Factor

Examples

Skills & Knowledge

Postholders will have an understanding of casework management and operation and will be able to use management tools such as MI and effective team management to monitor and improve performance. They will be able to compile detailed and often complex drafts with clarity and accuracy.

Post holder will have a good working knowledge and understanding of the management of restricted patients, including casework procedures and operational policies, with an ability to review and develop where required.

A good understanding of the roles of Responsible Clinicians (consultant psychiatrists), community supervisors and the Tribunal in respect of restricted patients. They will be able to liaise effectively with these senior stakeholders in a professional manner and build effective working relationships. They will to provide advice and guidance to stakeholders, such as the police, clinicians and social workers by phone and in writing.

Accountability & Decision Making

The postholder will take personal responsibility for taking case specific decisions on behalf of the Secretary of State (i.e. whether to direct a transfer from prison to hospital, remit a patient to prison, to give a patient escorted community leave, or to allow transfer to another hospital). They will be able to work with minimum oversight and refer problems to team managers when appropriate.

The post holder will be held to account daily for the decisions they take both by senior management and by challenge from patients’ solicitors as well as through judicial review. They will need to be able to demonstrate that decisions are evidence based and take account of policy, practice, legislation and case law.

The postholder is responsible personally and for any staff they line manage for ensuring that they have met internal targets and recorded data accurately. Their performance is monitored centrally and failure in either regard will need to be accounted for.

Problem Solving

The post holder is responsible for dealing with a range of issues that can arise in individual cases, such as incidents in hospital, absconds and escapes, further offending and liaison with the Tribunal. The postholder will be required to be pro-active in identifying potential problems/issues that may affect the protection of the public before they occur and to provide sound and timely solutions and for conveying their proposals to all interested parties.

The postholder is required to pay attention to detail, with the ability to interrogate data, consult professional in the health field and arrive at evidence based and defensible decisions. Such decisions will often be subject to intense scrutiny from a patient’s solicitor and can prompt letters before action and judicial review.

Some issues that occur may not have come up before and may not be covered by current procedures/policies. The post holder will need to be aware of who to consult (e.g. managers or legal advisers) for advice.

Resource Management & Financial Impact

The post holder does not have a budget responsibility, but is responsible for the efficient management of their workload to ensure that delays do not occur and deadlines are met.

Where MHCS is found to be responsible for delays/errors through a Judicial Review, this can result in damages/costs being awarded against the SofS, as well as reputational damage.

The post holder must be able to organise his/her own work and be able to prioritise their workloads without supervision. They must be adept in operating casework systems to ensure that all business targets are met, urgent matters dealt with quickly and backlogs do not occur.

Organising & Planning

The post holder must ensure that they use their To Do lists from PPUD on a daily basis to ensure that they are aware of outstanding work and can meet their deadlines. They must recognise the importance of data entry and understand why data is being recorded and the impact if such recording does not take place.

The postholder must understand the role of management information and effective team management in order to underpin the effective and efficient delivery of the business. They must be able to use these tools effectively to ensure that they and their teams operate efficiently.

Some posts manage between 1 and 2 administrative staff who provide support to the team and section.

People Management

Postholders must be familiar with the requirements of line management and recognise the importance of developing staff and monitoring their performance.

Postholders will provide training and mentoring for new members of staff, and must be able to explain clearly MHCS processes and policies, and give honest and constructive feedback throughout.

The postholder must ensure PPUD and section spreadsheets are maintained accurately. All milestones must be actioned and up-dated.

Information Management

Comply with NOMs information assurance policy to ensure maintenance of confidentiality, availability and integrity of sensitive information.

Post holders must be able to use data to monitor performance and maximise efficiency.

The post holder will be responsible for developing good working relationships with internal & external customers and stakeholders to ensure the smooth operation of the casework processes

Influencing & Interaction

The post holder must be able to explain problems and issues to senior managers with clarity and accuracy. They must be able to account for decisions and judgments when challenged by solicitors and prisoners. They must ensure decisions are evidence based and lawful.

This is a non-prisoner facing job, but the post holder will be regularly exposed to disturbing casework including descriptions of index offences, and will have to deal with patients and victims by telephone, which can be distressing.

Some of the work requires attendance outside of core hours.

Emotional Demand & Risk