Job summary
The Forensic Liaison & Diversion (L&D) Service is looking for a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join our service.
The post will be working within the Forensic Liaison & Diversion team, delivering the service from Kingston and Wandsworth Police Custody Suites, Wimbledon Magistrates Court and Kingston Crown Court. The post holder will work as part of a team assessing and supporting service users across the criminal justice pathway who have a range of vulnerabilities including mental health learning disability, substance misuse amongst others. Clinical tasks include undertaking a person-centred clinical assessment, that includes a robust assessment of risk, for service users who have come into contact with the criminal justice system, providing court reports, ensuring clear, safe onward referral and management plans are made in order to maximise their health, social care and criminal justice outcomes. Other duties include optimising service users' ability to remain in the community and/or be cared for in the least restrictive environment according to the principles of recovery and social inclusion and supporting clinical governance initiatives.
If you feel that you have the required skill set, clinical ability and an appetite to work in offender care, then working within the FOS team might be the job for you and if so, we would welcome an application from you.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be based at Wandsworth Police Custody Suite and will be required to cover clinical work, be a source of knowledge and support for Band 6 practitioners and flexible to the needs of the service. Furthermore taking on a leadership role supporting the operational manager with both operational and managerial duties and leading on the service provision within Wandsworth custody.
The successful candidate will be a qualified RMN or Learning Disability Nurse with sound experience in Mental Health, with knowledge and experience of forensic mental health service provision, offender care and be committed to team working.
The ideal candidate will also need to demonstrate good clinical knowledge and assessment skills, risk assessment and have sound knowledge of the Care Programme Approach. The post holder will be expected to be up to date with all mandatory training in relation to Trust policy and have current professional registration and knowledge as required by the NMC Code of Conduct.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Maintain clinical direction and leadership, coordinating a team of clinical staff for a consistent provision of high-quality care to people with vulnerabilities, including those in mental health crisis within police custody and/or court.
Ensure that the voices of service users, their carers and criminal justice professionals are heard so that a high standard of care is provided and the service develops in the best way to meet their needs. Ensuring there is:
A framework for the ongoing clinical supervision and management of workload within the team, and for monitoring standards of clinical practice. Responsibility during core hours for ensuring there are adequate staffing resources to provide the service. A deputy function for the Team Manager/Clinical Service Lead as and when needed To work within codes of practice and professional guidelines and to be accountable for own professional practice. Ensure observance and the working of all relevant legal and statutory requirements. To maintain client confidentiality at all times. To participate fully in continuous professional development. To regularly provide mentorship and supervision of staff within the team. To collect data as required by NHSE commissioning arrangements, which will assist in developing the service review/research providing evidence to inform future service provision. To provide documentation and reports as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Maintain clinical direction and leadership, coordinating a team of clinical staff for a consistent provision of high-quality care to people with vulnerabilities, including those in mental health crisis within police custody and/or court.
Ensure that the voices of service users, their carers and criminal justice professionals are heard so that a high standard of care is provided and the service develops in the best way to meet their needs. Ensuring there is:
A framework for the ongoing clinical supervision and management of workload within the team, and for monitoring standards of clinical practice. Responsibility during core hours for ensuring there are adequate staffing resources to provide the service. A deputy function for the Team Manager/Clinical Service Lead as and when needed To work within codes of practice and professional guidelines and to be accountable for own professional practice. Ensure observance and the working of all relevant legal and statutory requirements. To maintain client confidentiality at all times. To participate fully in continuous professional development. To regularly provide mentorship and supervision of staff within the team. To collect data as required by NHSE commissioning arrangements, which will assist in developing the service review/research providing evidence to inform future service provision. To provide documentation and reports as required.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification at degree level (RMN, OT, Social Worker)
- Professional registration
Desirable
- Masters degree or equivalent relevant experience
- Knowledge of the South London Partnership (SLP)
- Masters degree or equivalent relevant experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience of up to 2 to 3 years as a Band 6 or above and demonstrable achievement in working within a forensic and/or community setting and or with experience in working with mentally disordered offenders.
- Robust working knowledge and/or experience of the criminal justice system.
- Knowledge of appropriate mental health legislation and relevant national policy developments in Offender Health.
- Skilled in the assessment and management of risk.
- Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care.
- Ability to work independently and autonomously in a multi-agency context.
- Ability to communicate clearly concisely and confidently to a range of other professionals including those without specialist MH training or knowledge.
- Skilled in the communication of sensitive issues.
- Ability to present information both written and oral and communicate this effectively.
- Demonstrable experience of working in a multiagency context.
Desirable
- Experience of engaging/supporting clinical research projects
- Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
- Understanding of Health and Social Care Governance
- An understanding of effective systems for integrated governance and the management of clinical and non-clinical risks.
- Knowledge of relevant Professional and Clinical legislation relating to the service
- Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act, Care Act, Housing Act, Quality & Safety Governance, Clinic audit and relevant national policies
- Knowledge of the principles of Trauma-Informed practice
Desirable
- Knowledge of the forensic pathway throughout all levels of security to include step-down services and community
- Understanding of The Bradley Report in relation to L&D services
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to effectively deal with aggression as well as exposure to distressing emotional situations related to serious offending behavior and mental disorder.
- Ability to present service information and service development clearly
- Able to hold professionals and peers to account including professional resilience, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Resilient and self-motivated with drive and vision that is able to work on own initiative and manage a range of priorities across competing agendas.
- Ongoing evidence of continuing professional development
- Ability to provide and receive complex and emotive information with staff, service users, carers and other stakeholders
- Skills in the use of evidence-based interventions
- An open and facilitative style of leadership which can be adapted when necessary to ensure delivery of objectives
- Ability to maintain boundaries and professional boundaries with both service users and other stakeholder/ professional colleagues.
- Ability to effectively deal with aggression as well as exposure to distressing emotional situations related to serious offending
- Ability to be an independent, autonomous practitioner who can prioritise workload, work at a fast pace and meet deadlines
- Ability to role model, reflect and provide evidence of conflict resolution
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification at degree level (RMN, OT, Social Worker)
- Professional registration
Desirable
- Masters degree or equivalent relevant experience
- Knowledge of the South London Partnership (SLP)
- Masters degree or equivalent relevant experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience of up to 2 to 3 years as a Band 6 or above and demonstrable achievement in working within a forensic and/or community setting and or with experience in working with mentally disordered offenders.
- Robust working knowledge and/or experience of the criminal justice system.
- Knowledge of appropriate mental health legislation and relevant national policy developments in Offender Health.
- Skilled in the assessment and management of risk.
- Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care.
- Ability to work independently and autonomously in a multi-agency context.
- Ability to communicate clearly concisely and confidently to a range of other professionals including those without specialist MH training or knowledge.
- Skilled in the communication of sensitive issues.
- Ability to present information both written and oral and communicate this effectively.
- Demonstrable experience of working in a multiagency context.
Desirable
- Experience of engaging/supporting clinical research projects
- Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
- Understanding of Health and Social Care Governance
- An understanding of effective systems for integrated governance and the management of clinical and non-clinical risks.
- Knowledge of relevant Professional and Clinical legislation relating to the service
- Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act, Care Act, Housing Act, Quality & Safety Governance, Clinic audit and relevant national policies
- Knowledge of the principles of Trauma-Informed practice
Desirable
- Knowledge of the forensic pathway throughout all levels of security to include step-down services and community
- Understanding of The Bradley Report in relation to L&D services
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to effectively deal with aggression as well as exposure to distressing emotional situations related to serious offending behavior and mental disorder.
- Ability to present service information and service development clearly
- Able to hold professionals and peers to account including professional resilience, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Resilient and self-motivated with drive and vision that is able to work on own initiative and manage a range of priorities across competing agendas.
- Ongoing evidence of continuing professional development
- Ability to provide and receive complex and emotive information with staff, service users, carers and other stakeholders
- Skills in the use of evidence-based interventions
- An open and facilitative style of leadership which can be adapted when necessary to ensure delivery of objectives
- Ability to maintain boundaries and professional boundaries with both service users and other stakeholder/ professional colleagues.
- Ability to effectively deal with aggression as well as exposure to distressing emotional situations related to serious offending
- Ability to be an independent, autonomous practitioner who can prioritise workload, work at a fast pace and meet deadlines
- Ability to role model, reflect and provide evidence of conflict resolution
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).
