Mental Health Act Peer Reviewer - Job Specification

Organisation: Healthcare Inspectorate Wales

Role: Mental Health Act Peer Reviewer

Rate of pay: £275 per day, including payment for travel time plus travel and subsistence expenses

Duration: Three years

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) inspects NHS services and regulates independent healthcare providers against a range of standards, policies, guidance and regulations to highlight areas requiring improvement.

In order for HIW’s Review Service for Mental Health to achieve its primary function of ensuring that treatment is lawful and delivered in a way which preserves the dignity and respect of the individual, the service utilises the expertise of Mental Health Act Peer Reviewers (Reviewers).

Our Reviewers visit and talk to individuals who are subject to the powers of the Mental Health Act 1983 in Mental Health settings across Wales. Our Reviewers assess the suitability of the environment, talk with a range of staff members and review the statutory documentation of detained patients to establish:

• Whether the patient’s detention is compliant with the Mental Health Act 1983
• Whether the guidance of the Mental Health Code of Practice for Wales 2016 has been followed 
• The quality of patient experience
• The delivery of safe and effective care
• The quality of management and leadership.

HIW will use the Reviewer’s knowledge and skills to ensure that our work is based on current practice and experience. This helps us to highlight good practice within both the NHS and Independent Healthcare Sector which provides public assurance and leads to improved services for patients.

• Work with HIW under the support and direction of HIW staff
• Travel throughout Wales to inspect the physical environment, polices / procedures, equipment, certification, patient and other records.
• Undertake interviews of staff and patients
• Manage time effectively to ensure you are fully prepared for the inspection visit and to read pre-inspection intelligence and previous inspection reports
• Respond to any issues of concern as appropriate in discussion with the HIW Healthcare Inspector
• To make observations and recommendations, based on your own professional judgement, taking into consideration the interests of patients, and the implementation of any relevant statutory guidance and legislation
• Make a record of your findings during the visit using the inspection tools and contribute to the feedback meeting at the end of the inspection using evidence gathered 
• Review and comment on inspection reports for accuracy prior to publication
• Undertake shorter, focussed follow-up inspection visits (as required)
• Demonstrate respect and understanding of diversity and citizenship of staff/patients. 
• Attend any induction and training deemed necessary by HIW
• Act as an ambassador for HIW by promoting the work of the Inspectorate and sharing best practice.
• Involvement in the creation and amendments of inspection methodology documentation (as required).

Essential criteria

• Up-to-date training in Mental Health Act 1983; Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010; Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Code of Practice for Wales 2016 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
• practical experience in the administration and application of the Mental Health Act 1983 within healthcare settings
• practical experience in the administration and application of the Mental Health Code of Practice for Wales (2016) 
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Excellent written communication skills 
• Demonstrable commitment to equality and diversity
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills
• A highly professional patient focused approach, with strong values of safe, compassionate person-centred care
• Excellent observational, assessment and analytical skills 
• Strong understanding of the importance of confidentiality and data protection
• Ability to work effectively on their own and as part of a team
• Ability to use a variety of IT packages.

Desirable criteria

• Recognised Mental Health Qualification
• Previous experience of auditing and inspection
• Some understanding of the objectives and priorities of HIW.

As a Peer Reviewers you will gain inspection and review experience and will improve your analytical, drafting, team working and communication skills. 

Working with HIW provides Peer Reviewers with the opportunity to take good practice back to their own work areas.

Induction and/or training days offered to peer reviewers will be allocated continuing professional development (CPD).

HIW acknowledges the importance of developing and growing its bilingual workforce and welcomes applications from candidates who demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh.

Mental Health Act Reviewers will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. 

Work Pattern

Mental Health Act Peer Reviewers will be issued with a framework agreement to provide services on a flexible basis, to include out of hours working.  Under this arrangement, HIW is under no obligation to issue any assignments and Mental Health Act Peer Reviewers are under no obligation to accept assignments.  HIW will issue assignments when services are required. 

For further information please contact the Inspection Support Team within HIW at HIW.Inspections@gov.wales or call 0300 062 8163.

Please email HIW.inspections@gov.wales to request an application form.

If you require the application form in a different format or language, please contact us:

HIW.Inspections@gov.wales 

0300 062 8163