B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Job title: Social Worker/Approved Mental
Health Professional
Directorate: People
Post number:
Division: Community Mental Health
Grade: 9
Section/team:
Overall purpose of Job:
To plan and provide an effective range of specialist social work interventions for working age
Adults or Older people or Adults with Learning Difficulties or younger people who are experiencing
their first episode or individual who are known to mental health services and their families and
carers.
To carry out specialist assessments in collaboration with other professionals and where
appropriate to undertake responsibilities under the Mental Health legislation and associated health
and social care legislation, policy and codes of practice.
The post holder will also be responsible for a caseload of service users with complex mental health
needs, including Care Coordination, within a defined service area.
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 1 of 9
B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Main Responsibilities:

To carry out specialist assessments in collaboration with other professionals
where appropriate within level of competence to undertake responsibilities under the
Mental Health legislation and associated health and social care legislation, policy and
codes of practice

The post holder will provide specialised advice to colleagues, managers and partner
agencies in relation mental health issues and where appropriate to the application of mental
health law. They will also provide practice supervision to less experienced qualified staff
and to peers, and provide practice placement supervision for trainee SW’s & AMHPs

To undertake duties under the Mental Health Act 1983 and associated legislation, including
the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and NHS and Community Care Act 1990

To undertake duties under the Mental Health Act 1983 including participation in the locality
wide AMHP daytime rota.

To fulfil all the expected assessment and casework responsibilities pertaining to service
users with complex needs as a full member of the clinical team, including undertaking
assessments of complex need, formulating, implementing, co-ordinating and reviewing
plans for the ongoing care/crisis care of service users, promoting a holistic approach to
maximising recovery and social inclusion.

To work as a member of the multi disciplinary team in the assessment of complex need,
formulation and implementation of risk assessment and risk management

To lead and implement clinical practice guidelines, standards and protocols, ensuring the
highest quality service user experience,

To work closely with families and carers to effectively provide interventions, information and
support which enhances social inclusion, underpinned by Wellness and Recovery Action
Planning

To undertake joint working with care coordinators on a small number of complex cases,
particularly where social care needs or the use of mental health legislation is under
consideration

To maintain and collate accurate clinical records on both paper and on the Trust and/or
Local Authority computerised system, including the maintenance of electronic case records

To be committed to and involved in the development of the service through participation in
education and in service training.

Contributes to the development and implementation of policies and procedures relevant to
their area of work
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 2 of 9
B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Knowledge, Skill and Experience:

Relevant qualification is necessary BSc SW/CQSW/DipSW/CSS/NQSW/PQ consolidation/
AMHP qualification/practice teaching award

Current registration with the HCPC

Current AMHP approval with the LSSA

Able to undertake complex assessments and provide care co-ordination to adults and their
carers.

Ability to deal effectively and in a non-confrontation way with challenging behaviours from
service users, carers, staff, colleagues and other stake holders

Ability to work with complex issues involving service users and carers, especially where
there are conflicting demands and tight deadlines where difficult situations can bring about
conflicting priorities

Experienced in the completion of agreed care plans to required quality and able to oversee
the completion of service user care plans by other less experience members of the team

In depth knowledge of: Mental Health Act 1983, associated legislation and related codes of
practice to adults and community care.

Able to analyse changes in the law, code of practice and best practice guidelines and apply
to decision-making process

Comprehensive knowledge of a range of services available to meet the assessed needs of
service users and carers to as an alternative to hospital admission.

Experience of working with adults who have assessed needs within the health and social
care setting and knowledge of relevant policies and procedures.

Able to design relevant care plans and collaboratively implement complex packages of care
within the eligibility criteria.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working multi agency relationships and actively
engage them in the assessment, and care planning activity.

Able to supervise and develop staff and students including AMHP students.

Ability to use specific information technology, including word processing, databases, emails
etc.

A working knowledge of legislation with regard to safeguarding adults and children and
protecting people’s property, finances.

Ability to engage with Continual Professional Development, including keeping up to date
with changes in Mental Health Act and legislation and case law developments

A working knowledge of Continuing Health Care criteria.
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 3 of 9
B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Creativity and innovation:

Working in partnership with other agencies, particularly health, the voluntary and
community sector to seek creative and innovative ways of meeting need particularly where
an individuals liberty maybe at stake, which engenders a culture of prevention and wellbeing.

Advising and giving information to colleagues, service users, carers and their family in a
format, which are useable, understandable, and acceptable.

Proactive approach to the development of alternative ways of provide a safe service to
those individuals who are most vulnerable.

Present written and verbal reports to the First Tier Tribunal and Hospital Managers

In the AMHP role, to present verbal and written application to Magistrate Court e.g. section
135(1)
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 4 of 9
B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Contacts and Relationships:

To undertake complex assessments commensurate with level of competence, where the
Service user is acutely mentally ill and where there maybe significant barriers to
understanding due to the nature of the illness, high expressed emotion and resistance to
the process

Develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of agencies involved in
assessments, care planning and review of care.

Contact with Service users, carers and family who present with high levels of distress as
appropriate in any given service area

Contact and co-operation with locally based health teams, i.e. GP’s, District Nurses,
Community Psychiatric Nurses, professionals allied to health (Physio, OT etc)

Contacts with voluntary and community sector partnerships in terms of both direct service
provision and signposting people to more appropriate community resources.

Present written and verbal reports to the First Tier Tribunal and Hospital Managers

Effectively communicate information regarding social care issues, mental health and mental
health law, including issues relating to s.117 aftercare, mental capacity, NHS& CC Act 1990
to staff groups within the organisation and across directorates.

The law requires the AMHP to ‘interview in a suitable manner’ meaning that all barriers
must be overcome or minimised, involving the use of interpreters, advocates or other aids
to communication in the assessment process.

To co-ordinate Mental Health Act assessments, asserting the AMHP role and instructing
other parties, including consultant psychiatrists, General Practitioners and other mental
health workers, carers, police and ambulance officers and ward staff.

Present cases to legal representatives where matter requires the decision of the court, such
as displacement of the nearest relative, within level of competence.

In the AMHP role, to present verbal and written application to Magistrate Court e.g. section
135(1)

Communicate complex information regarding social care issues, mental health and mental
health law, including issues relating to s.117 aftercare, mental capacity, NHS& CC Act 1990
to staff groups within the organisation and across directorates.
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 5 of 9
B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Decision Making:

To gather information from service users, carers, relatives, mental health colleagues and
others to inform the assessment process.

Assessment of high levels of risk and formulation of robust risk management plans
involving a number of parties to enable alternatives to hospital admission,

Care planning decisions in the management of complex care plans.

Management of complex caseload in liaison with senior staff and multi-disciplinary teams
where required.

Provide services to meet assessed need, balancing risk with personal freedom and choice.

Manage and prioritise a complex caseload and able to make decisions relation to risk and
safety issues.

Innovative use of statutory, community and voluntary services to meet assessed need

Able to undertake risk assessments and make on the spot decisions committing services to
ensure safety of service users.

Assist services users in discharging their responsibilities with regard to Direct Payments
and Individual budgets.

Ability to analyse information in the legal context of the AMHP role and making plans for
MHA intervention.

To analyse changes in the law, code of practice and best practice guidelines and apply to
decision-making process

Assessment of high levels of risk and formulation of robust risk management plans
involving a number of parties to enable alternatives to hospital admission,
Freedom to Act

The Mental Health Act 1983 requires AMHP’s to make independent decisions, interpreting
the law, codes of practice and associated guidance, without the direction of their managers
or others involved in the assessment process. Advice on practice and legal interpretation
may be available from the social work consultant but the AMHP retains sole responsibility
for their decision.

An AMHP will exercise a high degree of professional autonomy and guide the practice of
others

An AMHP will Act as a role model to widely influence those working with mental health
legislation across the organisation and geographical areas
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 6 of 9
B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Responsibility for Resources:
1. Sole responsibility for mobile phone. £50
2. Sole responsibility for lone working device. £1000 approx
3. Individual responsibility for the safety and security of equipment, tools and materials removed
from the site in order to carry out the role and tasks of the post. £100
4. Spending on average 60% of time engaged in work away from the base.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work Demands:
1. Respond to changing situations and deliver intense and variable levels of support to service
users on a daily basis.
2. Respond and deliver support to carers as appropriate.
3. Changes in demand and reprioritisation of workload to accommodate clients changing
needs and AMHP statutory obligations.
4. Changes in deadlines to meet demands of clients, carers, management and organisation.
5. Responding to emergencies/crisis situations involving service users within the team.
6. Ensure that unmet need is identified and processed appropriately
7. Maintaining accurate up to date clinical records on both manually and on the computerised
system, including the maintenance of contemporaneous electronic case records.
8. Ensure that Information governance and data protection are adhered to
9. Maintaining professional standards as per the HCPC code of conduct
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 7 of 9
B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Physical Demands:

To work in volatile, high risk situations where there may be risk of violence and the need to
deploy strategies to respond to this

Able to travel across and outside the organisation in undertaking the duties of the AMHP
role
Working Conditions:

Both office and community work involved. Working with clients and carers in community
venues and their own homes. Some work in poor housing conditions inevitable. Office
base (40%) community (60%).
Work Context:

Work involves some risk to personal safety and the safety of others arising from
implications associated with visits to service users in their own homes, particularly where
the service users mental health is deteriorating.

Communicating information that people may not wish to hear may also be a potential risk to
personal safety.

Lone working applies.
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 8 of 9
B.5 Grading
Appendix 2 - Job Description
Position in organisation:
Indicate how many staff the post is directly accountable for: 0
Does the postholder manage the posts. No
OR
Does the postholder supervise the posts *Yes
*Some on the job training and checking of work, eg to students
Are posts in more than one location? Yes
Is the supervision/management shared with another post in the structure? Yes
Please indicate which post(s) _______________________________________________
Note:
Post holders will be expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached
to their post and may be asked to perform other duties, which reasonably correspond to the
general character of the post and are commensurate with its level of responsibility. This job
description is provided for guidance only and does not form part of the contract of employment.
Date of Job Description
…………………………….
Date copy sent to Post holder
…………………………….
Corporate Services Cabinet Member – 20thDecember 2010, Updated – 1st April 2011
Page 9 of 9