Mental Health Act Assistant

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Essex University Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for a Mental Health Act Assistant.

The Mental Health Act office is responsible for ensuring that the Trust complies with Mental Health legislation. The department provides advice to professionals, service users and carers regarding the lawful application of the Mental Health Act

The Mental Health Act Assistant will support the Mental Health Act Administrators and Managers in the day to day administration of the Mental Health Act, ensuring that correct procedures have been followed accurately and on time.

No previous experience of Mental Health law is required as this is an entry level post and full training will be provided to the successful candidate. The post will be an attractive opportunity to anyone wanting to work within Mental Health Law and gain exposure to the Mental Health legislation.

The successful candidate must have experience working in an administrative/secretarial environment and have exceptional organisational and communication skills; you will need to be self-motivated, flexible and able to work within a busy team.

Comprehensive experience of working with Microsoft Packages is essential.  Accuracy and attention to detail are vital to this position along with the ability to prioritise your workload.

Main duties of the job

• Responsible for the accurate administration and recording of Mental Health Act activity onto the electronic patient systems.
• To act as a point of contact for the team and deal with a variety of routine and complex correspondence on a day to day basis as well as providing administrative support to the Mental Health Act team in matters relating to the Mental Health Act and to assist in the overall efficient running of the department.
• Undertake telephone email and written communication with a wide range of clinical staff.  Record details of communication in relevant files and advise the Mental Health Act team of any issues that they may need to be aware of.
• Responsible for maintaining filing systems on a daily basis.
• Open incoming mail and action as appropriate

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

ROLE SUMMARY

To ensure that the Mental Health Act administration service functionalities are as required in line with the modernisation of our current Mental Health Services in order to be safe, sound and supportive to our service users and carers.

To ensure that the Trusts’ policies and procedures comply with and are followed, within the statutory requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Producing work to a high standard and to promote quality at all times. To operate as part of a dedicated team providing cover for each other when and where necessary.

To provide administrative support to the Mental Health Act Managers, Mental Health Act Officers and Mental Health Act Senior Manager in the administration of the Mental Health Act across the Trust.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Please note that this role outline serves to provide you with an illustrative example of the duties and responsibilities you may be expected to undertake during the course of your normal duties.  It is not an exhaustive list and you will therefore be required to undertake other responsibilities and duties that are considered to commensurate with the band.

• Responsible for the accurate administration and recording of Mental Health Act activity onto the electronic patient systems.
• To act as point of contact for the team and deal with a variety of routine and complex correspondence on a day to day basis as well as providing administrative support to the Mental Health Act team in matters relating to the Mental Health Act and to assist in the overall efficient running of the department.
• Undertake telephone email and written communication with a wide range of clinical staff.  Record details of communication in relevant files and advise the Mental Health Act team of any issues that they may need to be aware of.
• Responsible for maintaining filing systems on daily basis.
• Open incoming mail and action as appropriate seeking guidance where necessary.
• Under the direction of the MHA Administrator undertake the printing of documentation from the MHA office printing folder.
• Under the direction of the MHA Administrator undertaken the uploading/scanning of MHA documentation to the clinical systems.
• Under the direction of the MHA Administrator/officer complete the Mental Health Review Tribunal telephone contact information sheets, meeting the required timeframes as appropriate.
• Under the direction of the MHA staff prepare section papers that need to be submitted to a solicitor in regard to a patient’s Mental Health Review Tribunal.
• Under the direction of the MHA staff undertake the archiving of detention papers.
• Attend Mental Health Act team meetings.