The Mental Health team is responsible for developing and implementing policy to improve mental health for everyone in Wales. The team also has responsibility for suicide and self-harm prevention policy and dementia policy.
The post is SEO grade and will be responsible for providing specialist advice to support the implementation of the Mental Health Act reform in Wales and wider changes to legislation and policy to deliver the Welsh Government’s Mental Health and Well-being Strategy.
The post holder will be supported by a small team in the Mental Health & Substance Misuse Division and will provide expert advice based on their operational experience. They will use their experience of the application of previous mental health legislation and their understanding of Government processes to operationalise the policy intent in the Mental Health Act.
A key responsibility will be to oversee the development of the Code of Practice and statutory forms to ensure operational effectiveness and alignment with other related legislation.
Mental Health is a high profile and fast paced policy area and is a priority for the Welsh Government . The branch works closely with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of the policy areas covered.
The role requires expert knowledge of the Mental Health Act and related legislation, strong communication and organisational skills and the ability to deal with a wide variety of individuals and organisations.
Job overview
- Ensuring successful implementation of the Mental Health Act through providing expert advice and guidance.
- Working with UK Government to ensure alignment between implementation planning and related work including the Code of Practice.
- Informing and updating all relevant forms and guidance to support implementation, and developing a longer-term approach to continually review and update documents where necessary.
- Briefing Ministers in relation to all aspects of the legislative implementation programme.
- Engaging and advocating for sectors responsible for operating the Mental Health Act to support system preparedness
- Advising on, and supporting planned changes to related legislation to support implementation, for instance the Mental Health (Wales) Measure.
- Maintaining good relationships with external bodies including service providers, third sector organisations, service users and carers, and representing the Welsh Government at official events on some occasions.
- Developing knowledge and understanding across the Mental Health Division of related legislation.
- Responding to policy priorities across the Division as necessary.
Person specification
The post has a range of development opportunities, including engagement with a breadth of stakeholders and other administrations, alongside working closely with Ministers and Special Advisors. This is a cross-cutting portfolio with engagement with officials across HSS Group and WG.
Qualifications
Are you an Approved Mental Health Practitioner or similar mental health professional?
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £47,675, Welsh Government contributes £13,811 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience.
Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Occasional travel within Wales may be required for engagement with stakeholders.
In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Changing and Improving . Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window).
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact
Recruitment team
