Client: Office of the Public Guardian 
Location: Wales
Remuneration: Time commitment Approx. 20 visits a year and remunerated at a rate of £618 per visit / report, plus travel expenses.

We are seeking registered medical practitioners with a licence to practise, HCPC registered psychologists who are ideally chartered by the British Psychological Society, also psychiatrists who are on the specialty register. Candidates with expertise in assessing people with Neurodevelopment disorders including learning disabilities and autism, Neuropsychiatric disorders and dementia are particularly welcome. You should have expert knowledge of impairment or functioning of the mind or brain, experience in assessing mental capacity and an excellent understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 

This is a statutory appointment under Section 61 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The role of special visitor is an interesting and personally rewarding one. It’s also flexible as you’ll determine your own workload.  

We are seeking applications from candidates based across Wales. When you apply, you’ll need to tell us which postcode regions you want to primarily cover. Our regions are:  

1.    CF, Cardiff
2.    LD, Landrindod
3.    LL, Wrexham
4.    NP, Newport
5.    SA, Swansea
6.    SY, Shrewsbury

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) supervises deputies who are appointed by the Court of Protection to manage the financial and health and welfare affairs of people who are unable to make decisions due to mental incapacity. OPG also registers lasting powers of attorney and enduring powers of attorney and can investigate the conduct of attorneys and deputies.

As a special visitor for the Court of Protection and OPG you’ll carry out mental capacity assessments of our clients, many of whom are elderly or have an acquired brain injury, mental illness or learning disability. 

You’ll assess their degree of mental capacity and help our clients to express their opinions. You’ll then complete comprehensive reports for the Court of Protection and Public Guardian based on your findings. As part of writing reports, you’ll be expected to consult with associated agencies such as social services, residential or nursing care home managers and GP practices. Your reports must be accurate, concise, well written and produced to designated time scales and in accordance with agreed targets and standards.  

You’ll meet your peers annually attending conferences and be appraised at least once every three years.  

As a special visitor, you’ll be engaged on a self-employed basis and be responsible for paying your own tax and national insurance, as well as arranging your own professional and public liability. This position may be combined with other work commitments, paid or unpaid. Special visitors are required to pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. 

Visits are conducted to tight deadlines and are allocated on a regional basis, although you may occasionally be asked to conduct a visit outside your preferred region. As visits are sometimes in locations not easily accessible by public transport, a driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.

Due to the nature of the work, it’s not possible to give a precise number of visits you’ll be asked to carry out, but on average, you’ll be expected to complete around 20 visits a year. You’ll also be expected to manage your own caseload and tell OPG about your availability to conduct visits.  

Payment is £618 for each visit and report, plus your travel expenses.

Our selection process is based on your knowledge of the issues affecting those experiencing mental incapacity and, on your interviewing, and planning skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise reports. 

We are committed to Welsh Language Scheme and would welcome applications from any candidate fluent in the Welsh Language.

To apply for this post or access further information, please visit the Cabinet Office website by clicking the apply button where you can download an application form and candidate pack.

Please send your completed application forms by email to opgvisitorsrecruitment@publicguardian.gov.uk or by post to Visits Office, Office of the Public Guardian, PO Box 16185, Birmingham B2 2WH. 

The closing date for applications is Noon on 08 November 2021.

If you’re invited to interview, we’ll let you know by late November 2021. Interviews are due to be held during December 2021. Please see the information pack for further details.

OPG is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. We won’t tolerate discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, religion, age, disability, HIV positivity, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity, political beliefs or on any other grounds.