Band 4 Mental Health Legislation Assistant - Oleaster

Employer information

Please note that this post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Job overview

With significant changes on the horizon to the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, we are looking to appoint a Mental Health Legislation Assistant to support the delivery of an effective and responsive Mental Health Legislation Service within BSMHFT.

Based within the Mental Health Legislation Office at Oleaster, you will receive, scrutinise and process documentation relating to patients' admission, treatment and care under the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, helping to ensure legal requirements and statutory deadlines are met. While knowledge of mental health legislation would be advantageous, full training can be provided.

We are seeking an experienced administrator who is organised, adaptable and able to manage competing priorities. You will have excellent communication skills, strong attention to detail and confidence using Microsoft 365 applications, particularly Excel, Word, Teams, Copilot and PowerPoint.

The successful candidate will handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion, work collaboratively with a wide range of professionals and external agencies, and be willing to travel across Birmingham and Solihull to provide Trust-wide support when required.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop specialist knowledge, contribute to patient rights and legal compliance, and play a key role during an exciting period of legislative change. Excellent development opportunities are available.

Main duties of the job

As a Mental Health Legislation Assistant, you will act as the first point of contact for patients, visitors and professionals, dealing with enquiries maintaining confidentiality at all times. You will support the administration of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act by receiving, scrutinising and processing legal documentation, ensuring accuracy, compliance and adherence to statutory deadlines. You will support Mental Health Tribunals, Hospital Managers' Hearings, renewals and reviews by coordinating correspondence, arranging hearings, monitoring deadlines and maintaining accurate records. The role includes monitoring and liaising with clinical teams and external agencies, identifying documentation errors or omissions and escalating concerns appropriately.

You will maintain patient records, produce activity reports, manage case files and provide administrative support to the Mental Health Legislation Administrator and wider department. The role includes providing cross-cover during periods of absence, supporting new staff, maintaining records, and participating in service improvements. You will be required to comply with Trust policies, undertake mandatory training and maintain up-to-date knowledge through continuing professional development and regular appraisal.

Working for our organisation

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people's lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Person specification

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential criteria

• GCSE English & Maths Grade C or above or an equivalent qualification
• Willingness to undertake training to gain certificate in Mental Health Law and Practice

Desirable criteria

• Certificate in Mental Health Law and Practice

KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE / SKILLS

Essential criteria

• Proficient in Microsoft Office - Word
• Excellent written and spoken English & Excellent accuracy and numeric skills.
• Experience of working to deadlines & Ability to prioritise and organise workload
• Ability to work equally well as an effective team member and independently with minimum supervision
• Proficient in Microsoft Office - Excel
• Proficient in Microsoft Office - Outlook and Teams
• Ability to produce electronic reports
• A good knowledge and experience of the Mental Health Act & procedures
• Ability to work within established procedures and guidelines.
• Ability to travel across the sites.
• A well-motivated, reliable and approachable individual with a confident and mature attitude, able to work independently while demonstrating empathy, patience, tact, diplomacy, and flexibility when supporting service users and colleagues.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge or experience of RIO, or other patient administration systems or Experience of using a NHS database
• A good knowledge and experience of the Mental Health Act & procedures
• Previous experience as an MH Legislation Assistant
• Ability to communicate appropriately with people who have had or are recovering from mental health problems.
• Knowledge of Data Protection Act/Freedom of information
• Ability to deal with difficult people and situations.

Additional employer information

Our Trust is committed to treating individuals fairly and ensuring they have the same opportunities to fulfil their potential, even if this means doing things differently for different people sometimes. We are working hard to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity within Birmingham and Solihull and that our services meet the needs of all diverse service users and carers.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of our safe recruitment practice pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. As part of the selection process you may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, however all cases of criminal record history are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Please note, if applicable for your role you will be required to cover the cost of your DBS certificate. This will be deducted from your salary over 3 months.

All successful applicants will be required to complete the Trust's induction programme. The Fundamental (Statutory and Mandatory) training will be in an e-learning format. You will be required to complete training modules online (approx. 9-14 hours depending on post) by the end of your second week with us.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process we may contact you via email to advise you of the interview details. Please ensure you access your email account from which you applied regularly once the position has closed. Our selection process may involve more than one interview or assessment.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, please ensure that you check if this role meets the eligibility criteria for sponsorship. Non UK /Republic of Ireland candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The minimum salary threshold for a Health and Social Care is £25,000 and for the Skilled Worker route is £38,700. If the starting salary for this role is below this, we will not be able to provide sponsorship.

Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Relocation expenses may be reimbursed subject to eligibility. The policy provides for reimbursement up to £8,000.

Please note - if you are applying for a role within Police custody, due to Police Vetting requirements you must have been a UK resident for the last years.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

We highly recommend you submit your application as soon as possible, this post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 312.4KB)
• Person Specification (PDF, 312.4KB)
• Everyday Behaviours Guide (PDF, 159.9KB)
• Recruitment Fraud and Fees Notice (PDF, 280.6KB)
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement (PDF, 272.6KB)
• Recruitment Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement (PDF, 288.6KB)