Mental Health Legislation Lead

NHS; Warrington; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a highly motivated Mental Health Lead to oversee compliance with the Mental Health Act. The role includes developing policies, providing expert advice and training across the organization, and undertaking audits for legislative adherence. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and substantial experience in mental health law. This permanent, full-time position is based in Warrington and offers a competitive salary package in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• 3 years experience working within Mental Health Law / Mental Capacity Law.
• IMHAP Member for ongoing professional standards.
• Knowledge of mental health legislation in practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of policy regarding the Mental Health Act.
• Provide expert advice and training to clinical staff.
• Undertake audits to ensure compliance with mental health legislation.

Skills

Ability to critically analyse queries and reports and respond in kind

Excellent communication, listening, interpersonal skills

Proven organisational and problem-solving skills

Ability to prioritise and manage time effectively

Education

1st Level Degree (e.g. BA or BSc)

Professional health care qualification (e.g. Nurse, social worker)

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)

Job description

Job Summary

The Trust has a duty and a desire to deliver the Mental Health Act to the highest possible standard with the aim of keeping patients safe. To do this the Trust needs to ensure that its staff have a sound fundamental knowledge of the legislation and that they have access to specialist knowledge and support to help them when they are faced with complex situations.

The Trust is looking to recruit a highly motivated and knowledgeable mental health lead who will have a special focus on the Mental Health Act.

About Us

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist inpatient and community mental health, learning disabilities, addiction and acquired brain injury services for the people of Liverpool, Sefton and Kirkby, Merseyside. We also provide community physical health services in Liverpool, Sefton, secure mental health services for the North West of England, the West Midlands and Wales and specialist learning disability services across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

Our ambition is to deliver perfect care to become the world’s leading organisation in holistic health and well‑being.

Mersey Care’s vision and values of Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm and Support (CARES) drive our organisation and the way we work together to deliver services. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate, during recruitment and any subsequent employment with the Trust, that their behaviour supports our values.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Main Duties of the Job

• Lead the development and implementation of policy and procedure.
• Prepare for the implementation of any new legislation/case law.
• Provide bespoke and specialist advice and training to clinicians and managers across the Trust.
• Undertake audits to identify any gaps in the delivery of the Mental Health Act.
• Link with external agencies to ensure that partnership working is as robust as possible.
• Prepare reports to Trust committees on the Trust's adherence to the Mental Health Act.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead in providing advice, scrutiny and audit of the implementation of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation for the Trust.
• Keep the Trust informed of emerging developments in this area, supporting other leads to ensure the Trust supports principles underpinning the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
• Be responsible for the overall professional management of the Mental Health Act.
• Interpret national policy and legislation in relation to a range of policy areas and to be responsible for the policy development of the service in regard to these areas.
• Develop and deliver training strategies for staff across the organisation that is specific to their job roles.
• Provide practical advice to all staff in relation to promoting best practice in line with key Mental Health legislation and professional and organisational responsibilities.
• Support and give expert practical advice on decision making in this area for complex cases.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• 1st Level Degree (e.g. BA or BSc)
• 3 years experience in working within Mental Health Law / Mental Capacity Law
• Continual updating of statutory and common law knowledge in relation to mental health and mental capacity law management
• IMHAP Member

Qualifications (Desirable)

• ECDL IT Qualification
• Nurse management qualification.
• Adverse incident training
• Professional health care qualification (eg Nurse, social worker etc)

Knowledge (Essential)

• In‑depth knowledge and understanding of Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, their associated Codes of Practice and their applications
• Confidentiality, dissemination of information.
• Awareness and understanding of key Government policy and legislation in relation to both the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act and Court of Protection proceedings
• Word processing and inhouse patient database
• Chairing meetings
• Proven ability in high level report writing
• Up to date knowledge (to a level able to advise others) of case‑law and statutory law
• Proven ability to liaise with and manage various internal and external disciplines/agencies in order to ensure joint‑agency service delivery.
• Demonstrable experience of project management.
• Experience of undertaking research and/or audit and presenting data in a variety of formats.

Knowledge (Desirable)

• Good knowledge of database and spreadsheet packages.
• Proven knowledge of medical terminology and clinical practice
• 3 years teaching experience within the mental health setting

Skills (Essential)

• Ability to critically analyse queries and reports and respond in kind
• Ability to make judgments as to what are and are not lawful actions and what to do should breaches occur.
• Ability to write and implement policies, and procedures consistent with legal, national and local guidelines and protocols
• Experience in recruiting and interviewing staff etc
• Experience in having had a senior role within a team
• Excellent language skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent communication, listening, interpersonal skills
• Proven organisational and problem‑solving skills
• To be highly motivated
• Proven ability to prioritise and manage time of own workload and that of staff effectively
• Ability to build good working relationships and liaise with staff at all levels.
• IT competence
• Confident telephone manner and customer care skills.
• Ability to deal with difficult people in difficult situations (including good negotiation skills)
• To be decisive and able to maintain a calm approach.
• To be empathic/sensitive and of good integrity
• To be enthusiastic, positive and flexible.

Skills (Desirable)

• Experience in line management

Values (Essential)

• Continuous Improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Support
• High professional standards
• Responsive to service users
• Engaging leadership style
• Strong customer service belief
• Transparency and honesty
• Discreet
• Change oriented

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.

Employer Details

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Hollins Park House

Hollins Park Hospital

Winwick

WA2 8WA

Website: https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/

Employment Details

Details Date Posted: 11 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 350‑TWS7494176

Job locations: Hollins Park House, Hollins Park Hospital, Winwick, WA2 8WA