About this role
Job summary
We are looking for a motivated, collaborative Section 117 Funding Reviewer to join us in this Band 7 post, play a key role in coordinating our organisational S117 recovery plan.
You will review aftercare placements and funding arrangements for people receiving mental health aftercare services, including individuals placed outside the local area whose care is overseen by the Adult Directorates IPP function.
Your will help ensure that S117 aftercare is clinically appropriate, legally compliant, recovery-focused and value for money. Partnership with clinical teams, commissioners, local authorities, care providers, patients, carers and key stakeholders, you will develop/undertake robust review processes.
You will use your communication, analytical and influencing skills to support effective decision-making and help ensure that each person receives care in the least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs. An opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to patient care plus effective use of resources. Through constructive challenge, proactive pathway management and timely discharge planning, you will help reduce avoidable expenditure for out-of-area and local S117 placements while ensuring that the organisation continues to meet its statutory responsibilities under the Mental Health Act.
Note: This post is currently described as Band 7 but has not yet been through the Agenda for Change job evaluation panel. The final banding is therefore subject to formal evaluation.
Main duties of the job
- Lead on the organisations 117 recovery plan and development of the infrastructure to achieve the required outcomes of the recovery plan.
- Coordinate and undertake Section 117 aftercare reviews for individuals placed out of area but are funded by DPT for 117 aftercare in collaboration with the local authority.
- Ensure reviews are completed in accordance with Trust, Local Authority and NHS England requirements.
- Monitor statutory review dates and ensure compliance with review schedules for individuals subject to 117.
- Maintain oversight of all allocated Section 117 funding & be an active contributor to the IPP funding panel for 117.
- Ensure care packages continue to meet identified needs and recovery goals.
- Support timely progression through care pathways.
- Identify barriers to 117 discharge and escalation requirements.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Establish productive working relationships with:
- Local Authorities
- Key Workers
- Responsible Clinicians
- Community Mental Health Teams
- Inpatient Services
- Commissioners, Care Providers, Family Members and Carers
- Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings.
- Attend provider reviews and placement monitoring visits where required.
- Contribute to complex case discussions.
- Provide and receive highly complex, highly sensitive and potentially contentious information, requiring developed persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic and reassurance skills. This includes communicating with patients, carers, clinical teams, local authorities, commissioners and care providers regarding Section 117 eligibility, legal responsibilities, funding disputes, high-cost placements, changes to care packages and pathway progression. The post holder will be required to overcome barriers to understanding or acceptance, reconcile differing professional and organisational perspectives, and communicate effectively in situations that may be highly emotive, challenging or occasionally antagonistic.
- Support resolution of disputes relating to funding responsibility and commissioning arrangements.
- Coordinate and undertake Section 117 aftercare reviews for individuals.
- Ensure reviews are completed in accordance with Trust, Local Authority and NHS England requirements.
- Monitor statutory review dates and ensure compliance with review schedules.
- Maintain oversight of all allocated Section 117 funding and placements.
- Ensure care packages continue to meet identified needs and recovery goals.
- Support timely progression through care pathways.
- Coordinate and undertake Section 117 aftercare reviews for individuals placed in residential, nursing, supported living, rehabilitation or specialist settings.
- Ensure reviews are completed in accordance with Trust, Local Authority and NHS England requirements.
- Maintain oversight of all allocated Section 117 placements.
- Ensure care packages continue to meet identified needs and recovery goals.
- Support timely progression through care pathways.
- Identify barriers to discharge and escalation requirements.
- To be responsible for managing and prioritising own workload to meet internal and external demands
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
- Review clinical information and undertake holistic assessments to determine ongoing care requirements.
- The post holder will have an allocated portfolio of out-of-area patients whose Section 117 arrangements require review, but responsibility is limited to: coordinating and undertaking Section 117 reviews;
- reviewing whether placements and care packages remain appropriate;
- monitoring review dates, funding and pathway progression;
- identifying barriers and escalating concerns;
- making recommendations to the responsible clinical team, local authority, commissioner or funding panel.
- The patients responsible clinical team, care coordinator or key worker will retain responsibility for ongoing clinical case management, delivery of care and arranging care packages.
- Evaluate whether current placement arrangements remain clinically appropriate.
- Assess risks associated with current and proposed care arrangements.
- Ensure care remains proportionate to patient need.
- Promote recovery, independence, rehabilitation and community reintegration.
- Support development of robust contingency and crisis management plans.
- Escalate concerns relating to deterioration, placement breakdown or safeguarding.
- Contribute to development of Section 117 pathways.
- Participate in service redesign projects.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.
- Support implementation of best practice guidance.
- Contribute to training and awareness raising across the Trust in relation to 117, supporting the design and roll out of provision.
- Review funding arrangements for allocated out-of-area Section 117 placements, including funding responsibility, agreed cost-sharing arrangements, placement fees, additional staffing and commissioned care.
- Assess whether expenditure remains aligned with current assessed need, identify discrepancies, duplication and opportunities for cost avoidance, and make evidence-based recommendations to the appropriate funding panel or authorised decisionmaker.
- Analyse placement costs against assessed need.
- Challenge inflationary increases and duplicated provision.
- Prepare recommendations for funding panels
- Review high-cost placements, ensuring value for money across all placements..
- Identify savings opportunities.
- Ensure funding decisions are evidence-based and appropriately presented to the relevant panel for consideration.
- Provide advice and support to clinical teams.
- Deliver guidance relating to Section 117 processes.
- Support induction and training activities relating to aftercare review processes.
- Use and maintain electronic patient records.
- Ensure information governance standards are met.
- Produce reports and performance information in relation to 117 requirements. Reports will be developed and agreed upon as part of the development of the role.
- The Data Protection Act and other legislation relating to the release of information
- Maintain accurate electronic records.
- Ensure documentation meets legal and professional standards.
- Contribute to audits of Section 117 compliance monthly.
- Produce reports regarding review activity and outcomes.
- Monitor risks associated with placement provision.
- Escalate placement quality concerns through appropriate channels.
- Support implementation of local and national policy.
- Ensure reviews are completed in accordance with Trust, Local Authority and NHS England requirements.
- Ensure care packages continue to meet identified needs and recovery goals.
- Support timely progression through care pathways.
- Ensure care packages continue to meet identified needs and recovery goals.
- Support timely progression through care pathways.
The post holder will have an allocated portfolio of out-of-area patients whose Section 117 arrangements require review, but responsibility is limited to
- coordinating and undertaking Section 117 reviews
- reviewing whether placements and care packages remain appropriate
- monitoring review dates, funding and pathway progression
- identifying barriers and escalating concerns
- Analyse placement costs against assessed need.
- Identify opportunities for cost avoidance and efficiency savings.
- Challenge inflationary increases and duplicated provision.
- Support negotiations with providers regarding service specifications and fees.
- Prepare recommendations for funding panels and authorisation processes.
- Review high-cost placements.
- Identify savings opportunities.
- Deliver guidance relating to Section 117 processes.
- Use and maintain electronic patient records.
- Ensure information governance standards are met.
- Comply with Data Protection legislation and Trust policies.
- Maintain accurate electronic records.
- Monitor risks associated with placement provision.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or equivalent registered professional qualification.
- Post-registration qualification in Mental Health, Leadership or Care Management
- Current professional registration.
Desirable
- Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) qualification
- Best Interest Assessor qualification
- Level 7 qualification in healthcare, leadership or management our willingness to work towards this.
- Project management qualification (PRINCE2 or equivalent)
- Quality Improvement qualification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience within mental health services.
- Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
- Experience of care package review and 117 review process.
- Experience of risk assessment and management.
- Experience of complex case management.
- Experience of working with external agencies.
- Experience of placement management and discharge planning
- Experience of writing reports for funding panels or governance groups.
Desirable
- Experience managing Out of Area Placements
- Experience within an IPP, CHC or Complex Care Team
- Experience of Section 117 funding reviews
- Experience of provider contract monitoring
- Experience of cost improvement and value-for-money reviews
- Experience presenting complex cases to funding panels
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Detailed understanding of the Mental Health Act.
- Detailed understanding of Section 117 Aftercare.
- Knowledge of mental health services and care pathways.
- Understanding of safeguarding legislation.
- Understanding of commissioning and funding arrangements.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong negotiation skills.
- Ability to challenge constructively.
- Report writing and presentation skills.
- Data analysis and interpretation.
- Ability to manage competing priorities.
- Ability to work autonomously.
- Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions. Ability to manage risk
- Excellent organisational skills
- Negotiation skills
- Ability to be mobile across a geographical area. Computer literacy
Desirable
- Experience of placement commissioning.
- Experience of provider contract monitoring.
- Understanding of NHS financial governance.
- Experience managing Out of Area Placements.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address
Wonford House
Dryden Road
Exeter
Devon
EX2 5AF
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)