Job summary
- Main area
- Administration
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 364-A-9676
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Brockfield House
- Town
- Wickford
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 25/01/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Mental Health Act Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen at Essex University Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for a Mental Health Act Assistant.
The Mental Health Act office is responsible for ensuring that the Trust complies with Mental Health legislation. The department provides advice to professionals, service users and carers regarding the lawful application of the Mental Health Act
The Mental Health Act Assistant will support the Mental Health Act Administrators and Managers in the day to day administration of the Mental Health Act, ensuring that correct procedures have been followed accurately and on time.
No previous experience of Mental Health law is required as this is an entry level post and full training will be provided to the successful candidate. The post will be an attractive opportunity to anyone wanting to work within Mental Health Law and gain exposure to the Mental Health legislation.
The successful candidate must have experience working in an administrative/secretarial environment and have exceptional organisational and communication skills; you will need to be self-motivated, flexible and able to work within a busy team.
Comprehensive experience of working with Microsoft Packages is essential. Accuracy and attention to detail are vital to this position along with the ability to prioritise your workload.
Main duties of the job
- Responsible for the accurate administration and recording of Mental Health Act activity onto the electronic patient systems.
- To act as a point of contact for the team and deal with a variety of routine and complex correspondence on a day to day basis as well as providing administrative support to the Mental Health Act team in matters relating to the Mental Health Act and to assist in the overall efficient running of the department.
- Undertake telephone email and written communication with a wide range of clinical staff. Record details of communication in relevant files and advise the Mental Health Act team of any issues that they may need to be aware of.
- Responsible for maintaining filing systems on a daily basis.
- Open incoming mail and action as appropriate
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
ROLE SUMMARY
To ensure that the Mental Health Act administration service functionalities are as required in line with the modernisation of our current Mental Health Services in order to be safe, sound and supportive to our service users and carers.
To ensure that the Trusts’ policies and procedures comply with and are followed, within the statutory requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Producing work to a high standard and to promote quality at all times. To operate as part of a dedicated team providing cover for each other when and where necessary.
To provide administrative support to the Mental Health Act Managers, Mental Health Act Officers and Mental Health Act Senior Manager in the administration of the Mental Health Act across the Trust.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Please note that this role outline serves to provide you with an illustrative example of the duties and responsibilities you may be expected to undertake during the course of your normal duties. It is not an exhaustive list and you will therefore be required to undertake other responsibilities and duties that are considered to commensurate with the band.
- Responsible for the accurate administration and recording of Mental Health Act activity onto the electronic patient systems.
- To act as point of contact for the team and deal with a variety of routine and complex correspondence on a day to day basis as well as providing administrative support to the Mental Health Act team in matters relating to the Mental Health Act and to assist in the overall efficient running of the department.
- Undertake telephone email and written communication with a wide range of clinical staff. Record details of communication in relevant files and advise the Mental Health Act team of any issues that they may need to be aware of.
- Responsible for maintaining filing systems on daily basis.
- Open incoming mail and action as appropriate seeking guidance where necessary.
- Under the direction of the MHA Administrator undertake the printing of documentation from the MHA office printing folder.
- Under the direction of the MHA Administrator undertaken the uploading/scanning of MHA documentation to the clinical systems.
- Under the direction of the MHA Administrator/officer complete the Mental Health Review Tribunal telephone contact information sheets, meeting the required timeframes as appropriate.
- Under the direction of the MHA staff prepare section papers that need to be submitted to a solicitor in regard to a patient’s Mental Health Review Tribunal.
- Under the direction of the MHA staff undertake the archiving of detention papers.
- Attend Mental Health Act team meetings.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- IT qualification
Desirable criteria
- Qualification in Microsoft Packages
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience working with Microsoft Packages
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience working in the NHS
Skills
Essential criteria
- Good oral and written skills based on fluency on the English language
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Debbie Radley
- Job title
- Mental Health Act Senior Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07583673023
- Additional information
Available Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
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