Job Summary
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 MHA administration across the Trust, based at Kingsway House, Derby or Derwent Unit Chesterfield.
You will need to be a self‑motivated individual with good knowledge of the MHA. Responsibilities include: receiving and scrutinising Mental Health 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.
Please note, if a high volume of applications is received, this advert may close early so please ensure you submit your application without delay.
Interviews will be held face to face at Kingsway Hospital or Derwent Unit.
Responsibilities
* Understand the Trust's obligations under the MHA
* Scrutinise section papers and ensure any rectifiable error are undertaken 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
* Prepare statistics in relation to MHA reporting
* Assist with auditing of the MHA
* Use your own initiative to manage and prioritise workload within the limitation of your own knowledge
* Escalate any areas of concern in a timely manner
About the Trust
Our purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.
We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people's own homes and via virtual consultations.
During the pandemic response we have led the implementation of public vaccination centres in collaboration with partners across health and social care.
Details
Date posted: 10 October 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Job locations: Kingsway Hospital or Derwent Unit Chesterfield, Kingsway Derby, DE22 3LZ
Person Specification
Essential
* Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
Desirable
* Certificate in Mental Health Law or equivalent
* ECDL or equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
* 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
* 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
Legal and Sponsorship
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Application
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.
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