Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust has a well-established community links. We are committed to providing quality and specialist care to our service users

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust are excited to announce that we have a vacancy for a permanent Band 4, Mental Health Legislation Administrator, working in the Mental Health Legislation Office, based at Goodmayes Hospital ( hours per week). After training there will be the opportunity to work both at home and in the office each week.

The Mental Health Legislation office is a specialist team who are responsible for ensuring the Mental Health Act, MCA/DoLs is delivered across the Trust effectively and within guidelines of good practice.

The role of the MH Legislation Administrator is to assist with the day to day functioning of the team to ensure it meets Trust responsibilities.

The post-holder should be a highly motivated person who has excellent written and verbal skills and attention to detail is paramount. Ideally the candidate would have a sound working knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983 or is prepared to acquire such knowledge. The role will require someone who can confidently support the MH Legislation Deputy Manager and the MH legislation Mangers to ensure the highest of compliance to Mental Health Act and relevant legislation, including working in accordance with the Code of Practice. Previous NHS experience would be an advantage.

Main duties of the job

- To work closely with the MH Legislation Manager(s) by providing IT, statistical and other support to the role

- To provide a high quality administrative and support service to the MH Legislation Managers and clinical teams involved in MHA and DoLS processes.

-To maintain efficient data systems for MHA and DoLS client records by creating, maintaining, filing, reporting, archiving records

- To maintain admin system which include section databases and reports

- Have day-to-day responsibility for administrative tasks, including diarising, typing letters and official documents, organising own workload

Working for our organisation

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust.All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes.The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,551 to a maximum of £5,735).

COVID-19 Vaccination

We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

1. To contribute to the efficient running of the office including answering the phone and 

dealing with enquiries from visitors to the department

2. To provide basic advice on use of the MHA seeking guidance from the MH Legislation Manager(s) or MH Law Manager as necessary

3. To prepare and maintain case record files for sectioned patients

4. To scrutinise MHA documentation, identifying any errors in the lawfulness of completion

and getting this corrected, liaising with the MH Legislation Manager(s) as necessary

5. To send statutory rights leaflets and other information to detained and CTO patients

6. To attend regular team meetings.

7. To assist the MH Legislation Manager(s) on occasions where the Care Quality Commission attend the inpatient wards by providing files for inspectors, obtaining patient details or statistics

and other tasks as necessary 

8. To co-ordinate the tribunal appeals process liaising with professionals ( Responsible

Clinician, Social Workers (Care Co-ordinators), nurses, tribunal staff, etc.) ensuring that

any issues are raised with the MH Legislation Managers

9. To co-ordinate the Hospital Managers appeals and review process liaising with the

Associate Hospital Managers and staff as necessary and raising any issues with the

MH Legislation Manager(s)

10 To maintain the MHA Office Hearings Calendar and Databases

assist the MH Law Manager in the maintenance of a full range of MHA policies,

including monitoring review dates, re-formatting to revised Trust templates, suggesting

amendments as necessary

observe the office environment ensuring that health and safety, fire regulations etc.

are maintained and any issues brought to the attention of the MH Legislation Manager(s)/MH Law Manager

work closely with the MH Law Manager and MH Legislation Manager(s) by providing IT, statistical and other support to the role

 14. To provide a high quality administrative and support service to the MH Legislation Managers

and clinical teams involved in the DoLS/LPS processes.

15. To maintain efficient data systems for DoLS/LPS client records by creating, maintaining,

filing, reporting, archiving records

16. Keep a careful watch on time- lines of expiry dates, late reporting, responses and outcomes.

17. Have day-to-day responsibility for administrative tasks, including diarising, typing letters

 and official documents, organising own workload

Front of House Responsibilities

1 To maintain a telephone enquiries service for Trust staff and outside callers solicitors,

tribunal staff, CQC staff, MoJ

greet visitors to the office members of staff, members of the tribunal, solicitors,

patients and relatives and ensure that they are dealt with appropriately

Computer/Administration

1 To ensure MHA data is input accurately onto Rio and other IT systems to allow for accurate reporting of data and that issues and suggestions for system improvement are made to the MHA team

2 To prepare statistical data from RIO, Datix or elsewhere as requested by the MH Legislation team

Communication

1 To liaise with tribunal staff and professionals within and outside the Trust to ensure

the effective running of the tribunal appeals system

liaise with Associate Hospital Managers and staff and professionals within and outside

the Trust to ensure the effective running of the Hospital Managers appeals and review system

3 To handle general enquiries within the MH Legislation Office and maintain an accurate

information service to staff on the MHA

Specific Tasks directly related to the post:

1 Provide advice on the use of the MHA

2 Scrutinise MHA documentation

3 Prepare and send MHA letters to Patients and others

4 Co-ordinate the tribunal process

5 Arrange and co-ordinate Hospital Managers appeals

6 Maintain statistics and provide on request

7 Contribute to maintenance and development of MHA Policies.

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

NVQ L2 Equivalent literacy and numeracy

Desirable criteria

Certificate

Essential

Essential criteria

Demonstration of Trust Values

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of Trust Values

Desirable

Essential criteria

GCSE / MHA Certificate

Desirable criteria

Certificates and knowledge

Essential

Essential criteria

Admin experience

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and understanding

Desirable

Essential criteria

Previous MHA / NHS / Health experience

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and understanding

Essential

Essential criteria

Awareness of NHS priorities

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and understanding

Desirable

Essential criteria

Knowledge of MHA and related legislation

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and understanding

Essential

Essential criteria

Ability to use IT systems / electronic databases

Desirable criteria

Knowledge an understanding

Desirable

Essential criteria

Experience of Rio EDMS's

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and understanding

Essential

Essential criteria

Travel effectively throughout the Trust

Desirable criteria

Ability to utilisise public / private transport

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.