Job summary
As one of the 12 'early implementer' sites for integrated community mental health services, we are expanding our community mental health offer. Our new services are centred around the Primary Care Networks and aspiring to comprehensive engagement with Integrated Care Systems using a whole person, whole population health approach. The model utilizes all the community resources available including health, social care, Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organizations and local communities and consider resources to support wellbeing outside of mental health services alone.
These new teams enable and support people to access mental health services wherever and whenever they need it and support individuals to manage their mental health supported in their local community. We are therefore looking for skilled and enthusiastic individuals.
Through this work, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative role ofMental Health Practitionerwithin each borough. As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will be employed by West London NHS Trust and will be key in the development of pathways of care in the local community mental health team (MINT). This role would also provide an opportunity to be mentored or to mentor, career progression and continued education.
We are seeking applications fromRegistered Mental Health Nurses, Social workers or Occupational Therapists, who have experience of working in community services.
Main duties of the job
The ideal candidate will have:
- Prior experience of working across a range of community mental health settings and with a range of mental health diagnoses/need.
- Knowledge of and experience in delivering a range of brief interventions to patients with mental health needs.
Good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to use these to strengthen local relationships with the local MINT Teams
1. Provide holistic and specialist bio-psycho-social assessment for anyone experiencing mental health difficulties and offer specialist nursing assessment where required.
2. Provide advice to primary care to help them provide better support to patients and to (where preferable) meet their mental health needs within a primary care setting.
3. Carry out robust risk assessments, working collaboratively with the patient and their carer to provide a plan that will support them remaining safe.
4. Provide access to a broad range of specialist psychosocial interventions for individual patients where needed.
5. Provide expert advice regarding the pharmacological treatment options available to mental health patients to patients and non-mental health professionals, seeking clinical guidance from the designated Consultant Psychiatrist/GP in relation to any specific prescribing advice.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Relevant professional qualification and registration with professional body. (Nurse, Social Worker ,Occupational Therapist ,Psychologist)
Desirable
- oEducated to degree or Diploma level with other courses relevant to primary care mental health services e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focussed Therapy etc
- ophysical health qualification
- oEvidence of recent and on-going relevant further professional development
Experience
Essential
- oDemonstrable experience of post qualifying work in psychiatry
- oExperience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
Desirable
- oEvidence of experience in a Band 6 position or equivalent
- oOther relevant post registration experience
- oAudit and research experience
- oExperience of teaching/training in a formal or informal setting
- oExperience of working in a primary care setting/ social care/ voluntary sector
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of counselling skills/cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventions
- oKnowledge of recovery approaches as used with those with mental health conditions
- oAbility to interpret research and apply to practice
- oSpecialist knowledge of mental health conditions as well as their relationship to physical disorders
- o Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively
- Team/self management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
- o Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options, with senior clinical support/supervision
- Higher level communication skills, both written and oral
Personal Qualities
Essential
- o Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence
- o Ability to meet deadlines
- o Commitment to equal opportunities
- o Ability to accept constructive feedback
- o Exercise initiative, flexibility and tact and self awareness
- o Be aware of the limitations in your competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership
- o Be able to work flexibly if required
Desirable
- o Personal experience of a mental health condition
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Relevant professional qualification and registration with professional body. (Nurse, Social Worker ,Occupational Therapist ,Psychologist)
Desirable
- oEducated to degree or Diploma level with other courses relevant to primary care mental health services e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focussed Therapy etc
- ophysical health qualification
- oEvidence of recent and on-going relevant further professional development
Experience
Essential
- oDemonstrable experience of post qualifying work in psychiatry
- oExperience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
Desirable
- oEvidence of experience in a Band 6 position or equivalent
- oOther relevant post registration experience
- oAudit and research experience
- oExperience of teaching/training in a formal or informal setting
- oExperience of working in a primary care setting/ social care/ voluntary sector
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of counselling skills/cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventions
- oKnowledge of recovery approaches as used with those with mental health conditions
- oAbility to interpret research and apply to practice
- oSpecialist knowledge of mental health conditions as well as their relationship to physical disorders
- o Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively
- Team/self management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
- o Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options, with senior clinical support/supervision
- Higher level communication skills, both written and oral
Personal Qualities
Essential
- o Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence
- o Ability to meet deadlines
- o Commitment to equal opportunities
- o Ability to accept constructive feedback
- o Exercise initiative, flexibility and tact and self awareness
- o Be aware of the limitations in your competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership
- o Be able to work flexibly if required
Desirable
- o Personal experience of a mental health condition
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
