Role Responsibility
This is an exciting opportunity for x2 Approved Mental Health Professionals to join the Kent AMHP Service. Dedicated AMHPs have a designated lead area within the service of either shift coordination or quality assurance. Shift coordinators will triage referrals on behalf of the service and organise the workload for daytime shifts. AMHPs with the quality assurance lead role will provide practice supervision, practice education, quality audits and direct observations for AMHPs within the team.
We welcome applications from social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, and psychologists who are qualified AMHPs or about to qualify.
Our AMHPs provide a high-quality, responsive 24-hour service to people with mental health needs requiring assessment under the Mental Health Act. Working in partnership with stakeholders and other agencies, our AMHPs ensure the service users in greatest need are appropriately supported and made safe whilst maintaining their rights
You will:
1. Coordinate and undertake Mental Health Act assessments in a variety of settings, including hospital and community settings
2. Liaise with partners and stakeholders, such as health colleagues and the police
3. Possess a current AMHP warrant
4. Have a substantial working knowledge of all relevant Mental Health Act and Social Care legislation and Codes of Practice.
5. Have a robust knowledge of mental health conditions and treatments, and approaches to social work intervention. A good understanding of the Care Programme Approach.
6. The ability to work flexibly with limited resources and within a multi-disciplinary environment whilst ensuring that the underpinning principles of the law are maintained and legalities adhered to.
7. Specialize in either a Quality Lead or Shift Co-ordination Lead role
8. Good computer literacy.
9. Excellent report writing, interpersonal skills and negotiation skills.
10. Ability to travel across a wide geographical area in a timely and flexible manner at various times of the day is essential.
11. A flexible approach to working hours and location.
12. The ability to work on your own initiative whist being a team player
Our offer
13. Starting salary £45,672 to £51,489 per annum
14. 33% shift enhancement for out of hours working (8pm to 8am Monday to Thursday, 5pm Friday to 8am Monday and any bank holidays)
15. Opportunity for flexible working patterns
16. An opportunity to earn additional payment for assessments in addition to your normal working hours
17. Relocation packages up to a maximum of £8,000
18. Full induction and comprehensive professional learning and development
19. Annual leave allowance of 30 days
20. Access to the Kent Academy for learning, practice development, innovation and training.
21. A minimum of 5 days training each year, three of which are AMHP specific
22. Excellent local government pension scheme.
Market premium payments
23. £3,000 upon appointment for employees new to Kent County Council
24. £2,000 market premium payment paid upon re-approving as an AMHP.
Full time dedicated AMHPs work three 11.5 hour shifts per week covering days, nights, and weekends. We aim to balance the allocation of night and weekend shifts to individual needs and preferences ensuring a fair distribution of these shifts amongst the team.
The AMHP service offers flexible working agreements in line with our Work Smart flexible working procedure.
This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and a relevant professional qualification (Social Work, Nursing or Occupational Therapy) as well as up to date registration with the appropriate professional body.
This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.