AMHP Senior Social Worker in Colchester

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Essex County Council's dedicated Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) Service is undergoing an exciting period of growth and transformation, and we are seeking experienced and motivated professionals to join our dynamic and supportive team.

Operating within a countywide hub-and-spoke model, the service plays a critical role in delivering high-quality Mental Health Act assessments and interventions for Essex residents. Significant investment has enabled the expansion of our daytime AMHP provision, and we are recruiting six new AMHP posts to help shape the future of the service.

As an AMHP Senior Social Worker, you will work within a fast-paced environment, providing professional leadership, coordinating complex assessments, and contributing to the continued development of an innovative and responsive service.

Working Pattern

This role offers a 37-hour condensed working week across four days, promoting a positive work-life balance. Part-time applicants can also be considered (pay will be pro rata'd in line with agreed hours). The service operates on a seven-day rota (excluding public holidays), including one weekend in four and two late shifts per month FTE equivalent. Shift patterns are:

• 09:00 - 19:00 (Assessing)
• 08:00 - 19:00 (Co-ordinating)
• 13:00 - 22:00 (Late shift)

Although these are the standard working arrangements, there may be occasions when flexibility is required to meet the needs of the service. There is an expectation that successful candidates will be based within a dedicated AMHP Hub base at Danbury, Chelmsford when undertaking coordination duties and will be able to travel across Essex as required.

About the Service

The AMHP Service accepts referrals seven days a week between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Outside of these hours, and public holidays the service is supported by the Essex Emergency Duty Service (EDS), ensuring a seamless countywide response to urgent mental health needs. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking service that is investing in its workforce and committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for people experiencing mental health crises.

The Role

The Approved Mental Health Professional Service has a unique position in ensuring compliance with the statutory functions imposed upon the Local Authority by the Mental Health Act. The service will be responsible for delivering the AMHP rota. The service will undertake statutory assessments, triaging initial enquiries in line with statutory duties.

As a Senior Social Worker, you will be passionate and experienced in demonstrating expert and effective practice in complex situations often in pressurized environments. You will be able to manage workloads and support colleagues with complex cases, with an ability to mitigate high levels of risk. You will work collaboratively with statutory and non-statutory/voluntary agencies ensuring a joined-up approach.

You will have significant experience of social work, modelling good practice, triaging mental health act referrals, prioritizing responses, giving direction to others and providing expert advice and guidance.

Additionally, you will be responsible for:

• Providing supervision, specialist advice and professional expertise for AMHPs contributing to the development of practice standards.
• Accountable for assessments you undertake under the Mental Health Act.
• Working within the statutory legal framework, policy and guidance and determining when the threshold for statutory intervention has been reached and to carry out and manage the process of MHA assessments, identifying least restrictive options and acting as an autonomous professional consistent with legal and statutory obligations.
• Managing a complex workload, maintaining accurate and timely data, reports and presentations as required.
• Carrying out, coordinating and managing the process of Mental Health Act assessments, consistent with legal and statutory obligations working flexibly and at times outside the core operating hours of the team in accordance with demand.
• Conducting assessments under the Mental Health Act 1983 and plan responses which safeguard vulnerable adults, including intervention as required that may be beyond normal operating hours.
• Working collaboratively with the deputy team manager to coordinate, triage and allocate the incoming referrals to the service supporting and directing the wider AMHPs on the rota and assisting to bring their work to a satisfactory conclusion.
• Building strong effective working relationships across the Council, with partners and members of voluntary agencies.
• Delivering a high level of expertise in particular areas of practice and interest and lead on those areas.

Why Join Us?

The AMHPs within Essex are fully committed to striving for the best outcome possible for those whom they assess but critically supportive of each other. When undertaking AMHP duties you will have access to the regular support of experienced AMHPs, Deputy Team Managers and Team Managers.

You will join a knowledgeable and supportive team, who are proud of creating an inclusive environment where we build each other up. And, with access to a range of training and development opportunities to empower you through our award-winning Essex Social Care Academy along with flexible working options, you can make your career work for you.

Being an AMHP Social Worker in Adult Social Care can be both challenging and rewarding.

About you

To apply, you should be a qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration and an Approved Mental Health Professional Mental Health Act 1983 as recognised by ECC. You'll bring significant experience, modelling good practice and providing advice and guidance in complex situations. We're also looking for your ability to mentor both newly qualified and experienced team members. As a subject matter expert in the mental health act, you should have a comprehensive understanding of current legislation, regulations and guidance.

With experience of collaborative working, we're looking for your ability to develop strong relationships with partner agencies and the local community to provide a supportive framework for vulnerable people.

You’ll also bring:

• Evidence of continuing professional development and capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards.
• An in-depth understanding of the financial implications of commissioned care packages.
• The ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention.

This role involves travelling around Essex. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential.

What We Offer

We’ll support you to be your best and will offer:

• Ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development
• Flexible working options
• Employee wellbeing and counselling
• Lease Car scheme
• Life assurance of three times annual salary
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Volunteering leave
• 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
• Employee Networks - communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC
• Payment of your Social Work England registration fees!

In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our Adult Social Care services as "Good" with a score of 73%. The local authority had a good structure and processes in place to enable people to be supported successfully, and support people to remain independent and live healthy lives. The workforce was passionate about supporting people to achieve these outcomes and the local authority had good knowledge of their area, the people living there and the demographics.

We welcome diversity because it makes us grow and we're determined to become a fully inclusive and an anti-racist organisation.

For more information contact Abbie.Mollison@essex.gov.uk

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

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.

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.