Portsmouth Local Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, 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 Children's Board safer recruitment procedures.

Who we are

Portsmouth City Council's AMHP service provides a robust, professional and high quality 24 hour service to meet the Council's statutory duty. The service provides triage and assessment under the Mental Health Act (1983 amended 2007), Best Interest assessments and assessment and short term social work across a variety of social care teams in the City.

This is an exciting new role which provides an opportunity to gain experience across all fields of social work (on a six month rotational basis) alongside the highly specialised role of the AMHP and BIA.

What is the role?

You will be part of a dedicated (virtual) AMHP service meeting the needs of Portsmouth residents and patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital across a 24/7 rota. At least 50% of your time will be spent on AMHP work with the remainder of your time spent in one of the adult social work teams, working with vulnerable people who have complex needs. You will assess need and in partnership with the individual and their carer identify creative and personalised ways to meet those needs. You will not casehold to ensure that you have the flexibility to respond to AMHP and BIA work, both in and out of hours. You will support and advise colleagues on Mental Health and Mental Capacity Act issues.

You will work an 8 week shift pattern across a 24/7 including days, evenings, twilights, nights, weekends and bank holidays. Nights, weekends and bank holidays are worked as compulsory standby, in addition to contractual hours. You will have the flexibility in your daytime duties to take TOIL the next working day to compensate for any hours worked whilst on standby. You will receive a standby payment of £15.15 (Monday to Saturday) or £22.73 for Sundays and Bank Holidays. Typically your shift pattern will be:

• 6 weeks of days: 08.30 - 17.00

• 1 week of evenings: 15.30 - 23.00 (based in Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team)

• 1 week of twilight: 13.30 - 20.00 (based in the Hospital Social Work Team)

• Weekends: 8.30 - 23.00 on standby (typically either a Saturday or Sunday every 4 weeks)

• Bank holidays: on standby (typically 3 shifts a year)

• Nights (all days of the week): 23.30 - 08.30 on standby (typically 1 every 8 days)

What does the post offer you?

The advantages are: -

• Being part of a small, focused AMHP team that has a high profile within Portsmouth City Council

• Gaining experience of a wide range of Mental Health Act assessments as part of a committed AMHP service in an urban area

• increased level of skill as all AMHPs will be BIA

• being part of a robust BIA service

• raising the profile of Mental Health in safeguarding, children and families etc

• placement within a broad range of social care and the opportunity to add to social care resource as a specialist in Mental Health and Mental Capacity.

• The opportunity to step outside of mental health and develop and share skills and knowledge.

• Working closely with both the Crisis mental health service and the social care hospital discharge team

Who are we looking for?

You need to:

1. Be an experienced and qualified Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) and able to evidence your competency to practice in this role to be warranted by Portsmouth City Council.

2. Hold a qualification in social work i.e. Dipsw, MSc, CQSW, and CSS and have current registration with the HCPC or be a qualified nurse (or other Allied Health Professional) and hold the AMHP qualification.

3. Be able to demonstrate continual professional development especially regarding the law.

4. Bring specialist knowledge/experience of managing high risk, complex situations at short notice in the community, and have the responsibility for dynamically managing that risk and coordinating the support of community services, the police and ambulance services.

5. Be able to problem solve and advise on complex situations relating to the Mental Health Act (1983 amended 2007), the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the AMHP function. Be able to interpret the legislation guidance in accordance with the professional requirements as an Approved Mental Health professional, acting independently from the local authority or PCT in making the decision about whether or not to make application under the Mental Health Act.

6. Have excellent assessment skills and understanding of Fair Access to Care.

7. Have an up to date knowledge of social work practice and commitment to the application of the Government's agenda on personalisation.

8. Undertake Best Interest Assessments.

9. Be able to adapt to changing working environments.

10. Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Maintaining confidentiality in relation to the service user in line with local authority guidelines, and be able to make decisions about when that confidentiality needs to be breached in relation to the welfare of the service user or others.

11. Be an excellent record keeper with competent ICT skills.

12. Be a supportive team player and be willing to work flexibly to respond to the needs of the service.

13. Be confident to work using your own initiative and prioritise work and make decisions outside of normal working hours.

14. Understand safeguarding policy and its application for both children and adults

15. Understand and take account of service users diverse needs in terms of ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, spiritual needs and status of social inclusion.