Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) (Ref.4490)
- Full Time
- £40,478 - £44,539 per annum
We have two posts available in the following teams:
* 1 x East & Mid Devon AMHP Team - 37 hours per week
* 1 x North Devon AMHP Team - 37 hours per week
These posts are assigned to Devon Partnership NHS Trust within the daytime dedicated AMHP Service. This role links in with adult and children’s mental health services and is open to registered social workers, occupational therapists, mental health nurses or chartered psychologists currently approved (or eligible for approval) to practise as an AMHP.
These posts are full time, Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week (consideration will be given to part-time working and should be discussed at interview)
These posts are open to qualified AMHPs and those individuals who are eligible to be considered for approval, subject to completing the necessary re-approval portfolio process. Candidates must have the appropriate professional registration for their discipline and provide a registration number with their application. They must be able to provide evidence of their AMHP qualification and required post-qualifying AMHP refresher training as part of their application.
These posts are not open to those seeking a Trainee AMHP position or access to the AMHP training course.
Our Service
The Devon AMHP Service is recognised as a national example of good practice and has been involved in the development of the AMHP National Service Standards and other initiatives related to the role.
We are constantly seeking ways to improve our service, including how best to capture and utilise the voices of those that have experience of being assessed under the Mental Health Act and to further improve practise for the benefit of those who come into contact with our service.
We are also committed to improving the service we offer in order to help address the types of racial disparity in mental health services that were highlighted during 2018’s Review of the Mental Health Act and the subsequent White Paper on reforming the Mental Health Act (2021).
We are also committed to supporting the recommendations of Devon County Council’s Race Equality Audit.
Approved Mental Health Professionals (assigned)
The role of daytime AMHPs within Devon County Council has significantly changed in recent times. Consisting of four locally dedicated AMHP teams, with support from those AMHPs based in Adult Social Care, our AMHPs no longer carry caseloads within community teams. Instead, our AMHPs work more flexibly with internal and external partners to ensure a more robust response to those individuals who are at risk of being detained or restricted under the Mental Health Act.
Along with frontline duty, our AMHPs routinely and proactively work with crisis teams, wards, community teams, street triage, police, CAMHS and other services to ensure the most appropriate legal response.
In addition, our AMHPs will also have a small allocation of community MHA and social supervision patients with the aim of supporting those individuals and their treating teams with the management of those orders.
Professional support and on-going training
All AMHPs receive regular individual and peer group supervision and appraisal.
Teams are supported to have regular team days. Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to both their own learning and that of others.
Devon County Council also offers a programme of post-qualifying AMHP training in order to support your practice and on-going approval as an AMHP.
As a service we are keen to support colleagues to find creative and interesting ways to share specialist AMHP knowledge and support the learning of those outside our team.
About you
You will be a be a registered social worker, occupational therapist or mental health nurse with a proven commitment to professional development and experience of working with people in mental health crises. In particular, we are interested in those who are seeking to develop and improve themselves and AMHP services and are open to working flexibly and creatively where-ever possible.
You should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of co-production and a willingness to engage with experts by experience.
You should hold current AMHP approval or be prepared to submit a portfolio to be re-approved in-line with Devon County Council’s policies.
You must be able to demonstrate an excellent appreciation and understanding of the European Convention of Human Rights, be committed to the principles of mental health legislation, with a strong focus on recovery principles and awareness of the impact mental disorder can have on an individual, their family, carers and supporters. You should have demonstrable experience in statutory mental health services, with a specific focus on risk management and multi-agency working. While AMHP practise often focusses on the independence of their decision-making, we also strongly value team working and support as peers to help each other achieve the high standards that we aspire to.
For an informal discussion regarding the roles available, please contact either:
* Robert Lewis, AMHP Service Manager – 07973 526228
* For North, Caroline Skinner – North Devon AMHP Team – 07773 534459
* For East & Mid, Sylvia Fleming – East & Mid Devon AMHP Team – 07816 850784