Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job responsibilities

4. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will be expected to be able to make clear clinical decisions based on the analysis of often complex presenting difficulties; this can include being the decision maker in terms of the onward care plan for patients experiencing crisis mental health needs.

To receive and triage referrals for the teams.

Undertake holistic and comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessment of patients referred to the service.

Utilise a range of highly specialised clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical/ home setting in which they are seen

Ability to match patient need with available skills and resources.

Work closely with peer support workers and volunteers to enhance patient experience.

Provide a consultation-liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams referring to the teams. This will include giving specialist advice on care, treatment and patients management issues.

To be part of a multi-disciplinary team approach responding to individuals requiring a same day response or signposting due to a mental health crisis

To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers

To provide skilled telephone-based support to help contain a crisis and avoid further escalation of an issue

To offer an urgent mental health assessments and appointments in a location most convenient/appropriate for the patient; this may be in their home, GP surgery or Emergency Department.

To provide MH assessment to patients deemed to be at risk of inpatient psychiatric admission, presenting with acute mental health disturbance of a functional nature.

Identify the most appropriate intervention required for patient, with an emphasis on positive risk management, and refer, as necessary.

Following assessments provide high quality assessment reports/letters to the relevant professionals. Monitor reports by junior staff to ensure they are of the same standards.

Maintain high standards of integrity when communicating with patients and others.

Demonstrate ability to use IT systems effectively including email and clinical systems used by the team.

Possess a good working knowledge of mental health legislation including Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards and use this in relation to advising and planning care, independently or with other professionals.

The post holder will provide nursing care and other interventions in the setting most appropriate to meet the patients needs.

Emergency judgments and clinical decision-making.

Maintain high standards of clinical care to patients.

Formulate care plans, implement, and evaluate them alongside patients and carers

ensuring informed consent is obtained.

Demonstrates safe clinical skills when providing care for patients receiving specialist treatments e.g., commencement of Clozaril in the community or supporting a patient through ECT treatment.

To work within their professional registration (NMC, HCPC, BCAP) only.

4.1 Responsibility for People Management

Provide clinical supervision and line management supervision for junior members of staff.

Have the ability to challenge staff where the standard falls below expectations.

Have the ability to foster capability and support staff to develop.

Assist in education programmes provided for junior staff.

Provide mentorship for students both formally and informally.

Participate regularly in recruitment and selection of staff.

The post holder will actively participate in line management supervision with the Team Manager of the Team.

Provide line management for junior staff.

The post holder will actively participate in clinical supervision in accordance with Livewell SW policy.

The post holder will actively participate in the Livewell SW appraisal system and provide appraisals for junior staff.

Support the Team Manager in the effective running of the team and monitoring of standards through effective clinical supervision of junior staff.

To take a clinical lead in absence of managers.

4.2 Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

To comply with Livewell Southwest financial policies and procedures.

Exercise a duty of care in relation to use of the organisations equipment and resources in a cost-effective manner.

To maintain equipment as issued to them by Livewell Southwest for the job role - Lone working devise, mobile phone and IT equipment.

The post holder would be responsible for the safe storage and stock control levels of medication (NMC registered).

The post holder would be expected to be an authorised signatory for the ordering and authorisation of medication. (NMC registered).

4.3 Responsibility for administration

Maintain all records used by the team securely in line with the organisations policy and local practice.

The post holder will be responsible for updating their own practice, knowledge, and skills within their sphere of practice including Livewell SW mandatory training.

Knowledge of Mental Health and Mental Health service delivery.

To take a lead role in the co-ordination of shift ensuring appropriate allocation of work with the available skill mix utilising, prioritising, negotiation, and delegation skills.

Regularly take a lead in clinical meetings ensuring all patients are reviewed and decisions and plans are put into action and represent the patients views.

Liaise with other services to arrange appointments that both meet patient and service demands.

Responsible for electronic contacts and monitor the standard of work of junior staff.

Maintain confidentiality of the patients as per policy whilst sharing information when appropriate to do so.

Keep accurate and contemporaneous electronic/written patient records and comply with professional and organisational record keeping policies.

Comply with local and national policies in relation to confidentiality and information sharing protocols.

4.4 Responsibility for people who use our services

Advise referrers/family/patients, medical and other professional staff on the management of patients and contribute to care planning to meet identified needs.

Conduct risk assessments on all patients presenting to the service in line with up-to-date guidance and Livewell Southwest policy. The post holder will have highly developed risk assessment skills to manage complex presentations.

Evaluate effectiveness of care interventions with all disciplines of staff, adjusting care plans where necessary.

To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers

Refer and signpost people to appropriate mental health services as required both within and outside of the organisations area. Assist people to complete self-referrals when this is in their best interests.

Involve carers and families of people with mental health needs, providing support and advice as needed.

Provide education to patients and carers to enhance their knowledge therefore improving longer-term concordance.

Promote RECOVERY

Provide education to patients and carers in line with current policy and good practice guidelines.

Demonstrate the ability to analyse often large amounts of complex information from a range of other services, assimilate these and their relevance to a persons mental health needs.

Formulate a clinical opinion including an assessment of risk and advise on an appropriate care plan.

Take a lead role in the collaboration and the planning of individual care with patient, carer, other Teams and Services. Including maintaining the safety of patients, staff, and the public in challenging, potentially violent situations.

Adhere to the Policy for the Safe, Secure and Handling of Medicines and local Home Treatment protocols ensuring patients receive medication in a safe and timely fashion.

Assess and monitor the effect of medication and report observations to medical staff.

4.5 Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

Expected to take an active role in the development of the teams including the formulation of protocols.

Provide a positive role in clinical audit and evaluation of teams to ensure high levels of clinical effectiveness.

Demonstrate a commitment to the improvement of patient care in relation to development of the service provided for all adults with mental health problems.

4.6 Other Responsibilities

Be required to have ability to travel to other clinical sites for attendance at meetings.

Ability to plan the safest most cost-effective route for community visits.

The post holder will be required to work over a 7 day period.

Act as a role model for all staff.

The post holder will behave in a manner that does not bring the team or Livewell SW into disrepute.

Demonstrate the ability to manage conflicting demands on time and the ability to prioritise clinical work effectively.

Demonstrate the ability to organise work schedules as well as re-prioritising work in light of changing demand.

Please see attached full Job Description and Person Specification for full details

Qualifications

Essential

• RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing NMC Registration
• RGN/Dip HE/BSc Registered Nurse NMC Registration
• Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration
• Social Work Degree HCPC Registration
• Paramedic Science Degree/BSc/Dip HE HCPC Registration Registered
• Have completed a BABCP or BPS accredited IAPT/Psychological Wellbeing Training (PWP).
• Psychological well-being practitioner. Degree/BCs in psychology and registered with British psychological Society as a Psychological wellbeing practitioner.

Desirable

• Post qualification experience/training in mental health and related issues.
• Clinical Supervision training.
• Evidence of completion of statutory and mandatory training.
• Mentorship qualification or equivalent experience.
• Non-medical prescriber or willingness to work towards this where appropriate.
• Leadership qualifications. (Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Mental health nurse, psychological wellbeing practitioner)

Specific skills

Essential

• IT skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload.
• Risk assessment and formulation skills, including safety planning.
• Robust and positive approach towards risk assessment.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to prioritise and reprioritise work to meet clinical demand.
• Ability to identify and refer on for unmet need. Working effectively with patients who may have a variety of communication difficulties.
• Triaging referrals based on clinical urgency.
• Ability to manage environmental stress.
• Ability to work in a changing team.
• Articulate with a high level of communication skills.
• Ability to deal with high levels of emotional stress.
• Ability to sustain high levels of concentration.

Desirable

• Staff appraisal skills.
• Committed to developing new ideas and improving patient care.
• Physical healthcare skills.

Additional requirements and Behavioural Attributes

Essential

• To participate in on- call structure. Ability to work flexible hours.
• Able to work alone and unsupervised following induction period.
• Reflective, curious and creative in approach to patient care.
• Responsible and self-motivated, tact, diplomacy and self-confident.
• Able to manage difficult and distressing situations effectively.
• Flexible and adaptable, ability to learn new skills and develop role.
• Display values of being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. commitment to the aims and values of the NHS combined with high personal integrity.
• Committed to developing and improving mental health services.
• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of post registration development.
• Clinical Risk Assessment.
• Safeguarding Adults and Children.
• Clinical Governance.
• Care program approach & person-centered framework.
• Psychological models of care and treatment.
• Sound working knowledge of Mental Health Act (1983), Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (2005).
• Understanding of National guidelines and initiatives related to provision of mental health services.
• Understanding of the provision of mental health care and recovery services in the community.
• Specialist knowledge of mental disorders and their impact on physical health.

Desirable

• CBT skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Solution focused therapy skills.
• Physical healthcare skills.
• Motivational interviewing skills.
• DBT skills.
• Cognitive assessment skills.
• Microsoft Outlook.
• Culturally competent assessment and intervention skills
• SystmOne, Care First or other electronic records system also eCPA.

Experience

Essential

• Significant post-registration experience of working with people with complex mental ill health within the community, including those who may abuse drugs and/or alcohol.
• Significant experience as a care coordinator/ or Home
• Treatment/Crisis worker.
• Experience of working collaboratively with patients and their families/carers.
• Previous experience of working at a level relevant to the role, post registration experience in acute mental health.
• Completing complex mental health assessments in a variety of different settings in the community and signposting to relevant services.
• Relapse prevention and Recovery Principles.
• Experience of working with people in high levels of distress.
• Extensive post-qualifying experience of practicing low intensity CBT interventions with people with a range of mental health problems in a community mental health setting.

Desirable

• Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring, and teaching to students and other health professionals.
• Experience of working in an acute inpatient unit.
• Experience of working with older adults.
• Experience of working with people with an offending background.
• Experience of conducting basic physical health screening.
• Previous experience of working in a community mental health setting.
• Evidence of developing and contributing to service development.
• Experience of change in health care.
• Collaborative working with peer support organisations.
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
• Experience working with a psychologist or MH professional.
• Experience of managing or supervising junior staff.
• Managing a caseload of clients with a range of mental health presentation.

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).