Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)

Reading Borough Council; Reading; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

25 days holiday

On-site day nursery Kennet Day nursery

Cycle to work

Season Ticket Loan

Local discounts

Lease car salary sacrifice

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking an experienced Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) to join our daytime stand-alone AMHP Service, supporting adults in mental health crises. You will provide timely consultation, advice and assessments for Reading residents.

You will work in a small, supportive team, handle Mental Health Act assessments, compulsory admissions, guardianship applications, safeguarding, and documentation using electronic case management systems.

Qualifications

• Qualified AMHP with current approval under the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007) and AMHP Regulations 2008.
• Experience with the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, ECHR and related legislation.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team, with excellent assessment, risk management and safeguarding skills.
• Commitment to promoting human rights, dignity, respect, and social models of mental health.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate requests for Mental Health Act assessments and make independent judgments.
• Decide on applications for compulsory hospital admissions (Part 2/3) and guardianship (Section 7).
• Manage the AMHP assessment processes, including potentially distressing situations.
• Ensure safeguarding procedures and referrals are completed.
• Accurately record data related to assessments and interventions using electronic case management systems.
• Operate within statutory requirements and local policies to deliver a high-quality service.

Skills

AMHP qualification

Assessment skills

Risk management

Safeguarding experience

Education

AMHP/Approved Mental Health Professional status

Tools

Electronic case management systems

Job description

About the Role

Are you a dedicated Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) looking to make a real difference in the lives of adults experiencing mental health crises?

Our Adult Social Care team is seeking experienced and committed professionals to join our supportive and dynamic service to join our specialised daytime stand-alone AMHP Service.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

Join our small, supportive, and well-led team of experienced AMHPs, who are dedicated to fulfilling the statutory requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended in 2007) on behalf of Reading Borough Council.

We are looking for a professional with experience working with service users, carers, and families within a crisis intervention model of care. In this role, you will provide timely consultation, advice, and assessments to Reading residents experiencing a mental health crisis.

Key Responsibilities

• Mental Health Act Assessments: Evaluate requests for Mental Health Act assessments, making independent judgements while considering various external factors.
• Compulsory Admissions & Guardianship Applications: Decide on applications for compulsory hospital admissions (Part 3 or Part 2 of the Act) and guardianship (Section 7 of the Act).
• Assessment Management: Handle the process of Mental Health Act assessments, managing potentially distressing and volatile situations.
• Safeguarding: Ensure compliance with Safeguarding Adults and Children procedures, including making necessary referrals and completing Mental Capacity and/or Best Interests assessments.
• Documentation: Accurately record data related to assessments and interventions using electronic case management systems.
• Compliance & Standards: Operate within statutory requirements, adhering to local, national, and Reading Borough Council policies to deliver a high-quality service.

About You

• Qualified AMHP with current approval to practice under the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007) and AMHP Regulations 2008.
• Substantial experience working with the Mental Health Act, with a strong understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, European Convention on Human Rights, and related legislation.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team, with excellent assessment, risk management, and safeguarding skills.
• Commitment to promoting human rights, dignity, respect, and implementing social models of mental health.

Additional duties if you are a Best Interest Assessor (BIA) could be to fulfil Best Interest Assessments (BIA) when not completing Statutory AMHP duties or other partnership work with communities and our partners.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of TEAM Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our Vision

"We all want to live in a place called home, with the people and things we love, in communities we look out for each other, doing the things that matter to us."

Our Shared Purpose

"Supporting the life that matters to you"

Our Values

• Work Together as one team: work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
• Drive Efficiency: show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
• Be Ambitious: be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
• Make a Difference to Reading: maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our Offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that, working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• 25 days holiday plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years' service)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• A range of local discounts
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For a discussion about the role please contact Valbona Demiri – AMHP Team Manager - [e-mail]

Closing date: Sunday 15th November 2026

Interview date: To be confirmed

Interview setup: In person at the Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU

Visit

www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.