At a Glance
- Tasks: Transform lives by supporting adults in mental health crises and coordinating assessments.
- Company: Join a compassionate team dedicated to mental health support across Somerset.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, competitive salary, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with strong support and career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your professional skills.
- Qualifications: Must be an Approved Mental Health Professional with experience in mental health settings.
The predicted salary is between 41771 - 46142 £ per year.
Salary: Grade 9 ranging from £41,771 to £46,142 per annum
Transform lives, champion rights & support adults to achieve their full potential.
Location: Base can be flexible within offices across Somerset
Hours: Full time and part time hours available. As a 24-hour service, we can offer some flexibility to working hours with a variety of shifts, but will need to include weekends, nights and bank holidays.
Role Purpose: Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) play a critical statutory role in responding to Mental Health Act (MHA) assessment requests across Somerset, ensuring that people experiencing mental health crisis receive timely, lawful and person‑centred support. Working within a 24/7 centralised AMHP hub based in Taunton, you will coordinate and undertake Mental Health Act assessments, uphold individuals’ legal rights, and apply a social model approach to mental health practice. You will work closely with health, police, housing and social care partners to promote the least restrictive options, supporting people to remain in their communities wherever possible. The role involves balancing complex and high‑risk situations, liaising with individuals, carers and nearest relatives, and completing statutory documentation including tribunal reports, guardianship and Community Treatment Orders. AMHPs also contribute to innovative crisis‑response approaches that help reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and reliance on police powers. Outside standard hours, AMHPs support the wider Adults Social Care Out‑of‑Hours service, responding to urgent social care needs such as emergency housing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Arrange, coordinate and undertake Mental Health Act assessments, ensuring statutory timescales are met
- Act as the Single Point of Access for Mental Health Act assessment requests on a rota basis
- Assess and manage significant risk, applying professional judgement and legal reasoning
- Arrange hospital admissions (voluntary and compulsory) and pursue alternatives to admission wherever possible
- Prepare and complete statutory documentation, including tribunal reports, guardianship, CTOs and court statements
- Liaise with individuals, carers, nearest relatives and partner agencies, managing differing views sensitively
- Work closely with CMHS, Home Treatment Teams, police, housing and voluntary sector partners
- Participate in a 24/7 rota, including lone working overnight and at weekends
- Contribute to out‑of‑hours Adult Social Care activity, including emergency housing provision
What We’re Looking For – Essential Skills/Experience:
We’re looking for skilled, resilient practitioners with strong legal literacy and a commitment to rights‑based, least‑restrictive practice. You will have:
- An Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) qualification
- Substantial experience within a mental health setting, with recent experience practising as an AMHP
- Strong working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, associated guidance and case law
- Knowledge of the Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act and Care Act
- Ability to apply legal reasoning and make robust, defensible professional decisions
- Experience coordinating multi‑agency assessments and managing complex risk
- Excellent communication, documentation and decision‑making skills
- Ability to work confidently both autonomously and within multidisciplinary teams
About the Team/Service:
You’ll join Somerset’s centralised AMHP service, delivering a countywide response to Mental Health Act assessments through a 24‑hour hub model. The service works closely with NHS mental health services, police, housing and voluntary sector partners to provide compassionate, lawful and proportionate crisis responses. AMHPs are supported through regular supervision, ongoing legal and practice‑based training, and opportunities to contribute to service development and innovation.
Additional Information:
Please Note: We may consider offering Skilled Worker visa sponsorship to suitably qualified overseas social workers who are already residing in the UK. To be eligible, applicants must hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. Sponsorship will be assessed as part of the recruitment process. This is only available to candidates currently living in the UK, as unfortunately we are unable to provide resettlement support. Due to the nature of the role and the geographical area of the service across Somerset, which is a largely rural county, with limitations around public transport the ability to be able to travel to any location is essential. Therefore, applicants must have full access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes. We recognise and welcome applications from disabled individuals who may require reasonable adjustments to meet this requirement, and we’re happy to discuss this from the first point of contact with the recruitment team.
Person Specification Criteria:
- Knowledge of the Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act, Children Act, Care Act and associated codes of practice.
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act, associated guidance and current case law.
- Ability to apply legal reasoning and use professional legal expertise and advice appropriately.
- Ability to provide professional opinion, giving rationale and knowledge base.
- Awareness of broader adult social care responsibilities.
- Understanding of legal rights of individuals and nearest relatives, including tribunal and court processes.
- Substantial practice within a mental health setting.
- Recent experience as a practising AMHP.
- Familiarity with working alongside police, NHS, housing and social care teams to coordinate care.
- Experienced in producing clear, lawful, and defensible documentation for legal and clinical purposes.
- Experience acting as a Social Supervisor.
- Evidence of professional development.
- Social work qualification or other relevant professional qualification.
- Registration with the relevant professional body, i.e. Social Work England.
- Skilled in assessing and managing complex mental health crises, including suicide risk and safeguarding concerns.
- Ability to work as part of a team with good interpersonal skills.
- Positive, committed, adaptable, thorough and confident approach.
- Ability to work to deadlines and to motivate others to work effectively and demonstrate a duty of care.
- Committed to diversity in service delivery and employment.
- Innovative and creative approach to service development and value.
- Sound analysis and decision-making in dealing with complex service delivery and/or policy development matters.
Approved Mental Health Professional (Adults) in Taunton employer: Somerset-Council-1
Join a dedicated team of Approved Mental Health Professionals in Somerset, where you will have the opportunity to transform lives and champion the rights of individuals in crisis. Our supportive work culture prioritises professional development through regular supervision and ongoing training, while offering flexible working hours to accommodate your lifestyle. With a focus on collaboration across health, police, and social care sectors, you will play a vital role in delivering compassionate, person-centred support within a dynamic 24/7 service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Approved Mental Health Professional (Adults) in Taunton
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Somerset-Council-1.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Somerset-Council-1!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Somerset-Council-1, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Somerset-Council-1 or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Approved Mental Health Professional (Adults) in Taunton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Somerset-Council-1:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Somerset-Council-1! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Somerset-Council-1
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
