Professional Lead for MCA, DOLS & All Age Safeguarding Advisor

Job overview

Please note, at this stage, the role is open only to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.

We are looking for a Professional Lead to be the strategic voice for the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Safeguarding across our Trust.

The post holder will ensure that Mental Capacity Act legislation is applied within the trusts adult and young persons services; with the interface of the Mental Health Act and safeguarding being clearly understood.

The Professional Lead will ensure that Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards are implemented safely and effectively in line with protecting human rights, and quality standard expectations as part of safe and effective care.

The role will also ensure take the Professional Lead should Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) come into force thus ensuring that the transition from DoLS to LPS is safe and effective with quality and deliverable measurables.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will also provide safeguarding advice, training and support to staff as part of the wider safeguarding team delivery objectives.
• The post holder will be responsible for developing and setting best practice standards and service delivery relating to the MCA and associated legislation.
• The post holder will set strategic plans relating to compliance with the MCA and LPS and be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of those plans to ensure constant service improvement, and development through audit and staff feedback, whilst ensuring contract key performance indicators are met.
• Through audit and feedback, you will highlight to the Trust the extent to which practitioners are compliant with the use of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), by evidencing assurance levels.
• The post holder will be able to confidentially articulate and discuss the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act interface and application of legislation.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• The post holder will be line-managed by the Head of Safeguarding
• As a highly experienced practitioner in applying MCA into practice the post holder will demonstrate expert knowledge about MCA and case law as they will be providing expert guidance to teams across the Trust about the application of MCA into their practice.

Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification

We are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under-represented communities for our more senior roles, like this one.