Approved Mental Health Professional

We are currently recruiting 1 full time and 1 part time working 22.2 hours per week Approved Mental Health Professionals to contribute to the delivery of our highly effective AMHP Team, based within Social Care. The service is delivered using a strength based, personalised approach to assessments, ensuring the individual remains at the centre of all interventions.

You will be required to act as an Approved Mental Health Professional providing a statutory Mental Health Act Assessment service encompassing all client groups and including the provision of advice, in order to meet the immediate needs of the individuals involved and to achieve the best outcome. You will also need to provide precise information to service users and others about their rights in relation to MHA interventions and facilitate access to appropriate advocacy and advice networks including the IMHA and IMCA services.

The successful candidate will be responsible for triaging referrals, the allocation of assessments, and chairing the daily allocations meeting on a regular basis.

This role will also involve undertaking the role of Social Supervisor for conditionally discharged patients to fulfil our statutory responsibility for clients who are subject to Part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended 2007).

The successful applicant will also be responsible for the supervision and appraisal process of newly qualified AMHP’s in line with the statutory requirements. As well as the supervision and support of staff undertaking the AMHP training.

You will need to maintain an awareness of changes in mental health theories, legislation, and Medway Council policies, local and agency practices, in order to disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard AMHP service. In addition to undertaking AMHP assessments the successful candidate will need to develop a high level of skill and expertise in order to provide support and advice to others in relation to statutory interventions.

The successful candidate must be able to contribute to and review the development of ongoing initiatives for service development to achieve a more effective use of resources within the AMHP service and wider Mental Health Services.

You will be required to work autonomously within the role, demonstrating expert and effective practice in complex situations managing higher levels of risk.

Please state on your application if you are applying for the full time 37 hour per week position or the part time 22.2 hour per week position.

In return we offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency.  Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day’s paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change. 

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please e-mail Susan Fuller on susan.fuller@medway.gov.uk or Laura Sowkhee on laura.sowkhee@medway.gov.uk

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile.

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, family commitments, sexual orientation, age, HIV status, religious or political beliefs, social class or trade union activity or irrelevant spent conviction.

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.  All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.