Community Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

The Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) for older people work with adults aged 65 and over who are experiencing moderate or severe mental illness. The CMHT's assess, treat, monitor, and support patients and their families predominately in their own homes and, where necessary, can refer to other teams such as the Intensive Dementia Support Service (IDSS) or Home Treatment Team. They can also arrange admissions to hospital when necessary. The CMHT's also provide an 'in-reach service', providing specialist support and assessments for patients' admitted to Community Hospitals.

The CMHT'S consist of Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Support, Time & Recovery Workers, Assistant Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, and administration support. The CMHT's are also part of a bigger team known as the Integrated Team which bring together CMHT's, District Nursing Teams and Integrated Rehabilitation Teams.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as a member of the Neighbourhood Team in Older Persons' Mental Health providing a high quality, comprehensive mental health service for older people in South Somerset with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.

The post holder will be personally responsible and professionally accountable for a caseload within the community working with individuals and their significant others who have multiple and complex needs. Acting as a key member of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will provide assessment, psycho-social, evidence-based interventions using a collaborative recovery approach and will be skilled at positive risk management.

The specific terms and conditions will be dependent on the professional background and each profession will have slightly different responsibilities. The post holder may be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.

About us

As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, fantastic pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will to experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan -- there is truly something for everyone!