Mental Health Act Lead | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 06 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £55,690 - £62,682 Per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 05 April 2026 |
| Location: | Wickford, SS11 7FE |
| Company: | Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7851121/364-A-9832 |
Summary
Are you passionate about Mental Health legislation and looking for an exciting leadership role.
We are seeking an experienced person to join us as the Head of Mental Health Act. This is a unique opportunity to provide strategic leadership for the Trust in all matters relating to Mental Health Act law, associated legislation and aspects of MCA. Ensuring we are at the forefront of good practice and safeguarding the rights of our patients and lead the committed Mental Health Act team.
We are looking for someone with extensive knowledge and experience in Mental Health Act legislation and working practices across various mental health settings. Significant experience in administering the Mental Health Act with multi-professional teams is essential.
The successful candidate will have a strong operational and strategic background, a proven track record in delivering transformational change, and exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills. You will inspire, motivate, and influence at all levels, winning hearts and minds with your drive and determination to succeed in our progressive organisation and partnerships.
If you are a proven inspirational leader committed to excellence and want to be part of a great team, we would love to hear from you.
· Provide strategic leadership for the Trust in all matters relating to the Mental Health Act, ensuring that the Trust is at the forefront of good practice and safeguarding the rights of patients who are detained under the Mental Health Act, ensuring at all times that the Trust follows the Code of Practice and any guidance provided by the Care Quality Commission.
· Have the overall responsibility and accountability for the management of the Trust’s Mental Health Act Administration Team, ensuring that highly specialist knowledge is provided on the application and administration of the Mental Health Act, 1983.
· Provide support to the Trust’s Associate Hospital Manager Chairman in relation to the Associate Hospital Managers (AHMs). Ensure that the Trust has a robust system for the recruitment, retention and management of Associate Hospital Managers to perform to a high standard and are trained and supported in their role to carry out the delegated functions of the Board of Directors in line with the Mental Health Act 1983.
· Responsible for ensuring that Mental Health Act expertise and knowledge is developed within the Trust and that all Trust staff are informed and aware of new developments within the Mental Health Act and recent case law.
· Take the lead in relation to Care Quality Commission MHA Focused visits to the Trust.
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
· Provide strong leadership and management to the Trust wide Mental Health Act Administration Team, managing staff and financial resources as appropriate
· Responsible for the professional development of staff within the Trust wide Mental Health Act Administration Team.
· Responsible for ensuring that the Mental Health Act is administered within statutory guidelines and meets internal and external targets.
· Take the lead with senior members of staff from the Mental Health Act Administration Team that clinical staff are able to access an appropriate level of legal advice when they need to.
· Responsible for Human Resource issues within the Mental Health Act Administration Team as and when they arise, taking necessary action when required.
· Responsible for ensuring all staff within the Mental Health Act Administration Team have regular supervision from line management and annual appraisals, as well as being compliant with the Trust’s mandatory training requirements.
· Responsible for leading the selection and recruitment process for Mental Health Act Administration staff.
· Maintain a strong relationship with external bodies including the CQC, Mental Health Tribunal Office, Commissioning Groups, Department of Health, Ministry of Justice and Police.
· Accountable for the management of the Mental Health Act Administration budget including authorised signatory for both pay and non-pay following up areas of concern with Finance Department.
· Responsibility for budget setting making decisions to move funds within the budget to ensure resources are allocated appropriately including cost efficiency savings.
· Take the lead for ensuring that the Trust provides Hearing rooms that meeting the Tribunal room’s specification in conjunction with the Estates Department.
· Responsible for setting and monitoring Mental Health Act standards to ensure that the Mental Health Act Administration Team works effectively and that best practices developed, and make decisions to alter or amend the standards when necessary.
· Accountable for ensuring that relevant issues relating to the Mental Health Act are brought to the attention of the Executive Nurse.
· Responsible for identifying and managing any actual or potential legal risks to the Trust relating to the Mental Health Act and taking the decision to involve the Trust solicitors as appropriate to the particular issue.
· Offer support information and advice on all issues relating to the Mental Health Act both verbally and in writing to a wide range of audiences.
· Provide support to the Executive Nurse and the Associate Hospital Manager Chairman to enable them to carry out their delegated responsibilities of the Board of Directors.
· Ensure that there are robust systems in place for the Mental Health Act Associate Hospital Managers to provide a high quality service for Appeals and Renewal Hearings, ensuring that they are appropriately trained and their performance monitored.
· To maintain own knowledge base and keep up to date with changing requirements and legislation in relation to the Mental Health Act.
· To manage highly complex legal Mental Health Act issues when these require a higher level of expertise than can be dealt with in the Mental Health Act Administration Office, and to decide when it is appropriate to refer the matter to the Trust Solicitors.
· Provide highly specialist advice and information to all staff within the Trust in relation to the Mental Health Act.
· Ensure that there is an appropriate level of Mental Health Act e-learning training available to all staff.
· Ensure patients’ rights are protected by having systems in place to ensure that appeals against detention are heard in a timely manner reviewing systems and if indicated making a decision to implement changes when indicated to ensure the systems function correctly.
· To act as lead Mental Health Act Officer between the Trust and authorised Trust Solicitor deciding when legal advice should be sought regarding Mental Health Act practice issues.
· Take the lead in monitoring the practice of visiting patients legal representatives taking the decision where issues of concern arise to discuss with NHS Fraud, Executive Nurse and if required, reporting the matter to the appropriate legal monitoring body.
· To develop and implement a Mental Health Act policy and any other policies which impact across all areas within the Trust in conjunction with Mental Health Act training.
· Take the lead for identifying, developing and managing formal Service Level Agreements within external customers, i.e. acute hospital trusts.
· Take responsibility for new legislation, guidance and case law relating to the application of statute in Trust services and consider how this may impact on future policy and practice implementing any changes that may be required.
· Monitor Mental Health Act compliance identifying areas of good practice and non-compliance taking any recommended corrective measures as necessary.
· Prepare any discussion papers when a practice change has been developed and present to the appropriate forums discussing the issues and negotiating any planned changes where required.
· Analyse data in relation to Mental Health Act detentions for presentation to the Trust Board and any other forums.
· Ensure that reports to Trust Board and Committees are appropriate and meaningful.
· Take the lead for ensuring that any issues raised by the Care Quality Commission Mental Health Act Inspection Team are responded to and prepare the final action plans for approval by the Executive Nurse.
· Attend the Trust Mental Health Act & Safeguarding Committee and any other forums required.
· Oversee visits to the Trust from the Care Quality Commission ensuring arrangements are in place prior to the visit and preparation of the Trust response to the visits.
· Analyse reports from the Care Quality Commission highlighting any trends or concerns and present these to the appropriate forums.
· To meet regularly with the Associate Hospital Manager Chairman to discuss any Mental Health Act practice issues in relation to Associate Hospital Managers and any other areas pertaining to the Mental Health Act.
· Take the lead for the Mental Health Act Administration Office in deciding which areas of the Mental Health Act need to be audited based on risks highlighted by the Care Quality Commission inspections, Mental Health Act monitoring and any other monitoring which highlights a particular area of concern or a failure to meet the standards set.
This advert closes on Thursday 19 Mar 2026