Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda - one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We're immensely proud of our flexible working options.

Our mission is to make the best and most sustainable use of all resources available to the adult, their families and carers; to ensure they have access to information and tools to enable them to live healthily and independently for as long as possible; and, to exercise choice and control over their lives, while ensuring safety, dignity and quality of life for all the adults we work with, including those in need of long term care.

Job Purpose
ECC Adult Social Care, through effective practice, is moving towards a transformational shift from a focus on long-term care support, to a model with four key principles: - prevention; early intervention; enablement and safeguarding.
The Approved Mental Health Practitioner Service has a unique position in ensuring compliance with the statutory functions imposed upon the Local Authority by the Mental Health Act. The service recently returned to ECC management and is responsible for undertaking and delivering the AMHP rota. The service will undertake statutory assessments and initial enquiries in line with statutory duties. Essex County Council is keen to develop the service to ensure that it is effective in meeting the changing needs of the population
The AMHP service is seeking a senior approved mental health professional who is passionate in demonstrating expert and effective practice ability in complex situations often in pressurized environments with the ability to think proactively and creatively on their feet to resolve crisis situations with the support of an experienced team. The Senior Approved Mental Health Professional will manage the workload to the service and support colleagues with complex cases whilst mitigating against high levels of risk. The successful candidate will be working collaboratively with statutory and non-statutory/voluntary agencies ensuring a cohesive approach to crisis mental health social work.
Significant experience of mental health social work, modelling good practice, triaging assessments, prioritizing responses, direction to others and providing expert advice and guidance is essential in this role. The role will include undertaking mental Health Act Assessments and also days coordinating the service in conjunction with another senior membesr of the team. There will also be opportunity to develop areas of interest. Given the nature of the role this post is subject to flexible working arrangements

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification and hold the AMHP qualification.
  
• Evidence of continuing professional development and demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards eg professional capability framework, knowledge and skills statement..
• Knowledge of relevant legislation including~: Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007) and its interface with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Care Act 2014, Human Rights Act 1998 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Case law and relevant codes of practice. The ability to interpret this legislation and apply it to practice while adhering to the Local Authority's statutory responsibilities.
• Significant experience of mental health work, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant legislation, regulations and guidance with post qualifying experience of working as an AMHP.
• Experience of mentoring both newly qualified and experienced staff and being a subject matter expert in professional practice.
• Experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members and/or carers and other multi-agency professionals.
• Experience of developing strong relationships with partners for the effective delivery of the AMHP service.
• Proven track record of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention, with an understanding of the financial implications of care packages commissioned.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0333 013 5888.