Mental Health Act Associate Hospital Manager

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a panel of Associate Hospital Managers (AHM) who sit on hearings to review patients continued detention under the MHA subject to statutory criteria. Effective participation will require preparatory reading. Subject to suitable competency, there will be a requirement to chair hearings.

The Trust pays AHMs £80 per session (up to 4 hours irrespective of the numbers of cases within that session) and a fee is also paid for attending training and meetings. In cases of face-to-face hearings, the AHMs can claim mileage/travel expenses.

You will not have employee status however will be classed as a ‘worker’ with the Trust.

Panels are held remotely via Microsoft Teams, or in person at Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury and St. George’s Hospital, Stafford, between 9.00am and 5.00pm.   Panel members are usually asked to sit on hearings in their local home county area, however, may be asked to cover a hearing in the wider Trust area.  It is therefore essential that candidates are IT literate, have their own IT equipment (i.e. computer/laptop/tablet), and are able to satisfy the travel requirements of the role.

Panels are often arranged with only a week’s notice, so MHA AHMs do need to be fairly flexible.

AHMs cannot be existing officers or employees of the Trust.

We are also particularly keen to hear from younger individuals (18 years and over) and those from BME and LGBT backgrounds as these groups have been under-represented on panels in the past.

We therefore welcome applicants from these groups in order to better represent our local communities. Selection will be on the basis of merit.

Main duties of the job

To sit on MHA Hospital Managers Appeal and Review Hearings to consider evidence relating to patients' detentions under the MHA, establishing whether statutory criteria is met for continued detention and whether the patient should be discharged from detention.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Attend MHA Hospital Managers Appeal and Review Hearings.  These may be held remotely via MS Teams or face to face on Trust premises.
• Conduct reviews in accordance with the requirements of the MHA and accompanying Code of Practice, the Trust’s Handbook for MHA Hospital Managers, and the MHA Hospital Managers Standard Operating Procedure.

Liaise with the Mental Health Legislation Department (MHLD) staff regarding attendance at hearings.

• Ensure prompt arrival for all hearings, allowing time to read all necessary reports prior to the start of the hearing.
• Ensure grounds for detaining a patient are valid and relevant. Act independently, reaching sound judgements based solely upon the evidence and properly recording decisions as required.
• At all times observe confidentiality of Trust and patient information.