Lead Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Key Tasks and Responsibilities of the Post

• Responsible for clinical oversight of the patients journey, from referral through to treatment and discharge.
• Provide robust case load management to the Step 2/ Low Intensity workforce, with a view to ensuring the IAPT provision is being adhered to.
• The post holder will, alongside the Clinical Team Leads and Service Manager, develop a robust Triage function within Plymouth Options and provide leadership and supervision to the team members as the team develops and becomes embedded.
• Support clinicians with managing any risk issues with clients and supporting with appropriate onward referral if appropriate.
• The post holder will be expected to work a minimal specified amount of clinical face to face contact, i.e. providing group support, triage.
• Ensuring clinical interventions are implemented in line with the latest NICE guidelines for psychological interventions.
• Ensure protocols and arrangements are in place so that people can be stepped up and down to and from the service as required.
• Clinical governance arrangements are in place to cover all of the clinical activity.
• Staff are appropriately skilled and trained to deliver the interventions and have access to the required amount of supervision specified by the overarching clinical body.
• Monitor and improve quality in line with NICE guidance, ensuring that low intensity intervention is of a high standard, reaching standards or recovery as defined within NHS Talking Therapies.
• Ensure clinical staff have access to the required amount of study / development opportunities specified by their governing body.
• To be involved in analysing reports populated by the clinical software system IAPTus and reporting any concerns to the Service Manager.
• Line management of a designated clinical staff at Step 2/ Low intensity.

CLINICAL

• Coordinate the acceptance of referrals via agreed protocols within the service and national IAPT guidelines.
• Maintain the quality of assessments at Step 2/ Low intensity for all interventions and undertake the same.
• Make decisions on the correct pathways for new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, and liaising with secondary care or other services as required.
• Support Clinical staff in managing Patients at risk by ensuring the patient is placed on the correct pathway. Facilitating the onward referral as required to ensure patient access to the most appropriate treatment of need in a timely way.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients in conjunction with staff team.
• Ensure clinicians are adhering to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Clinical activity is monitored with the service KPIs in mind.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service and ensure team members do the same.
• Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and national IAPT guidelines
• Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach and timely access to a wide range of evidence based interventions
• Carry out clinical audits of service performance, including service user surveys and evaluations, and help to collate and disseminate the results for feedback
• Leading on projects across the service in line with improving clinical Outcomes
• Supporting the Service Manager attending regional and national events to support further development, requirements, and changes from the national team.

Professional

• Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (eg HCPC, BACP, BABCP) NMC etc, and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g. NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence)
• Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times
• Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of NHS Talking Therapies, CBT and other agreed psychological therapies
• Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development which are in line with developing the service.
• Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager
• Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives,
• Keep up to date all records in relation to C.P.D. and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments
• Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives and increasing knowledge of the national Talking Therapies framework.

MANAGERIAL

• To be responsible for the operational and line management of the Plymouth Options team at Step 2/ Low intensity via effective management of Senior PWP team to ensure that all local and national IAPT performance measures are adhere to
• Caseload manage allocated staff in the service on a 4/6 weekly basis.
• Complete annual appraisals for allocated Clinical staff and line management in line with LWSW policy and agreed by your service manager.
• To demonstrate advanced negotiation, motivational, explanation and reassurance skills across a range of management issues
• To manage staff attendance at training, performance, setting objectives and clear expectations of staff behaviour.
• To manage and support staff through change using the appropriate staff health and wellbeing processes
• To support with service improvement to ensure ongoing patient safety is a priority.
• Support with the investigation and resolution of complaints
• The post holder will monitor and contributes to the department budget also verification all staff travel or time sheets through E-roster.
• To manage the risk register for the service alongside other B7colleagues. Escalating appropriate risks of safety /performance to the Community Services Manager.

COMMUNICATION

• To demonstrate excellent communication skills, with clients, staff, family members, and wider health network.
• To ensure information about clients assessment/treatment is accurately recorded using the clinical record system - IAPTus.
• Provide support to team members to develop efficient record keeping.
• Is able to impart complex and sensitive information to patients and families/carers and related health care professionals.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• To assume responsibility for own personal development.
• To provide support to new post holders and identify training needs via mode of PDP.
• To ensure Livewell SW mandatory training is completed at scheduled times.
• To have oversight of teams training schedule.

HUMAN RESOURCES

• To support in conjunction with the Service Manager provide Line management and caseload management to all clinical staff.
• To be responsible for recruitment of the Step 2/ Low intensity provision including the management of training places alongside relevant training institutions and HEE.
• To support the Service Manager with performance of staff members, long term sickness reviews.

PHYSICAL EFFORT

• Role will involve a lot of sitting with clients in therapy rooms. May require some standing for 2 hours at a time whilst delivering groups.

MENTAL EFFORT

• Frequent requirement for intense concentration in the delivery of high quality Clinical leadership to all clinical staff.

EMOTIONAL EFFORT

• Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances arising from therapeutic contact with Service Users (including relatives and carers) requiring emotional engagement with the material discussed, emotional self-regulation by the therapist and the delivery of a therapeutic response within professional boundaries.

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualification from PWP Training Course (Post graduate Certificate or Level 3 undergraduate course) or recognised PWP top up training.
• Active registration with the relevant professional body- To be a member of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists or regulatory body such as the NMC and to register as a PWP with BABCP or BPS.
• Evidence of management or leadership development through continuous professional development and/or formal management courses.
• Evidence of completing a recognised supervision training program.

Desirable

• Recognised management qualification at Post Graduate level or higher.

Experience

Essential

• Substantial post qualifying work as a PWP and Senior PWP.
• Experience in line management responsibility for one or more multi-disciplinary teams and where the team remit has included work with people experiencing mental health problems.
• Post qualifying experience of clinical assessment, evaluation, care planning and risk management in work with people experiencing mental health problems within an NHS Talking Therapies model
• Experience of providing clinical supervision to professionals working with people experiencing mental health problems.
• Culturally competent practice with people from a range of diverse backgrounds.
• Clinical mental health assessment skills.
• Assessment and management of risk and an understanding of the escalation process.
• A range of therapeutic interventions relating to mental health and emotional well-being.
• Mentoring students including appraisal and the setting and review of objectives.
• Evidence of working to challenging timescales.
• Evidence of team building skills.
• Experience of integrated governance, risk management and service improvement.
• Experience of working within safeguarding systems e.g. Common Assessment Framework / Child Protection.
• Development of policies and procedures.
• Experience of dealing with contentious issues and drawing upon skills of clarification and negotiation for successful resolution.
• Experience of incorporating service user views into the provision and evaluation of services.
• Managing teams with challenges and clinical pressures which require prioritisation.

Desirable

• Operational management of a team.
• Experience of using audit and analytical skills and implementing corrective action.
• Project management experience.

Knowledge

Essential

• Specialist knowledge of evidenced based low intensity interventions.
• An understanding of the system of health, social care, education and third sector within the mental health landscape in Plymouth.
• Understanding of quality and patient safety, health and safety legislation, local and national policy.
• Knowledge about risk assessment and how to support all staff members in assessing and managing risk.
• Understanding of performance management and the role this can play in the delivery of excellent and effective services.
• Knowledge of the range of therapeutic skills relevant to working with people experiencing mental health difficulties.
• Mental Health assessment skills
• Well established case management skills
• Good organisational and time management skills with an ability to prioritise high demand.
• Knowledge of mandatory NHS reporting requirements and NHS Talking Therapies data reporting.
• Knowledge of key performance indicators (KPIs) and ability to interpret data across NHS Talking Therapies data collection systems.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the key strategies and policies affecting mental health services and how that is located into a wider strategic mental health and wellbeing.

Skills

Essential

• Effective leadership skills that motivate and involve a team.
• The ability to maintain working partnerships with other organisations in the delivery of integrated care.
• Well developed communication skills both oral and written.
• Able to reason, including the ability to analyse, interpret, evaluate and draw assumptions from data and information. Able to utilise complex information to identify solutions.
• Able to analyse and find solutions to operational issues, providing solutions and motivating people to solving problems.
• Ability to communicate effectively (including sensitive information) verbally, adjusting language, style and content as appropriate to the audience.
• Ability to delegate clearly and effectively and work through others.
• Good level of IT competence to navigate multiple clinical records/ It systems, Microsoft Office suite and email systems.
• Self-motivating and able to work on own initiative.

Desirable

• Dealing with highly complex sensitive or contentious information where there may be barriers to understanding.
• Ability to work with ambiguity and in an immediate environment that is subject to rapid and fundamental change

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).