Approved Mental Health Professional (Adults) Full Time NEW

Closing date: 8 July 2026Salary: Grade 9 ranging from £41,771 to £46,142 per annumTransform lives, champion rights & support adults to achieve their full potential.Location: Base can be flexible within offices across SomersetHours: Full time and part time hours availableAs 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 PurposeApproved 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 ResponsibilitiesArrange, coordinate and undertake Mental Health Act assessments, ensuring statutory timescales are metAct as the Single Point of Access for Mental Health Act assessment requests on a rota basisAssess and manage significant risk, applying professional judgement and legal reasoningArrange hospital admissions (voluntary and compulsory) and pursue alternatives to admission wherever possiblePrepare and complete statutory documentation, including tribunal reports, guardianship, CTOs and court statementsLiaise with individuals, carers, nearest relatives and partner agencies, managing differing views sensitivelyWork closely with CMHS, Home Treatment Teams, police, housing and voluntary sector partnersParticipate in a 24/7 rota, including lone working overnight and at weekendsContribute to out‑of‑hours Adult Social Care activity, including emergency housing provisionWhat We’re Looking For – Essential Skills/ExperienceWe’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) qualificationSubstantial experience within a mental health setting, with recent experience practising as an AMHPStrong working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, associated guidance and case lawKnowledge of the Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act and Care ActAbility to apply legal reasoning and make robust, defensible professional decisionsExperience coordinating multi‑agency assessments and managing complex riskExcellent communication, documentation and decision‑making skillsAbility to work confidently both autonomously and within multidisciplinary teamsA comprehensive list of the job requirements can be found at the bottom of this advert.About The Team/ServiceYou’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 InformationPlease 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.For an informal chat about the role, you can contact amhpmanagers@somerset.gov.ukPlease note we reserve the right to close this advert early if we have received a sufficient number of applications, so don’t delay, apply today!Person SpecificationCriteriaEssentialDesirableKnowledge of the Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act, Children Act, Care Act and associated codes of practice.XKnowledge the Mental Health Act, associated guidance and current case law.XAbility to apply legal reasoning and use professional legal expertise and advice appropriatelyXAbility to provide professional opinion, giving rationale and knowledge baseXAwareness of broader adult social care responsibilitiesXUnderstanding of legal rights of individuals and nearest relatives, including tribunal and court processes.XSubstantial practise within a mental health settingXRecent Experience as a practising AMHPXFamiliarity with working alongside police, NHS, housing and social care teams to coordinate care.XExperienced in producing clear, lawful, and defensible documentation for legal and clinical purposesXExperience acting as a Social Supervisor.XEvidence of professional developmentXSocial work qualification or other relevant professional qualificationXAMHP qualificationXRegistration with the relevant professional body, i.e. Social Work EnglandXSkilled in assessing and managing complex mental health crises, including suicide risk and safeguarding concerns.XAbility to work as part of a team with good interpersonal skills.XPositive, committed, adaptable, throughout and confident approachXAbility to work to deadlines and to motivate others to work effectively and demonstrate a duty of care.XCommitted to diversity in service delivery and employment.XInnovative and creative approach to service development and value.XSound analysis and decision-making in dealing with complex service delivery and/or policy development matters.XAccess to / use of a vehicleX(798/FG)