Job Introduction
Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) and Best Interests Assessor
Salary: Band 12 - £50,787 to £54,999 per annum plus 7.5% shift enhancement
The Role
You will be part of a busy but dedicated AMHP service meeting the needs of Portsmouth residents across a 24/7 rota. Your time will be shared between being a duty AMHP and undertaking Best Interests Assessments in response to requests under Depravation of Liberty Safeguards. You will assess need and in partnership with individuals, care homes and hospitals, identify less restrictive ways of meeting those needs. To ensure that you have flexibility to respond to AMHP and BIA work, in and out of hours, you will not have your own caseload. You will also support and advise colleagues on Mental Health and Mental Capacity Act issues in both Adult and Children Services.
We currently operate a 9-week shift pattern across 24/7 including days, evenings, night shifts and bank holidays. Weekends and Bank Holidays are worked as compulsory standby, in addition to contractual hours. The rota pattern is subject to periodic review and may change over time. You will have the flexibility in your daytime duties to take TOIL to compensate for any hours worked on Standby. You will receive a standby payment per shift when working weekends and bank holidays.
Currently there will be a duty AMHP expected to cover the following shifts:
Day shifts 8.30am - 5.00pm, Late shifts 11.00am - 7.00pm, Nights 6.00pm - 2.00am, followed by standby shift 2:00am - 8:00am.
There is a requirement for the stand-alone team to cover bank holiday shifts which are shared amongst the team. These are worked on standby. Weekends are worked on standby in addition to the working week with the support of a small bank team. There are 3 x 8 hour shifts on each weekend day.
What you'll need to succeed
To be successful you need to have a qualification in social work and be registered with Social Work England or be a qualified nurse (or other Allied Health Professional). You need to be a qualified Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) with experience as/or a newly qualified as AMHP with the ability to evidence competency to practice in this role. You will be a practising Best Interest Assessor with the ability to evidence qualifications, as well as have the ability to demonstrate continual professional development.
You will need to demonstrate specialist knowledge/experience of managing high risk, complex situations and have the ability to manage that risk and coordinate the support of community services. Resilient and flexible you will be able to manage your own workload. You will be a supportive team player with the ability to problem solve and advise on complex situations relating to relevant legislation. You will have excellent assessment skills and an up to date knowledge of social work practice.
Please read the job profile for the full details of this role
About Portsmouth City Council
What we can offer you:
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk, children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Adults Board safer recruitment procedures.
Closing: 19 March 2025
Application process
Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.
We are a disability confident employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible and welcome applications from all areas of society.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
We will email applicants from time to time; please ensure you check e-mail folders as sometimes our e-mails may go into spam/junk folders.
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616800.
