In-depth knowledge of the Mental Health Act
- Experience of working within the NHS
- Ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of Mental Health Tribunals
Person Specification
Attainment and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
Desirable
- Certificate in Mental Health Law
- ECDL or equivalent
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively and clearly, verbally and in writing
- Computer literacy and keyboard skills
- Ability to organise a varied workload against a background of frequently changing priorities and the ability to meet deadlines
- Understand the concept and importance of confidentiality
- Ability to develop effective working relationships with staff from a variety of agencies and disciplines
- Proven ability to manage your own caseload
Desirable
- Used to working with the Mental Health Act and associated legislation
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Understand the essential principles and components of the Mental Health Act
- Work to deadlines and achieve the desired results
- Communicate and deliver information effectively and concisely to support a wide variety of stakeholders
- Experience of working in Mental health Act administration
Desirable
- Knowledge of issues concerning people with mental health problems
- In-depth knowledge of the Mental Health Act
- Experience of working within the NHS
- Ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of Mental Health Tribunals
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
