Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
- Hours / week
- 37.5
- Posted
- 25/08/2026
- Closes
- 27/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role is for an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) who will carry out statutory assessments under the Mental Health Act on behalf of the local authority. The post holder will work within the AMHP team, contributing to supporting people with complex mental health difficulties and participating in a 24/7 shift pattern, including an on-call rota. A key part of the role involves working with the Joint Response Unit alongside police colleagues to provide acute assessment and care for people experiencing mental health crises in the community.
Key responsibilities
- Undertake Mental Health Act Assessments and associated duties, including Nearest Relative issues, Community Treatment Orders, and Guardianship Orders.
- Complete and present Mental Health Tribunal Social Circumstances Reports.
- Perform the Social Supervision role for individuals subject to conditional discharge from the Ministry of Justice.
- Contribute to the Joint Response Unit vehicle rota, working with First Response Service and wider Livewell Services.
- Provide clinical advice, guidance, support, and undertake joint mental health crisis assessments.
- Work flexibly, which may include working beyond normal hours and occasional out-of-area working, as part of a 24/7 shift pattern and on-call rota.
Essential criteria
- Current professional registration with relevant professional body (occupational therapist, psychologist, nurse or social worker).
- Successful completion of AMHP training.
- Post approval training record (covering 18 hours for each 12 month approved).
- Knowledge of Mental Health legislation, codes of practice and other legislation.
- Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act legislation and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards processes
- Knowledge of the Care Act.
- Knowledge and experience of evidence based interventions, risk assessment and crisis work.
- Knowledge of mental illness, disorder and psychiatric medication.
- Knowledge of drug and alcohol related issues.
- Experience of coordinating and carrying out Mental Health Act Assessments in a range of settings.
- Experience of preparing and presenting social circumstances reports to MHRTs.
- Experience of carrying out assessments under the Mental Capacity Act.
- Experience of working in a mental health service and/or setting.
- Experience of working with a range of adults experiencing mental health crisis/difficulties.
- Excellent assessment skills.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of people, in a variety of situations and settings.
- Negotiation skills particularly with reference to reaching agreements with key partners, including the patient, medical practitioners and other providers, to secure safe alternatives to hospital admission.
- Report writing and ability to record accurate, concise and legally defensible records.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other colleagues and team members, towards the goals of the team.
Desirable criteria
- Extensive knowledge of Mental Health legislation, codes of practice and other legislation associated with the role.
- Experience of the Social Supervision role.
- Experience of carrying out assessments under the Care Act framework.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 13d ago · Closes in 21d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Livewell Southwest
AMHP
The closing date is 27 September 2026
Job summary
Fulltime (37.5 hours per week)
Approved Mental Health Professionals
carry out statutory assessments on behalf of the local authority under the
Mental Health Act. The post holder
will work within the AMHP team.
In addition to undertaking their
specific statutory responsibilities under the Mental Health Act they will
contribute to the overall work of the team (i.e. supporting people with complex
mental health difficulties).
The role also contributes to the
overall organisational remit of supporting people with complex mental health
difficulties (e.g. Care Act Assessments, Best Interest Assessments etc.).
Livewell's
AMHPs provide the mental health professional input to Plymouths Joint
Response Unit (JRU) vehicle; this involves working (on a rota basis)
alongside our Police colleagues during the evenings providing acute
assessment and care and support to people experiencing mental health crisis
in the community (responding in a marked response vehicle). The postholder will participate in the JRU
rota and contribute to this innovative service.
There will be a requirement to work across a 24/7 shift pattern and will include taking part in an on-call rota.
Main duties of the job
In addition to contributing to an AMHP
duty rota undertaking Mental Health Act Assessments and associated du
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