Mental Health Act Administrator

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic team as an MHA administrator at a leading healthcare provider where you'll manage critical mental health administration tasks. This role demands excellent administrative skills and knowledge of mental health legislation to ensure patient rights and provide necessary support. You'll work collaboratively within the healthcare system, training others, and contributing to governance and compliance activities amidst evolving mental health care frameworks.

Qualifications

• Experience with the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Office experience and team collaboration skills.
• Ability to handle complex information sensitively.

Responsibilities

• Administer all aspects of the Mental Health Act.
• Ensure correct documentation for MHA detentions.
• Support patients and relatives with MHA queries.

Skills

Communication

Administration

Teamwork

Decision Making

Education

NVQ level 3/4 in administration

Certificate in Mental Health Law

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Location: Exeter, EX2 5AF
Salary: £31049.00 to £37796.00
Date posted: 9th July 2025
Closing date: 24th July 2025

Thepost holder would occupy a specialised administration role within the Trustwhich involves the administration of all aspects of the Mental Health Act.Excellent administration and communication skills are essential to the role.The role of the MHA administrator is important in terms of ensuring thatpatients are legally detained and treated in accordance with the Mental HealthAct and the Code of Practice. The role involves responding to calls frompatients and their family/carers in respect of MHA detention and their rightsof appeal etc.

The postholder will work with a range of professionals involvedin the care and treatment of patients i.e. consultant psychiatrists, nursingand social work staff, Approved Mental Health Professionals etc. Theadministration team also works closely with the First Tier Tribunal Service,the Ministry of Justice, patients solicitors and the advocacy service.

The position is based inthe Exeter office, but all team members work flexibly at times of annual leave,sickness etc providing administrative cover to all the MHA administrationoffices within Devon and Torbay (North Devon District Hospital, Langdon Hospital,Torbay and South Devon hospital). This is often achieved by shared email accessrather than necessitating a physical presence in other offices.

The post holder will participatein governance activities,by providing relevant data and undertaking audit, evaluation and research andthe delivery of MHA trainingfor staff.

Main duties of the job

Thepost holder will receive and scrutinise MHA detention papers to ensure thesehave been completed correctly and are legally valid and will enter these ontothe patients' electronic record so that clinical staff can access informationthat is up to date. The administrator will ensure the patient and NearestRelative (with the patients' permission) is informed of their right of appealagainst their detention. The administrator will ensure the necessary paperworkis completed for the First Tier Tribunal service to hear the patients appeal.

Therole is both interesting and varied with a great deal of learning involved. MHAtraining is available, and administrators will shadow and be trained on thejob.There is also a possibility of gaining a qualification in MentalHealth Law.

WhilstMHA training will be provided to successful applicants, an understanding ofmental health/mental disorder is important plus a strong administrativebackground, good communication skills and the ability to work cohesively aspart of a small busy team.

Thisis an exciting time to become an MHA administrator, the new Mental Health Billwill be introduced in the near future and will make significant changes to theway in which assessment, treatment and care is provided to patients.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

This specialised role is to manage all aspects of the Mental Health Act (MHA) Administration for the Devon Partnership NHS Trust within a defined geographical area, however there will need to be flexibility in providing cover to other MHA offices at times when required,

The post holder will be required to process all MHA and MCA enquiries and the subsequent handling of information concerning individuals and their representatives (patients and their supporters including nearest relative, clinicians, legal representatives and/or advocates, the Hospital Managers, Tribunals Office, Care Quality Commission and Ministry of Justice (where appropriate).

The post holder will be expected to use their initiative to make decisions and give advice on all aspects of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act as a major responsibility of the role.

The post holder has responsibility for the timely and accurate creation, maintenance and storage of paper and electronic records and to maintain compliance with the Mental Health and Mental Capacity Acts, Trust Policy, General Data Protection Regulations, the Freedom of Information Act, confidentiality and any other relevant statutory requirements.

The post holder will be expected to participate in core clinical governance activities, by providing relevant data for audit, evaluation and research and the delivery of MHA and MCA training for all levels of staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication & Working Relationships

The post holder will be required to:

• Communicate complex and sensitive information with a range of staff, patients and carers
• Deal with significant barriers to communications. For example when dealing with patients rights or liaison with relatives
• Communicate across internal and external organisation(s), demonstrating high levels of negotiating and influencing skills, for example with patients and carers Medical / Clinical staff, Approved Mental Health Practitioners, Hospital Managers, Solicitors, Tribunal Office, Care Quality Commission, Ministry of Justice
• Build and maintain effective team working relationships with all the above groups

Planning & Organisation

• The post holder will be responsible for receiving, scrutinising and processing MHA paperwork, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard) paperwork and assessments for the LPS.
• Plan, organise and administer MHA Tribunals and Hospital Managers hearings, informing staff of the need to produce reports and ensuring their timely distribution
• To ensure the provision of Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act advice during normal working hours.
• To plan and prioritise their workload (delegate tasks and provide day to day supervision to the MHA administrative assistant where appropriate)
• Keep accurate records and inform clinicians of impending deadlines
• Plan and organise visits to wards / units to check MHA/MCA paperwork to ensure compliance with legislation
• Plan and deliver training to all levels of clinical staff in accordance with the Training Programme
• To facilitate CQC visits to inpatient wards / units to ensure compliance with statutory requirements
• To react to rapidly changing situations, interruptions and unforeseen events and ensure a timely and accurate response

Responsibility for Judgement and Analysis

The post holder will:

1. The post holder will be responsible for receiving, scrutinising and processing MHA (and other related paperwork where appropriate, i.e. Guardianship, Deprivation of and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) on behalf of the Trust.

2. Be required to investigate a variety of issues and propose solutions when dealing with complex enquiries.

3. Be able to understand interpret and apply the relevant legislation and current case law to the Acts

4. To have specialist detailed knowledge in the application of the MHA/ MCA and DOLS

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment & Therapy

• To provide advice, support and information to patients, relatives / carers and clinicians relating to the MHA/MCA/DOLS.
• To visit patients when necessary to ensure that patients are properly informed of their rights, have information about appeal processes etc
• To provide assistance when necessary to patients applying for a Hospital Managers Hearings or Mental Health Tribunal within the legal time frame

Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility

The post holder will be:

• Expected to participate in core clinical governance activities by providing relevant data for audit, evaluation and research.
• Contribute to the development of Trust policies and local protocols and oversee their implementation.
• Ensure adherence to MHA/MCA/DOLS policies across the Trust through monitoring of systems and processes in place.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources

The post holder will be expected to use Agresso for the ordering of office equipment/stationery subject to managerial authorisation

Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management

1. The post holder will provide day to day supervision of the MHA Admin Assistant (where appropriate)

2. The post holder will deliver training on the MHA/MCA and DOLS to a wide range of staff and clinicians

Information Resources & Administrative Duties

• Ensure that patients are legally detained/ deprived of their liberty under the appropriate legislative framework
• To ensure that patients are informed of their rights and provided with appropriate written information about the effects of any statutory framework and appeal processes
• Scrutinise, monitor and administer the legal paperwork involved with the detention or deprivation of patients under the MHA/MCA/DOLS.
• To manage confidential and sensitive information
• Maintain up to date and accurate patient files relating to MHA/MCA/DOLS paperwork.
• Ensure MHA Hospital Managers files are up to date and send new information to Managers when needed.
• Work to and advise individuals of the information governance process when accessing records.
• Contribute to statutory reports ensuring they are managed in accordance with the requirements of the MHA/MCA/DOLS
• Assist other localities in administering the Mental Health Act as directed by the MHA Manager/Senior MHA Administrator
• Assist with the development and maintenance of the IT based resource library for the Mental Health Act.
• To be the first point of contact and support for staff with any queries/concerns regarding the MHA/MCA/DOLS
• Provide advice to clinicians and other clinical staff on procedures which support compliance with the Acts as required, taking account of any changes in legislation.
• To attend relevant meetings, seminars and conferences to maintain currency with MHA/MCA/DOLS legislation.
• To organise Managers and Tribunal Hearings including dates and venues, informing staff who are required to produce reports, collating the relevant reports, and other necessary documentation including liaison with the Tribunals Office.
• Arrange legal representation for patients and liaison with Solicitors when required
• To liaise with MHA Hospital Managers to arrange ward visits and to contact the ward manager to give details of visit
• To plan and visit all inpatient wards / units to scrutinise ward files, making sure that all relevant paperwork is up to date and to check the legality of the paperwork making necessary corrections where appropriate
• In conjunction with the Mental Health Act Manager to plan and deliver MHA/MCA training as required
• To contribute to the development of administrative protocols and MHA policies
• To undertake any other responsibilities appropriate to the grade as directed by the Mental Health Legislation Professional Lead

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

• Attend relevant meetings, seminars and conferences to keep up to date with legislation and training.
• Attend MHA Hospital Managers hearings in the capacity of procedural advisor and ensure the Hearings satisfy the legal requirements
• Liaise with the CQC to ensure the processes for Second Opinion Approved Doctors (SOADs) is followed

Person Specification

Experience

• Demonstrable Involvement in, or knowledge of application and administration of the Mental Health Act 1983 and of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
• Good working knowledge of IT MS Office Programmes
• Experience of working with mental health, learning disability, neurodiversity
• Office experience and working as part of a small busy team

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3/4 in administration, similar administration qualification or equivalent experience
• Certificate in Mental Health Law
• Ability to impart complex information to service users detained under the MHA (1983)
• Deal with difficult situations and communicate sensitive information
• Deliver training and presentations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Mental Health Legislation Professional Lead