Relief Out of Hours Mental Health Officer

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Job Details

Are you an experienced Mental Health Officer looking for flexible work that offers autonomy, variety and the opportunity to maintain and develop your statutory practice?

We are seeking experienced and accredited Mental Health Officers (MHOs) to join Fife's Out of Hours Service as Relief Co-ordinators (Senior Practitioners). This is a unique opportunity to combine advanced statutory mental health practice with leadership responsibilities within a small, highly skilled team, while enjoying the flexibility of relief work.

As the Senior Practitioner on shift, you will lead decision-making, support colleagues through complex situations and make a meaningful difference when people need help most. This is not a traditional social work role. You will have the autonomy to make complex decisions, lead responses to high-risk situations and provide professional leadership across a range of adult and children's services.

The role offers a rare breadth of practice across adult services, child protection, mental health, emergency interventions and multi-agency partnership working, meaning no two shifts are the same. It is an excellent opportunity for experienced Practitioners looking to supplement existing employment, maintain their MHO practice, or undertake flexible work within a supportive and experienced team.

You'll join a small, supportive and highly experienced service consisting of a Team Manager, Co-ordinators and Social Workers, supported by a dedicated group of relief staff. We value professional judgement, collaborative practice and mutual support, recognising the demands of out of hours work and the importance of staff wellbeing.

While you will lead operational decision-making during your shifts, you will be supported by experienced colleagues, established procedures and strong partnerships with Police Scotland, NHS Fife and other emergency services. The role also provides opportunities to further develop advanced risk assessment, emergency decision-making, leadership and statutory mental health practice.

As a Relief Co-ordinator/Senior Practitioner, you will oversee service delivery, support staff and ensure that individuals at risk receive a timely and appropriate response. The Out of Hours Service responds across all areas of social work practice, including adult and child protection, and undertakes statutory duties under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Relief staff provide cover on an as-required basis, including:

• Evenings and weekends.
• Overnight on-call/standby arrangements.
• Public holidays.
• Annual leave, sickness absence and additional service demand.

The role requires flexibility and the ability to travel across Fife, including overnight.

Fife's Out of Hours Service undertakes a significant number of Mental Health Officer assessments each year, offering regular opportunities to maintain and develop statutory mental health skills. Relief staff play an important role in supporting this work and gaining exposure to a wide range of complex mental health assessments and emergency interventions.

The Person

• Take responsibility for the overall co-ordination of the shift, ensuring effective decision-making and safe practice.
• Provide leadership, direction, advice and support to Social Workers and Social Work Assistants.
• Assess incoming information and determine appropriate responses to risk.
• Co-ordinate and oversee urgent assessments and interventions.
• Undertake statutory Mental Health Officer duties in line with the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, including co-ordinating and participating in Mental Health Act assessments where required.
• Act as the designated Mental Health Officer (MHO) during operational hours.
• Support staff responding to emergency situations, including attending where required.
• Promote effective multi-agency working with Police Scotland, NHS Fife and other partner agencies.
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality recording, including statutory documentation relating to mental health interventions.
• Contribute to maintaining high standards of practice and service delivery during shifts.
• Share knowledge, experience and guidance with colleagues and relief staff where required.

What we're looking for:

• A qualified Social Worker registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
• A currently accredited Mental Health Officer.
• Significant experience of statutory social work practice, including risk assessment and crisis intervention.
• The ability to make sound decisions under pressure and manage competing demands.
• Excellent communication, leadership and partnership working skills.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality services to vulnerable children, adults and families.

If you're an experienced MHO looking for flexible work that allows you to maintain and develop your statutory practice, exercise professional autonomy and make a real impact during some of the most critical moments in people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Before confirming to your appointment, you will be required to obtain Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland and become a member of the relevant PVG scheme.

As this role requires SSSC registration, you will have three months to apply for registration.

If appointed, you must start your application as soon as possible so you're registered within the required six months.

If you need to achieve a qualification to maintain your SSSC membership, information will be provided if you are appointed. You must ensure you complete the qualification within the specified timeframe.

For further information please contact: Michael Hunter, Team Manager - michael.hunter-hs@fife.gov.uk