Associate Hospital Manager

Bradford District Care Trust; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A community health organization is seeking Associate Hospital Managers to engage in volunteer roles ensuring compliance with the Mental Health Act. This position requires a commitment of 1-3 days per month, with full training provided. Responsibilities include sitting on review panels, making decisions based on the law, and ensuring fair procedures. Ideal candidates will possess strong decision-making and communication skills, along with empathy. This role plays a crucial part in supporting mental health services in the local community.

Benefits

Full training provided

Access to online/in-person training

Qualifications

• Understanding of the Code of Practice related to Mental Health.
• Ability to act with respect and empathy.
• Commitment of 1-3 days per month for panel duties.

Responsibilities

• Work with agreed Mental Health Act procedures.
• Sit on review panels and ensure fair application of procedures.
• Listen to participants in review meetings and question appropriately.

Skills

Knowledge of Mental Health Act procedures

Strong decision-making skills

Effective communication

Empathy and respect

Job description

Overview

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust provide award winning mental health, learning disability, community health services, and community children’s services, that support our communities throughout their lives.

Our health care services cover all ages, so if you live in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale or Craven, you may come into contact with one of our teams at some point in your life.

Opportunity

A new opportunity has arisen for individuals living within the BDCFT local community (Bradford and Craven) to join our team of hospital managers. Under Section 23 of the Mental Health Act 1983 a patient may apply for a review of their detention or community treatment order.

In addition to this the hospital managers must undertake a review following the renewal/extension of a detention in hospital or community treatment order. The decision is made by a panel of 3 hospital managers.

Mental Health Legislation states that this duty cannot be carried out by employees of the Care Trust, however the legislation permits the engagement of volunteers to carry out the required functions of hospital managers.

The voluntary position requires a commitment of between 1 and 3 days per month. Expenses can be claimed on a monthly basis. Full training is offered before any panel duties are carried out. In addition, our hospital managers have access to a wide range of online and in-person training to further reinforce their knowledge.

Associate Hospital Managers have a central role in operating the provisions of the Mental Health Act and they have the key responsibility for seeing that the requirements of the Act are followed.

Section 23 of the Mental Health Act gives Associate Hospital Managers (the Care Trust, who is responsible for the operation of the Act) the power to discharge an unrestricted patient from detention. The power to discharge is exercised on behalf of the Trust by a review panel consisting of three Associate Hospital Managers.

Responsibilities

The Post Holder will be expected to:

• Work with agreed Mental Health Act procedures
• Gain knowledge of the Code of Practice and ensure compliance with this
• Sit on review panels adopting and applying a procedure which is fair and reasonable
• Receive reports in advance of the review meeting, to read and digest
• Listen to and actively question the patient, Responsible Clinician, Care Co-ordinator, Social Worker or Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN), nurse and any other appropriate personnel at the review meeting
• Make rational decisions based on information given, properly directing themselves as to the law

Values

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values:

• We Care – We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
• We Listen – We understand people’s views and respond to their individual needs
• We Deliver – We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners

We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

Additional Information

The Trust reserves the right to close this position early if a significant number of applications are received.

Contact

For further details / informal visits contact:
Name: Teresa O'Keefe
Job title: Mental Health Act Advisor
Email address: [e-mail]
Telephone number: 07801 405 880

If Teresa is not available, please contact: Simon Binns, Mental Health Legislation Lead, [e-mail]