Approved Mental Health Professional Service Manager - Adult Social Care

This is an exciting opportunity to lead Devon's county-wide Approved Mental Health Professional service at a pivotal point in its development. As Devon's Lead Approved Mental Health Professional, you will act as the professional voice for AMHP practice across the county, championing excellence in Mental Health Act practice and representing Devon in regional and national AMHP networks, forums and policy discussions. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of AMHP services both locally and beyond. Working within the established Section 75 partnership between Devon County Council and Devon Partnership NHS Trust, you will provide strategic, operational and professional leadership across a 24-hour, seven-day AMHP function. The service brings together dedicated daytime and Out of Hours teams, alongside AMHPs working in wider social care and mental health services who contribute to the rota and to Devon's wider AMHP professional community. You will join a newly strengthened and invigorated leadership team with a clear ambition: to support the best possible outcomes for people, enable staff to thrive and build a compassionate, inclusive and healthy workplace culture. This is a genuine opportunity to influence how the service develops, strengthen partnership working and champion the distinctive social work contribution within mental health services. About the role As AMHP Service Manager, you will lead the ongoing development and delivery of a responsive, legally sound and person-centred 24/7 AMHP service across Devon. You will work across organisational and professional boundaries, bringing together colleagues who deliver or support AMHP activity in a wide range of settings. The AMHP rota is supported by a broader network of qualified AMHPs working across Devon County Council and Devon Partnership NHS Trust. A key part of your role will be to build strong relationships with these teams and their leaders, ensuring that colleagues who contribute to the rota feel connected, well supported and part of a shared professional identity. You will balance visible operational leadership with strategic influence, ensuring effective service delivery today while creating the conditions for a sustainable, skilled and confident AMHP workforce for the future. In your role as Lead AMHP for Devon, you will provide strategic professional leadership across the system, ensuring that Devon remains connected to emerging national developments, best practice, workforce initiatives and legislative reform. You will represent the service in regional and national forums, helping to shape conversations about the future of AMHP practice while bringing learning and innovation back into the county. Your key responsibilities will include

• Providing strategic, operational and professional leadership across the daytime and Out of Hours AMHP services, supporting a coordinated 24/7 model.
• Leading, supporting and developing AMHP Team Managers and associated leadership and business support arrangements.
• Working collaboratively with wider social care and mental health services whose AMHPs contribute to the county-wide rota, strengthening shared ownership and professional connection.
• Maintaining effective oversight of workforce capacity, rota resilience and service demand, with a focus on safe, responsive and sustainable delivery.
• Promoting high-quality, proportionate and least restrictive Mental Health Act practice, grounded in the Act, the Code of Practice, human rights and evidence-informed decision-making.
• Providing professional leadership to AMHPs across Devon, including those based outside dedicated AMHP teams.
• Working with workforce development leads, leading recruitment, retention, succession planning and the development of AMHPs and trainee AMHPs.
• Developing a clear and attractive AMHP career pathway, from early interest and preparation for training through to experienced practice, advanced roles and future leadership opportunities.
• Working with higher education providers, workforce colleagues and partner organisations to expand and strengthen routes into AMHP training and post-qualifying development.
• Promoting reflective practice, supervision, peer support, continuous learning and opportunities for AMHPs to contribute to teaching, research, quality improvement and service innovation.
• Strengthening governance and professional assurance, including the oversight of social supervision arrangements for conditionally discharged people.
• Promoting anti-racist, anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice, and ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion are integral to service leadership and delivery.
• Creating meaningful opportunities for people with lived experience, families and carers to contribute to service improvement through co-production and co-design.
• Building trusted relationships across health, social care, police, ambulance, acute hospitals, housing, children's services and the voluntary and community sector.
• Contributing to the strategic priorities of Devon County Council and Devon Partnership NHS Trust, while promoting the role and value of the AMHP across the wider system.
• Embedding co-production and lived experience at the heart of the AMHP service, creating meaningful opportunities for people, carers and families to influence service delivery, improvement, workforce development and strategic planning.
Developing the AMHP workforce of the future We want Devon to be a place where people are inspired to become AMHPs, supported to grow in the role and able to see a rewarding long-term career pathway. You will have the opportunity to shape a coherent workforce offer that nurtures interest in AMHP practice, increases access to training and supports colleagues throughout their professional journey. This includes developing routes for future AMHPs, strengthening trainee opportunities and creating progression for experienced practitioners who want to develop specialist, educational, practice leadership or management careers. You will also help make the most of the expertise already present across Devon by creating opportunities for AMHPs in different teams and services to learn together, influence practice and remain connected to a strong county-wide professional network. What we are looking for We are seeking an inspiring, credible and values-led leader who is passionate about excellent Mental Health Act practice, developing people and creating the conditions in which staff can do their best work. You will bring professional authority and sound judgement, alongside a compassionate and collaborative leadership style. You will understand that a healthy culture is built through visibility, trust, inclusion, open communication, reflective learning and consistent support. You will be someone who
• Leads with compassion, integrity, curiosity and authenticity.
• Creates psychologically safe, inclusive and supportive environments where people feel able to speak up, learn and contribute.
• Builds positive relationships across organisational boundaries and brings people together around a shared purpose.
• Values the contribution of AMHPs working in different teams, services and professional settings.
• Can combine day-to-day operational grip with strategic thinking, workforce planning and sustainable service development.
• Is committed to staff wellbeing, good supervision, professional development and a positive learning culture.
• Recognises and nurtures talent, including future AMHPs, trainees, experienced practitioners and emerging leaders.
• Champions social justice, human rights, least restrictive practice and the social perspective in mental health care.
• Uses evidence, feedback and lived experience to support learning and continuous improvement.
• Communicates clearly, listens well and leads change in a thoughtful, inclusive and purposeful way.
• Professional requirements
• A recognised professional qualification in social work, occupational therapy, nursing or psychology, with current registration with the relevant professional regulator.
• Current or recent approval and substantial practice experience as an AMHP.
• Strong knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, associated legislation, the Code of Practice and contemporary mental health and social care practice.
• Demonstrable leadership and management experience, including the ability to lead across complex partnership arrangements.
• Experience of developing services, people and professional practice across organisational or multidisciplinary settings., DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council's use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
• This role requires a DBS disclosure
• This role requires Social Work England Registration (SWE), Nursing and Midwifery Council Registration (NMC) or Health and Care Professions Council Registration (HCPC).
  
  Exeter, Devon
• Full Time
• £67,401 per annum
A career-defining opportunity to lead and develop a county-wide AMHP service, strengthen a shared professional community and build the workforce of the future. Lead, influence and shape the future of AMHP services in Devon, This is more than a service management role. It is an opportunity to shape a vital statutory service, strengthen a diverse professional community and influence how mental health crisis support develops across a large and varied county. In return, we offer
• You'll be working in a supportive and inclusive environment where your contribution is valued and your development is prioritised.
• We offer 26 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays, rising incrementally to 31 days after 5 years' service.
• Offer an opportunity to enter a generous Local Government Pension Scheme.
• As a place to live and work, Devon is hard to beat with top-performing schools, universities, vibrant cities, pretty villages and some of the most scenic coast and countryside in the UK. Living and working in Devon has never been more attractive.
• A visible and supportive senior leadership team with ambition for the service and the people who work within it.
• Flexible and agile working arrangements, subject to the needs of the service.
• A comprehensive relocation package for candidates who are moving to Devon, subject to organisational policy and eligibility criteria.
• Please note: At this time, we are unable to consider overseas applications.