Mental Health Act Professional Lead

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

The Devon Partnership NHS Trust is seeking a Mental Health Act Manager to oversee and ensure compliance with the Mental Health Act across the Trust. This senior leadership role involves guiding a team and influencing policy direction, focusing on quality assurance in mental health care. Candidates should be qualified professionals with significant experience in mental health settings, as well as expertise in legal frameworks such as the MHA and MCA.

Qualifications

• Professional registration required.
• Extensive experience in mental health settings expected.
• Experience in governance and audit leadership.

Responsibilities

• Oversee MHA administration and ensure compliance.
• Lead training on MHA and MCA.
• Provide advice on mental health law.

Skills

Ability to convey and interpret complex information

Ability to analyse data

Education

Registered professional (e.g., RMN, Social Worker, Psychologist, OT)

Qualified AMHP or BIA or extensive relevant experience

LLM Mental Health Law

Job description

Location: Exeter, EX2 5AF
Salary: £53755.00 to £60504.00
Date posted: 6th June 2025
Closing date: 30th June 2025

The Mental Health Act 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, plus working with directorates to ensure there is a focus on compliance with the MHA which puts 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 Operational and Scrutiny Committees which seeks to assure that all directorates are committed to a process of quality assurance and improvement of MHA compliance.

This is an exciting time to build a career as a MHA manager as we anticipate new legislation which will focus on modernising the MHA and give patients' greater choice and autonomy in their treatment and care.

The role also includes senior leadership of MARAC, MAPPA and Prevent agendas

Main duties of the job

As MHA/MCA Professional Lead you will be a senior leader with opportunities to improve our clinical practice in the operational delivery of both the MHA and MCA, MAPPA, MARAC and Prevent

Supported by and leading a team of MHA Administrators and an MCA professional lead you will work closely with our Legal Professional Lead and the Deputy Director; Safeguarding and Public Protection with opportunities to influence policy direction and to work across agencies to ensure the human rights of our patients are supported.

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

The full job description is attached to the advert.

The successful applicant will seek:

• To support the Deputy Director; Safeguarding & Public Protection in providing a lead on the implementation and administration of the Mental Health Act (MHA) and Mental Capacity Act (MCA) including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), Human Rights Act and associated legislation and case law across all care groups and services across the Trust.
• To support the Deputy Director; Safeguarding & Public Protection in providing leadership on the new requirements of the Care Act, MHA and Mental Capacity Act and associated Codes of Practice that relate to safeguarding.
• To be responsible for the production, review and implementation of all Trust policies relating to the MHA, MCA, including DOLS and other associated legislation.
• To ensure lawful practice is maintained in line with the relevant Codes of Practice by communication and negotiation with professional groups and Directorates.
• To identify the need, plan and deliver mental health law training programmes across the Trust for all relevant staff groups including medical, nursing and the Hospital Managers to meet all legal requirements of the MHA, MCA, DOLS and other associated legislation
• To provide advice and guidance to staff regarding the application and implementation of the MHA, MCA, and associated legislation to help prevent unlawful detention and treatment and to protect the Trust from possible litigation and to ensure that patients are supported in exercising their rights.
• To be the Single Point of Contact for the Trust for MAPPA, MARAC and Prevent and ensure that all clinicians access appropriate training on MAPPA, MARAC and Prevent
• To develop and provide Operational leadership on implementation of associated training strategies and reports for MHA, MCA, Prevent, MARAC and MAPPA
• To provide advice and direction on strategic issues in respect of MAPPA, MARAC and Prevent informing senior managers and working with service managers and practitioners in the Trust, and also colleagues in the Local Authorities, and voluntary sector to maintain a community wide focus
• To represent the Trust in multi-agency forums regarding MARAC, MAPPA and Prevent agendas and ensure the Trust is engaged proactively in these agendas

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to convey and interpret complex information
• Ability to analyse data

Qualifications

• Registered professional - eg RMN, Social Worker, Psychologist, OT - must have professional registration - such as HCPC registered
• Must be qualified AMHP or BIA or have extensive relevant experience and LLM in MH Law
• LLM Mental Health Law
• Practical experience of delivery of training on MHA and MCA

Experience

• Significant experience of working as a clinician in a mental health setting
• Experience of management and supervision of staff
• Experience of leading audits and undertaking governance
• Experience of delivery of relevant training about legal frameworks
• Qualification in delivery of training

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.

Deputy Director; Safeguarding & Public Protection