Job summary
- Main area
- Legal Administration
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (until 31/03/2027)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday)
- Job ref
- 383-COR-7045-26
- Employer
- Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Derwent Unit
- Town
- Chesterfield
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 08/03/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 19/03/2026
Employer heading
Mental Health Act Legislation Officer
NHS AfC: Band 3
Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.
We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Mental Health Act Legislation Officer to join our forward thinking Trust.
The successful candidate will be part of a small team responsible for the provision of Mental Health Act administration across the Trust, based at Derwent Unit, Chesterfield.
You will need to be a self-motivated individual with good knowledge of the Mental Health Act. Responsibilities include: receiving and scrutinising MHA statutory documents, arranging for amendments to be made within the legal timescale: requesting reports and organising Mental Health Tribunals, sending out section expiry reminders to clinical teams.
The candidate will need to be able to prioritise their workload, liaise with consultants, clinical teams, social services, solicitors, Care Quality commission, service users and their relatives.
The candidate will need to have excellent administrative and organisational skills, together with the ability to communicate at all levels.
Main duties of the job
To work closely with colleagues in the Mental Health Act legislation team to ensure high quality systems and procedures are in place in order to comply with the administration requirements of the MHA.
A sound knowledge and good understanding of the complexities of the MHA and ability to disseminate information appropriately within your area of responsibility.
To develop and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally.
To support and advise colleagues, patients and their nearest relatives on the MHA and associated procedures.
Working for our organisation
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
CQC rated us as 'GOOD’ overall, commenting on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.”
Benefits include:
-
Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
-
27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years’ service
-
Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
-
Generous NHS pension scheme
-
Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
-
Health service discounts and online benefits
-
Incremental pay progression
-
Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
-
Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
-
Health and wellbeing opportunities
-
Structured learning and development opportunities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Understand the Trust's obligations under the MHA
- Scrutinise section papers and ensure any rectifiable errors are completed within the specified timescale
- Ensure efficient and accurate systems are in place to manage the MHA
- Be able to provide an accessible point of contact to advise patients and colleagues on the MHA and associated legislation
- Maintain appropriate contact with internal and external agencies to ensure MHA requirements are met
- Arrange hearings for patients detained under the MHA, requesting reports, liaising with appropriate agencies and booking venues to ensure they run smoothly
- to prepare statistics in relation to MHA reporting
- to assist with the auditing of the MHA
- Use your own initiative to manage and prioritise workload within the limitation of your own knowledge
- To escalate any areas of concern in a timely manner
Person specification
Attainment and qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- Certificate in Mental Health Law
- ECDL or equivalent
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to communicate effectively and clearly, verbally and in writing
- Computer literacy and keyboard skills
- Ability to organise a varied workload against a background of frequently changing priorities and the ability to meet deadlines
- Understand the concept and importance of confidentiality
- Ability to develop effective working relationships with staff from a variety of agencies and disciplines
- Proven ability to manage your own caseload
Desirable criteria
- Used to working with the Mental Health Act and associated legislation
Knowledge and experience
Essential criteria
- Understand the essential principles and components of the Mental Health Act
- Work to deadlines and achieve the desired results
- Communicate and deliver information effectively and concisely to support a wide variety of stakeholders
- Experience of working in Mental health Act administration
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of issues concerning people with mental health problems
- In-depth knowledge of the Mental Health Act
- Experience of working within the NHS
- Ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of Mental Health Tribunals
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Christine Henson
- Job title
- Mental Health Act Legislation Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07917 461223
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