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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health Act
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
334-NCL-8003535-MU-C
Employer
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Maudsley hospital
Town
London
Salary
£58,133 - £65,261 Per annum inclusive of HCAS
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/11/2026 23:59

Employer heading

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust logo

Mental Health Act Team Manager

NHS AfC: Band 7

 

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives  in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology  to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust. 

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

Previous applicants need not apply

This is an existing post for an experienced and charismatic leader with sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act who will be take on the overall management of a very busy Mental Health Act office and formidable staff. As a team manager you should have an in-depth understanding of the mental health law and its implementation as you are sometime the first post of call for advice from mental health professionals, nearest relatives. Due to challenges faced and the different roles and duties undertaken by the MHAO staff, the role requires someone who is disciplined, well organised and has the ability to engage in difficult conversations.

The team has recently adopted a new way of working following the centralisation of the four local offices into one location at the Maudsley hospital. The team comprises one Band 7, two Band 6s, four Band 5s and eight Band 4s covering the newly created functional workstreams responsible for receiving scrutinise patients detentions and consent, co-ordinating mental health tribunal and Associate Managers hearings. You will directly line‑manage team leaders, who in turn manage Band 5/4 coordinators and you will be working alongside the Trust MCA lead and a B7 Service Level Agreement (SLA) support manager.

Main duties of the job

This role demands excellent verbal and written communication skills, as you will regularly engage with service users, carers, professionals, and external agencies, including solicitors and tribunal members. You will also contribute to the day‑to‑day supervision and appraisal of staff, as well as lead on the investigation of complaints and incidents.

You will need strong leadership abilities to effectively manage and support a team of experienced Mental Health Act Coordinators. As this is a high‑performing team, you will be expected to maintain a positive, well‑organised environment that supports both staff and the individuals who use our services, along with their carers and nearest relatives.

A solid understanding of clinical information systems is essential. You should be confident using databases, diaries, MHA deadline‑tracking systems, spreadsheets, and Microsoft Office applications. The ability to interpret data and reports is a key requirement, as you will be responsible for providing each directorate with accurate updates on their compliance with the Mental Health Act.

Working for our organisation

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The job description and person specification attached under documentation describes the role in detail.

 

Please note - Previous applicants need not apply

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Current NMC First Level Nurse registration or degree level qualification in law or a health related or social sciences discipline
  • Evidence of post graduate specialist training relevant to the role.
Desirable criteria
  • Post graduate qualification in a mental health law related course

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant clinical or management experience
  • Providing professional supervision to experienced staff and resolving departmental and cross organisational disputes
  • Project management skills
  • Analysing complex set of data and accurately reporting findings
  • Administrating and co-ordinating the application and documentation of the MHA
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of participating in and managing change and overseeing on going service development.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Mental Health legislation
  • QI methodology, root cause analysis, process mapping & redesign techniques
  • Requirements of NHS trusts, NHSE/I, CQC in mental health act compliance
  • Knowledge of current reforms proposed in the MHA and implications for MH service providers
  • Ability to use Trust information systems and IT packages
Desirable criteria
  • Facilitate involvement of service users, carers and other professionals in audits

Employer certification / accreditation badges

London Healthy workplaceCapital Nurse, LondonNo smoking policyLondon Living Wage is a voluntary commitment made by employers, who can become accredited with the Living Wage FoundationImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Stonewall Silver 2022Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Armed Forces Covenant Bronze AwardHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Bernie Pickerall
Job title
SLA support manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07794067459
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