Senior Mental Health Act Services Officer

Senior Mental Health Act Services Officer

To provide guidance to staff to enable statutory compliance with the Mental Health Act (MHA).

To be responsible for the scheduling and delivery of Mental Health Act training in collaboration with the Legal Education Advisor.

To actively participate in MHA quality assurance work to support statutory compliance.

To develop, maintain up to date specialist knowledge of the Mental Health Act in order that the post holder can routinely manage, co-ordinate, provide advice on and maintain compliance from Medical Staff and Clinicians in the administration of the Mental Health Act.

To provide specialist Mental Health Act advice to Associate Hospital Managers and support the MHA Services Manager with applicable work associated to their role.

• To enable staff to comply with the MHA through robust response to direct queries.
• To be accountable and deliver effective and timely scrutiny on medical recommendations, ensuring MHA compliance.
• In line with the Integrated Legal Team training plan and in collaboration with the Legal Education Advisor, develop and deliver high quality relevant training and guidance for staff and partner organisations, as appropriate on application of the Mental Health Act and associated legislation.
• The ability to coordinate and deliver targeted meaningful "bite size" MHA training to wards and units within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, working with the Legal Education Advisor, Deputy MHA Manager and MHA Service officers.
• Maintain accurate training attendance and feedback records.
• Maintain accurate scrutiny of medical recommendations and feedback records.
• Provide accurate, up to date and clear guidance to ensure Mental Health Act statutory compliance.
• Take responsibility for self-directed learning and development to maintain knowledge in the Mental Health Act, law and associated guidance, regulation and case law.
• Support implementation of relevant legislative change.
• Undertake project work as agreed with the MHA Services Manager.
• Responsible for ordering items as required using the Trust ordering system.
• Attend the Associate Hospital Manager Forums / training sessions

We're a large mental health service providing services in Hampshire and Sussex.

We want patients and staff to recommend our organisation as a place where they would be happy for their friends and family to be treated.

We're an organisation which is committed to improving patient care. We are always trying to improve. We listen to and learn from feedback. We carry out healthcare research and put it into practice. We develop new ways of providing services in partnership with others and help staff develop through education and training. We also believe it's important to learn from when things go wrong and to encourage staff to speak out about anything they are concerned about.

We encourage flexible working
. We know that a positive work/ life balance brings about huge health-related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, home-working, part time hours, flexible start/ finish times or anything else. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

The post holder is responsible for providing specialist guidance, advice and training to ensure Trust-wide statutory compliance with the Mental Health Act (MHA). This includes coordinating and delivering high-quality MHA training in collaboration with the Legal Education Advisor, responding to staff queries, and conducting effective, timely scrutiny of medical recommendations. The role requires maintaining up-to-date specialist knowledge of the MHA and associated legislation, supporting the implementation of legislative changes, and contributing to ongoing quality assurance, audit and project work.

The post holder will work closely with Associate Hospital Managers, Medical Staff, Clinicians and colleagues across the Integrated Legal Team, providing clear communication on complex legal matters and producing accurate records, feedback and reports as required. They will also contribute to service improvement, maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, support staff supervision processes, and ensure all information handling complies with data protection requirements.

The role involves delivering both face-to-face and virtual training, travelling across Trust sites when required, and upholding the Trusts values in promoting equality, diversity, safeguarding and high standards of professional behaviour.

• A sound educational background with good analytical and communication skills (written and verbal)
• An in-depth knowledge of the Mental Health Act, associated legislation and guidance and its application in practice
• Ability to respond to verbal or written query from clinical teams. To use knowledge and experience to discuss and advise clinical…