# Head of Mental Health Legislation > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/head-of-mental-health-legislation/80934805-459f-4dc9-ad19-36289505b780 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/head-of-mental-health-legislation/80934805-459f-4dc9-ad19-36289505b780.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - **Location:** Duncan Macmillan House, Trust Headquarters - **Workplace type:** onsite - **Profession:** Mental health professionals - **Grade:** Band 8 - **Salary:** £66,582 - £77,368 per annum (pro rata for part time) - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-10-29T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-10-15T11:31:49.782Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Nottinghamshire/Mapperley/Nottinghamshire_Healthcare_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Mental_Health_Legislation/Mental_Health_Legislation-v8297943 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8297943?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to provide strategic oversight of mental health legislation across the Trust. The post holder will lead the Mental Health Legislation service, ensuring compliance with the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Human Rights legislation and associated legal frameworks, while safeguarding the rights, dignity and wellbeing of service users. Working closely with senior leaders, clinicians, regulators and external partners, you will provide expert advice, influence organisational strategy, develop policy, oversee audits and assurance processes, and support services to implement legislation effectively. You will lead on governance, risk management, quality improvement and regulatory compliance, ensuring the Trust remains responsive to legislative and policy developments. The role includes responsibility for education and training programmes, implementation of legislative changes, oversight of Associate Hospital Managers, and leadership of the Mental Health Legislation Team. You will provide assurance to the Trust Board, drive continuous improvement and support the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care. This high-profile role requires extensive knowledge of mental health law, strong leadership and governance expertise, and the ability to work collaboratively across complex healthcare environments to deliver the highest standards of lawful and ethical practice. ### Main duties of the job The Head of Mental Health Legislation will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Trust's Mental Health Legislation service, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements whilst safeguarding the rights of service users. The post holder will act as the Trust's expert advisor on the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and associated legislation, leading policy development, governance, audit, training and quality improvement activities. Working closely with senior leaders, clinical teams, regulators and external partners, the role will drive continuous improvement, provide assurance to the Trust Board and support the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care across all services. The successful candidate will also lead and develop a specialist legislation team, oversee Mental Health Act governance processes, and ensure emerging legislative changes are successfully implemented across the organisation. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities To be the Trust expert and lead on all matters and functions relating to mental health legislation (MHL), including the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) and the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), to ensure that the Trust operates in accordance with the requirements of both legislations, including associated Codes of Practice, Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards in relation to the Mental Health Act, Trust Policies and Procedures and accepted good practice. To improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the Trust’s compliance with the mental health legislation across its services. To ensure that service users rights are protected and that due legal safeguards are in operation. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £20.00 (standard) or £41.00 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £15 per year applies. ### Applicant requirements You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. ## Person Specification ### Skills **Essential** - Highly developed leadership skills, with the ability to lead, motivate and develop multidisciplinary teams through change. - Ability to interpret complex legislation and national policy and translate requirements into clear organisational policy, procedures, advice and practical action. - Advanced analytical and judgement skills, including the ability to evaluate highly complex information, develop options and make authoritative recommendations. - Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation and influencing skills, including communicating highly complex, sensitive or contentious information to varied audiences. - Ability to resolve conflict and work constructively where there are significant barriers to acceptance or resistance to change. - Ability to plan and lead complex programmes of work, balancing competing priorities and tight deadlines. - Ability to work autonomously as the Trust expert, exercising sound professional judgement and seeking advice where appropriate. - High-level numerical and performance analysis skills, including interpreting performance against strategic objectives and providing expert opinion. - Advanced IT skills, including Microsoft Office and software used to prepare performance, governance and Board reports. - Ability to develop and deliver effective training for clinical, managerial and administrative staff. - Commitment to service-user rights, legal safeguards, equality, diversity, inclusion and continuous improvement. **Desirable** - Project or programme management skills. - Quality improvement methodology and facilitation skills. ### Training **Essential** - Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to mental health legislation, leadership and governance. - Up-to-date professional and statutory training appropriate to the role. **Desirable** - Training in quality improvement, audit, change management or project/programme management. - Formal training relating to the Court of Protection, First-tier Tribunal, DoLS or Liberty Protection Safeguards. ### Knowledge **Essential** - Expert, current knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, associated Codes of Practice and related mental health legislation. - In-depth knowledge of human rights law, including the Human Rights Act 1998, as it applies to mental health services. - Detailed knowledge of legal proceedings and challenges affecting implementation of mental health legislation, including the Court of Protection and First-tier Tribunal. - Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the developing Liberty Protection Safeguards framework - Detailed understanding of Care Quality Commission standards and regulatory expectations relating to the Mental Health Act. - Knowledge of national and local health policy and the implications of legislative and policy change for NHS services. - Knowledge of clinical governance, risk management, audit, quality assurance and continuous improvement. - Understanding of organisational development, management and leadership principles. **Desirable** - Knowledge of NHS commissioning, system partnership arrangements and wider legal processes relevant to mental health services. - Understanding of research methods and evaluation approaches relevant to service improvement. ### Experience **Essential** - Significant experience of managing services in a complex healthcare setting. - Substantial experience applying the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Codes of Practice in practice. - Experience of leading and managing teams, including objective setting, supervision, appraisal, learning and development, performance management and workload allocation. - Successful track record of staff, financial, performance and change management. - Significant experience of leading complex organisational change and service improvement. - Experience of developing and implementing policy, governance systems, audit programmes and quality/performance reporting frameworks. - Experience of identifying, managing and escalating legal, clinical and organisational risks. - Experience of producing high-quality reports and assurance papers for senior committees and Boards. - Evidence of building effective relationships with clinical leaders, service users, carers, partner organisations, regulators and other stakeholders. - Experience of developing and delivering role-specific training. **Desirable** - Experience of direct liaison with the Care Quality Commission in relation to Mental Health Act reviews or provider action statements. - Experience of managing Associate Hospital Managers or supporting Mental Health Act managers’ hearings and tribunals. - Experience of managing a delegated budget and delivering cost improvement requirements. - Experience of supporting quality improvement activity across clinical services. ### Qualifications **Essential** - Registered Nurse, Social Worker or Allied Health Professional with current professional registration. - Master's degree or equivalent level qualification or experience relevant to the role. **Desirable** - Master's degree or postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Law or a closely related subject. - Relevant leadership or management qualification. ### Values and Behaviours **Essential** - All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork - All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust’s expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation ### Contractual Requirements **Essential** - Able to travel frequently across Trust locations and occasionally beyond Nottinghamshire. - Able to work flexibly and, on occasion, outside normal working hours to meet service requirements and deadlines. - Willing and able to undertake any DBS check required for the post. - Maintains current professional registration throughout employment. - Complies with Trust requirements for safeguarding, infection prevention and control, data quality, equality and diversity, and sustainability. **Desirable** - A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010. ## Documents - [about the trust (pdf, 6.4mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2983) - [colleague benefits (pdf, 16.1mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2913) - [about nottinghamshire healthcare (pdf, 1.5mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?ddoc=2079) - [job description & person specification (pdf, 304.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10697674) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.