AMHP Lead: Sponsorship Available

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Bedfordshire Countywide AMHP service to be a full time Band 7 AMHP Lead, covering maternity leave for 9months. Working as an AMHP Lead for the Service you will be responsible for providing routine Mental Health Act assessments (MHA) under part 2 of the MHA (1983). You will be expected to provide triage support for the AMHP service, leading on day to day operational activities of the AMHP service on a rota basis and supporting the AMHP Operational manager to ensure the service delivers on its objectives. You will also provide and offer advice and consultation to multidisciplinary colleagues, regarding the use of mental health law and least restrictive options; to ensure the timely delivery of an appropriate, safe, effective, responsive and well led AMHP Service that is caring and maximizes people’s statutory rights.

You will be required to work closely with team members, service users, carers and other relevant stakeholders to support the continued development of the AMHP Service across the county; ensuring that the achievement of best quality and performance standards are met, in line with service user and carer expectations, commissioner requirements and Trust objectives. This will include reinforcing the values and expectations of the organisation through collaborative and dynamic engagement with service users and carers that is both supportive and encouraging in nature.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be the Duty AMHP for the AMHP Service in Luton and Bedfordshire; providing operational management to a team of AMHPs and junior staff. They will also offer expertise to multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure the timely delivery of a safe, effective, and responsive and well led AMHP Service that is caring and maximizes people’s statutory rights.

As AMHP Lead, the post holder will be responsible for undertaking clinical duties including undertaking of MHA assessments. With an enhanced level of knowledge and expertise in relation to the use of the MHA (1983, as amended 2007) and other mental health related legislation, such as the Mental Capacity Act (MCA, 2005), Human Rights Act (2008) etc. You will be expected to act as an expert within your field, providing advice and consultation to multidisciplinary colleagues to support decision making and ensuring people’s statutory rights are met. As AMHP Lead you will be expected to work with the Operational Service Manager on the overall development and transformation of the AMHP Service, ensuring it is fit for purpose.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

  • oRegistered Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Psychologist
  • oCurrent Professional Registration (HCPC, NMC etc)
  • oAMHP post graduate qualification Evidence of continual professional development
  • oEducated to degree level of equivalent experience

Desirable

  • oBest Interest Assessor
  • oPractice Educator/ Registered mentor

Experience

Essential

  • oSignificant post qualification experience working as an AMHP
  • oPrevious experience at working as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • oPrevious experience at working autonomously
  • oPrevious experience of working within an NHS/ LSSA environment and an understanding of the strengths, challenges, policies and practices within these environment
  • oExtensive and demonstrable experience of assessing skills for service users with mental health needs and the ability to formulate correct plans of care and achieve correct outcomes, using best practice guidance
  • oEssential and demonstrable experience of writing concise and clear reports oExperience of teaching and assessing others in practice
  • oExperience of teaching and assessing others in practice
  • oExperience of developing or contributing to the development of new services preferably in mental health

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • oDemonstrate thorough knowledge of the MHA (1983) and subsequent amendments, Code of Practice (2015) and other relevant pieces of mental health related case law
  • oDemonstrate a thorough understanding of current legislation and policy pertaining to the provision of mental health services in all settings including the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act (2010), Care Act 2014 and relevant NICE Guidance
  • oDemonstrate a thorough understanding and working knowledge of mental disorder and the treatment options.
  • oDemonstrate a full understanding of the key issues and priorities relating to the provision of mental health services
  • oDemonstrate a clear understanding of child and adult safe guarding issues
  • oDemonstrate a sound knowledge of the local and national standards and guidance relating to people detained under the MHA
  • oSound report writing skills, ability to compile complex case recording, report presentation, including legal documents i.e. social circumstances reports

Skills and values

Essential

  • oAssertiveness and engagement with other professionals, able to make reasoned arguments and represent own professional views and perspectives.
  • oDecision-making and problem solving, able to adopt creative and flexible approaches to meet the needs of service users.
  • oWell-developed communication skills, able to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences.
  • oIT skills, experience of working with service user data systems.
  • oTeam player, able to negotiate and lead other professionals whilst considering competing views and agendas
  • oAble to work independently, with initiative, but to seek appropriate guidance and supervision when required
  • oSelf-motivated, committed and open to new ideas and experiences.
  • oAnti-discriminatory & anti-oppressive practice
  • oCommitted to core social care values, able to recognise that protection is sometimes required and should be carried out in the least restrictive manner observing the human and civil rights of the individual
  • oA commitment to leadership & change management
  • oAble to travel between Trust sites throughout the county, with a full clean licence
  • oUnderstanding of the Trust structure, values, aims and objectives

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 16 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.