Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) - 10% Recruitment and Retention Allowance in Gateshead

Salary: £45,091 - £48,226 + 10% Recruitment & Retention Allowance. 4‑day condensed working pattern between 8:30am and 6:15pm. Dedicated AMHP post – focus fully on Mental Health Act practice.

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading – we might just be the perfect match. We pride ourselves on an ambitious, forward‑thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’ll be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates work/life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, with a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, including excellent work‑life balance and support to develop amazing practice. Maintain a healthy work‑life balance while doing meaningful, impactful work.

As a member of the core AMHP team, you’ll benefit from a highly experienced and committed leadership structure, including an AMHP Manager, AMHP Development Officer and Senior Practitioner. This creates a strong environment for reflective practice, high‑quality supervision and ongoing professional development, supporting you to grow in confidence, maintain best practice and deliver outstanding outcomes.

Join Gateshead Council and play a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, while being supported, respected and encouraged to thrive throughout your AMHP career. Help shape the future of adult social work in Gateshead. As an Approved Mental Health Professional with Gateshead Council, you’ll join a supportive, well‑resourced service where your expertise is genuinely valued. You’ll be part of a strong and sustainable AMHP rota, supported by additional dedicated AMHPs who provide regular support, ensuring shared responsibility, resilience and continuity across the service.

We recognise the urgent and community‑based nature of AMHP work, and while there may be occasions when work extends beyond core hours, this is balanced by a culture of flexibility, teamwork and understanding. You’ll be supported by working arrangements that prioritise wellbeing, alongside colleagues who understand the realities of the role.

What you’ll get to do:

• Act as an AMHP, undertaking Mental Health Act assessments across community, hospital, police and Section 136 settings.
• Coordinate and lead Mental Health Act assessments, including screening referrals, consulting with individuals, relatives and professionals, and making independent, legally sound decisions.
• Make and complete applications for hospital admission (formal or informal), ensuring statutory documentation and consultation requirements are fully met.
• Promote least‑restrictive, strengths‑based alternatives to hospital admission, working closely with Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams and wider partners.
• Plan and contribute to discharge, aftercare and community support, including CTOs, Guardianship and Section 117 aftercare where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively within multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency partnerships, including health services, police, safeguarding teams and voluntary organisations.
• Complete high‑quality reports and records, including tribunal, hospital managers and court documentation, in line with legal and organisational requirements.
• Provide professional advice, specialist AMHP expertise and mentoring, supporting colleagues, students and trainees where required.
• Maintain professional competence and re‑approval, staying up to date with legislation, best practice and reflective AMHP practice.
• Participate in the AMHP rota, including occasional work beyond core hours, responding flexibly to urgent and community‑based assessments.

What you’ll bring:

• A recognised professional qualification (Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Chartered Psychology) with the required post‑registration experience, and current Social Work England registration where applicable.
• Approved AMHP qualification with a commitment to continuous professional development.
• A full UK driving licence or access to mobility support.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Human Rights Act and associated Codes of Practice, with the ability to apply this confidently to practice.
• Experience of working with adults with mental health needs and their carers, including undertaking assessments and identifying appropriate support and interventions.
• Proven ability to assess risk, make balanced decisions and contribute to safeguarding processes in complex and pressured situations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, reasoned reports and work collaboratively with individuals, families and professionals.
• Ability to manage a varied workload, prioritise effectively and work both independently and as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
• A strong commitment to equality, partnership working and continuous professional development, with the flexibility to meet the demands of the role.

If successful, this role requires a DBS and you will have to apply for an enhanced Disclosure.

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive Salary: £45,091 – £48,226 + 10% Recruitment and Retention allowance.
• Excellent work‑life balance: A 4‑day condensed working week gives you an extra day each week for personal time, family and wellbeing.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions (after 12 months service).
• Co‑wheels: Access pool cars, including electric vehicles, with guaranteed parking, making it easy and cost‑effective to travel to meetings and sites not easily accessible by public transport.
• Learning and Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health and Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We invest in your future.
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Exclusive Discounts and Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel and services – plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics and more.

Our commitment to you: We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all segments of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.