Relief Mental Health Officer (MHO) - ORK10803

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Relief Mental Health Officer

Adult and Learning Disability Social Work Team - Aberdeen / Aberdeenshire

Hours are offered on an as and when required basis

£24.67 per hour

You will be reporting to Cathy Martin, Service Manager, Adult and Learning Disability Social Work Service

Your working pattern is on an as and when required basis to meet the demands of the service.

The purpose of this role is to Undertake the statutory duties in respect of the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and on occasion the Adults with Incapacity [Scotland] Act 2000, to Orkney patients.

Deliver a statutory social work/care management service to service users, who have complex needs and/or are in crisis, their families and carers who are experiencing or are affected by mental illness or serious mental health problems.

Undertake all Mental Health Officer (MHO) functions under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003 (The 2003 Act), Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (the 1995 Act) and Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act, 2000 (the 2000 Act) and all other relevant, applicable and ancillary legislation as an independent professional on behalf of Orkney Islands Council and to act as specialist consultants to a wide range of others.

We would like to recruit a registered social worker who holds a Mental Health Officer qualification to undertake occasional Mental Health Officer duties when Orkney patients are in hospital in Aberdeen.

The successful candidate will predominantly undertake assessments under Section 44 Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 following the patient’s transfer to Aberdeen from Orkney however there may also be a requirement to undertake additional Mental Health Officer related tasks as required.

The successful candidate will be employed by Orkney Health and Care but will be based in the Aberdeen area and, work on a relief basis as agreed with the Team Manager or Service Manager, Adult and Learning Disability Social Work. Although the successful candidate will be working remotely, regular support will be provided when required from Orkney’s MHO cohort. Regular supervision will also be provided.

A laptop, phone and any other equipment necessary to carry out duties, will be provided to the successful candidate.

The necessary qualification, experience and skills required for this role are detailed in the ‘must have’ section of the attached job profile. These criteria are used for decisions on shortlisting and appointment of applicants.

This post is a regulated role with children and adults and requires Level 2 Disclosure with PVG scheme membership.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 18 October 2026, with shortlisting taking place 19 October and interviews are scheduled for 2 November.

For a discussion about this post, please contact Cathy Martin, Service Manager, Adult and Learning Disability Social Work Service on 2644 or cathy.martin@orkney.gov.uk

For information on applying and our recruitment process, click here for Information for Applicants.

We would welcome your feedback on our recruitment process.

Orkney Islands Council is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of age, gender, race or ethnicity, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity status or gender reassignment status.