Mental Health Act Manager

Band 7

Main area

Mental Health Act

Grade

Band 7

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time hours per week

Job ref

A

Site

Bellingham House

Town

Bodmin

Salary

£47,810 - £54,710 Per Annum

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

30/11/2025 23:59

Thank you for your interest in joining us at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

We pride ourselves in striving to be an employer of choice.

Strategic Themes

Great Care

• Care based on what matters to people.
• Care provided at home or close to home.
• Improvement through learning, research and innovation.
• Prevention and alternatives to hospital.

Great Organisation

• Buildings that support health and wellbeing.
• Technology enabled care.
• Care teams are supported by responsive corporate services.
• Safe, efficient, effective and productive.

Great People

• A place people love to work and feel valued.
• Living our values with staff (all voices count).
• Attract, grow and develop talent.
• Leaders with compassion, who continuously learn and listen.

Great Partner

• Encourage and enable effective partnerships.
• Joined-up community services.
• Work with others to maximise workforce opportunities.
• Reduce our impact on the environment.

At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a 'home' office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

The successful applicant will be an NHS employee and may therefore have contact with vulnerable service users. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to take significant steps to protect the health and safety of our staff, service users and those attending our sites. Unless exempt, we encourage and support staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.

Job overview

The Mental Health Act Office Managers' role is to oversee effective systems of MHA administration are in place Trust-wide which ensure that patients' detentions are legally valid and their rights of appeal are upheld.

The role incorporates working closely with MHA administrators, providing clear and supportive leadership to the team. The role involves proactive, on-site, engagement with operational teams to ensure there is a focus on compliance with the MHA which puts the patient at the centre of the process.

Governance of the MHA is integral to the role: the MHA team undertake audits of compliance and reports findings to the Rights committee which seeks assurance that all services are committed to a process of quality assurance and improvement of MHA compliance.

This is an exciting time to joint the Trust as a MHA Office manager, particularly as we prepare for new legislation which will focus on modernising the MHA and give patients' greater choice and autonomy in their treatment and care.

Main duties of the job

As the Mental Health Act Manager, you will play a crucial role in ensuring all patients admitted under the Mental Health Act (MHA) are cared for in strict accordance with statutory legislation, the Code of Practice, National Guidelines, and regulations. You will provide expert guidance and support to clinical and non-clinical staff across all Trust services (Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Adult Community Services, and Children's Services) on the clinical application and administration of the MHA, Mental Capacity Act (MCA), and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This position involves leading the MHA administration department, developing and delivering essential training, and ensuring the Trust's policies remain compliant with evolving legislation and case law. You will be instrumental in preparing for CQC inspections and actively participating in serious incident and clinical review processes related to MHA/MCA issues.

This is a role which requires regular on-site presence at our wards in Bodmin and Redruth.

Working for our organisation

We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see 'supporting documents'.

Person specification
Education/Qualifications and Relevant Experience
Essential criteria

• Post graduate qualification in Mental Health Law

Desirable criteria

• Current professional registration – NMC, HCPC

Skills and Aptitude
Essential criteria

• Communication and presentation skills with the ability to deliver training programs to multi-disciplinary staff, departments, and services/agencies
• Ability to interpret complex legal text/documents
• Ability to work autonomously within legal frameworks and exercise responsibility for systematic governance of MHA application

Knowledge and Abilities
Essential criteria

• Detailed Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983 and Code of Practice 2015
• Detailed Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and DoLS
• Knowledge of current case law
• Knowledge of associated legislation (e.g., Use of Force Act 2018, Care Act 2014) and other essential elements of public law, including HRA 1998 and Equality Act 2010

At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:

• Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management
• Protected CPD time for registered staff
• Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff
• Leadership and Management development programmes
• Coaching and mentoring opportunities
• A full clinical induction programme for operational skills
• Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff
• A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff
• Individual professional development programmes

Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:

• Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health
• Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff
• Free DBS checks where required
• Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions
• NHS Pension Scheme
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.

The Trust reserves the right to close this advert once a sufficient number of applications have been submitted. It is encouraged that you complete the application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via email regarding interview details.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust welcomes and values individuals with lived experience of mental or physical ill health joining our workforce. We aspire to have a culture that develops, promotes and supports lived experience roles - throughout the organisation.

If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.

Any general recruitment queries, please contact our recruitment team on

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