Head Of Mental Health Legislation

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to provide strategic oversight of mental health legislation across the Trust. The post holder will lead the Mental Health Legislation service, ensuring compliance with the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Human Rights legislation and associated legal frameworks, while safeguarding the rights, dignity and wellbeing of service users. Working closely with senior leaders, clinicians, regulators and external partners, you will provide expert advice, influence organisational strategy, develop policy, oversee audits and assurance processes, and support services to implement legislation effectively. You will lead on governance, risk management, quality improvement and regulatory compliance, ensuring the Trust remains responsive to legislative and policy developments. The role includes responsibility for education and training programmes, implementation of legislative changes, oversight of Associate Hospital Managers, and leadership of the Mental Health Legislation Team. You will provide assurance to the Trust Board, drive continuous improvement and support the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care. This high-profile role requires extensive knowledge of mental health law, strong leadership and governance expertise, and the ability to work collaboratively across complex healthcare environments to deliver the highest standards of lawful and ethical practice.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Mental Health Legislation will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Trust’s Mental Health Legislation service, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements whilst safeguarding the rights of service users. The post holder will act as the Trust’s expert advisor on the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and associated legislation, leading policy development, governance, audit, training and quality improvement activities. Working closely with senior leaders, clinical teams, regulators and external partners, the role will drive continuous improvement, provide assurance to the Trust Board and support the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care across all services. The successful candidate will also lead and develop a specialist legislation team, oversee Mental Health Act governance processes, and ensure emerging legislative changes are successfully implemented across the organisation.

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons. We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire’s biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health. We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity. The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team. The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.

Details

Pay scheme: Agenda for changeBand: Band 8bSalary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)Contract: PermanentWorking pattern: Full-timeReference number: 186-921-26-CSJob locations: Duncan Macmillan House, Porchester Rd, Mapperley, NG3 6AA, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

To be the Trust expert and lead on all matters and functions relating to mental health legislation (MHL), including the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) and the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), to ensure that the Trust operates in accordance with the requirements of both legislations, including associated Codes of Practice, Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards in relation to the Mental Health Act, Trust Policies and Procedures and accepted good practice. To improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the Trusts compliance with the mental health legislation across its services. To ensure that service users rights are protected and that due legal safeguards are in operation. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £20.00 (standard) or £41.00 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £15 per year applies.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Essential: Expert, current knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, associated Codes of Practice and related mental health legislation.
• Essential: In-depth knowledge of human rights law, including the Human Rights Act 1998, as it applies to mental health services.
• Essential: Detailed knowledge of legal proceedings and challenges affecting implementation of mental health legislation, including the Court of Protection and First-tier Tribunal.
• Essential: Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the developing Liberty Protection Safeguards framework.
• Essential: Detailed understanding of Care Quality Commission standards and regulatory expectations relating to the Mental Health Act.
• Essential: Knowledge of national and local health policy and the implications of legislative and policy change for NHS services.
• Essential: Knowledge of clinical governance, risk management, audit, quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Essential: Understanding of organisational development, management and leadership principles.
• Desirable: Knowledge of NHS commissioning, system partnership arrangements and wider legal processes relevant to mental health services.
• Desirable: Understanding of research methods and evaluation approaches relevant to service improvement.

Experience

• Essential: Significant experience of managing services in a complex healthcare setting.
• Essential: Substantial experience applying the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Codes of Practice in practice.
• Essential: Experience of leading and managing teams, including objective setting, supervision, appraisal, learning and development, performance management and workload allocation.
• Essential: Successful track record of staff, financial, performance and change management. Significant experience of leading complex organisational change and service improvement.
• Essential: Experience of developing and implementing policy, governance systems, audit programmes and quality/performance reporting frameworks.
• Essential: Experience of identifying, managing and escalating legal, clinical and organisational risks.
• Essential: Experience of producing high-quality reports and assurance papers for senior committees and Boards.
• Essential: Evidence of building effective relationships with clinical leaders, service users, carers, partner organisations, regulators and other stakeholders.
• Essential: Experience of developing and delivering role-specific training.
• Desirable: Experience of direct liaison with the Care Quality Commission in relation to Mental Health Act reviews or provider action statements.
• Desirable: Experience of managing Associate Hospital Managers or supporting Mental Health Act managers’ hearings and tribunals.
• Desirable: Experience of managing a delegated budget and delivering cost improvement requirements.
• Desirable: Experience of supporting quality improvement activity across clinical services.

Values and Behaviours

• Essential: All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork.
• Essential: All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust’s expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation.

Qualifications

• Essential: Registered Nurse, Social Worker or Allied Health Professional with current professional registration.
• Essential: Master’s degree or equivalent level qualification or experience relevant to the role.
• Desirable: Master’s degree or postgraduate

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