We’re looking for a number of Mental Health Act Managers, who have a unique and very important role in the care of service users who are subject to the Mental Health Act, either detained in hospital or subject to a Community Treatment Order (CTO).
Mental Health Act Managers are volunteers, appointed to this role because of their commitment, insight, empathy and understanding of how mental ill health affects daily living. We welcome applications from former service users and also from carers. However, current employees of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust are not permitted to carry out this role.
This is a hugely significant role, which is interesting but also demanding and challenging. Panels of three Mental Health Act Managers attend statutory hearings where service users can appeal against their detention or CTO. They also review renewals of detentions and CTOs. The panel receives reports from the doctor and other clinicians involved in the service user’s care. It also meets with the service user, who may be supported by an advocate or solicitor. If the panel considers that the criteria for detention or CTO are not met, it has the power to discharge the service user from detention or their CTO.
From time to time the Trust needs to appoint a number of Mental Health Act Managers from across the spectrum of our communities to ensure that they can understand and respond to the diverse needs of our service users and use this knowledge to objectively inform decisions.
If you are an organised, articulate person with a broad experience of life, who can work collaboratively, work within specified procedures and is passionate about delivering high quality mental health services, then this rewarding role may be worth considering.
You will need to be available attend a hearing at least twenty times a year. Hearings are normally arranged 2-3 weeks in advance and can take place at any time during working hours. They typically last for 2 hours. They take place either face-to-face in one of the Trust’s hospitals or community bases or by video, depending on the service user’s preference.
The Trust will support you by providing a comprehensive induction, as well as training and development for the role, a formal appraisal process, mentoring and professional review. You will be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in relation to the role and an attendance allowance is payable per hearing.
If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Philip Southam at philip.southam@ghc.nhs.uk or on 01452 894553.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 October.
