Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Mental Health Act Administration Assistant

This job is now closed

Job summary

The MHA administrative assistant works closely with the MHA administrator within a defined geographical area i.e. based in Torbay Hospital - Haytor ward, but also providing support to the Langdon Hospital MHA administrator.

The MHA administrative assistant is part of a small team of MHA administrators that provide cover across all localities i.e. Exeter, East and Mid Devon, North Devon, Langdon Hospital and South Devon and Torbay.

The team is a small but very busy team who rely very much on each other to provide cross cover at times of sickness, annual leave or when one office is especially busy - usually this is done by working remotely and by use of a central email box.

It is not necessary to have a detailed knowledge of the MHA or MCA as this can be acquired through training and instruction from the Administrators.

This role does requires excellent IT skills and the ability to concentrate and pay attention to detail and good communication skills. Applicants should be able to check their work for any mistakes such as sending information to the wrong person, wrong address, etc

The ability to communicate and cooperate as a team and to prioritise what needs to be completed on a day to day basis is essential in ensuring that patients are always legally detained and are made aware of their right of appeal and tribunal applications are progressed in a timely manner.

Main duties of the job

The job entails receiving and scrutinising MHA paperwork to ensure that all applications for detention are legally valid, uploading these to patients' electronic record, making sure that patients and their nearest relative are informed of their right of appeal against detention.

Assisting the MHA administrator with applications to the Mental Health Tribunal and to Hospital Managers panels.

Liaising with clinical teams to receive tribunal reports for the dates set for patients' appeals

Ensuring that the patient has the appropriate Consent to Treatment in place.

Ensuring legal frameworks are in place if the patient lacks capacity i.e. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Ensuring that MCA assessments and best interests decisions are in place for physical healthcare treatment.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

05 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pro rata (18.75 hours per week)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0034

Job locations

Haytor ward, Torbay Hospital

Lowes Bridge

Torbay

Torquay

TQ2 7AA

Job description

Job responsibilities

Under the direction of the Mental Health Act Administrator, the post holder will be required to;

Receive, scrutinise and process all Mental Health Act, (and other related paperwork where appropriate, i.e. Guardianship, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard) paperwork within a defined geographical area on behalf of the Trust. Co-ordinate MHA Tribunals, informing staff of the need to produce reports and ensuring their timely distribution

Provide written and oral advice, support and information to patients, relatives / carers and clinicians relating to the Mental Health Act.

Provide and receive complex and sensitive information from a range of staff, patients and carers

Deal with significant barriers to communications; for example when dealing with patients rights or liaison with relatives

Communicate across internal and external organisation(s), demonstrating negotiatingand influencing skills, for example with patients and carers, medical / clinical staff, Approved Mental Health Practitioners, Hospital Managers, Solicitors, Tribunal Office, Care Quality Commission, Ministry of Justice

Job description

Job responsibilities

Under the direction of the Mental Health Act Administrator, the post holder will be required to;

Provide written and oral advice, support and information to patients, relatives / carers and clinicians relating to the Mental Health Act.

Provide and receive complex and sensitive information from a range of staff, patients and carers

Deal with significant barriers to communications; for example when dealing with patients rights or liaison with relatives

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working within mental health or learning disability, neuro diversity services
Administration/secretarial skills

Desirable

Office experience
Working as part of a small busy team

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Demonstrable Involvement in, or knowledge of application and administration of the MHA 1983 or MCA 2005

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ level 3 in administration, similar administration qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

MHA Law Certificate
Good working knowledge of IT MS Office Programmes
NVQ level 4 in administration, similar administration qualification or equivalent experience

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working within mental health or learning disability, neuro diversity services
Administration/secretarial skills

Desirable

Office experience
Working as part of a small busy team

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Demonstrable Involvement in, or knowledge of application and administration of the MHA 1983 or MCA 2005

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ level 3 in administration, similar administration qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

MHA Law Certificate
Good working knowledge of IT MS Office Programmes
NVQ level 4 in administration, similar administration qualification or equivalent experience

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.