Job summary
The Mental Health Team is a Core24 Liaison Service providing round the clock (24-hour) service and offers urgent assessment and intervention to patients attending the Emergency Department and also within the in-patient wards.
The primary function of this role is to work as a highly experienced mental health practitioner providing specialist assessments and crisis risk management plans within the Emergency Department (ED) as part of the Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT).
The work will include response to referrals and effective triage assessments and advising the referring acute trust team on expert, evidence-based, safe and effective models of care and treatment for people presenting with mental health problems.
Main duties of the job
The work will involve setting up collaborations and interventions throughout the care pathway, from acute presentation onward, to promote timely discharge of patients, reduce prolonged lengths of stay, and to reduce the risk of inappropriate readmission following discharge.
The postholder will actively identify and triage patients presenting to the Emergency Department of University Hospital Lewisham with emergency or urgent need for management of mental health, psychological and substance misuse problems.
The postholder will ensure the rapid screening of individuals with complex social care needs and those who may need assessment under the Mental Health Act 1983.
The postholder will provide evidence-based interventions for the care pathway in University Hospital Lewisham with the aim of reducing length of stay and frequent attendances to the hospital.
The postholder will undertake strength-based assessments and will put in place robust and least-restrictive care plans, signposting and referring individuals to relevant community services. The postholder will be warranted by Lewisham Council to undertake assessment under the Mental Health Act 1983 for individuals in University Hospital Lewisham
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN),King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.
By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014; providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels. In addition, our working relationship with King's Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The B7 senior social worker will work closely with the team leaders, the MDT & the Ladywell safeguarding social work team. You will work with the Lewisham safeguarding lead to provide adult social work provision for the service.
To lead as a senior psychiatric liaison practitioner in A&E in triage decision making for the service and within the MDT and acting as a specialist social care resource for the MDT
To be located in an office at the ED and serve as a point of contact for ED referrals and to proactively screen and receive referrals from ED and respond in a timely manner
To work autonomously using sound decision-making skills within the clinical setting in relation to the assessment of mental health and social care needs of designated patients in the ED
To undertake and record comprehensive risk assessment, devise and implement risk assessment plans for patients at risk of abuse, vulnerability, self-harm, self-neglect, or risk of physical, sexual, emotional harm to others, using the agreed risk assessment documentation for the service
To liaise and negotiate with the Lewisham AMHP Service and Emergency Duty Team in order to minimise delays in assessments under the Mental Health Act 1983, undertaking pre-assessments and MHAA of identified individuals as appropriate
Be an active member of the team using knowledge & skills to support colleagues in the delivery of care, assessment & treatment to patients with a range of mental health diagnoses.
Embrace & promote a strengths-based approach to assessment interventions. Liaise with, advise & support a range of external partnership agencies both voluntary & statutory.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The B7 senior social worker will work closely with the team leaders, the MDT & the Ladywell safeguarding social work team. You will work with the Lewisham safeguarding lead to provide adult social work provision for the service.
To lead as a senior psychiatric liaison practitioner in A&E in triage decision making for the service and within the MDT and acting as a specialist social care resource for the MDT
To be located in an office at the ED and serve as a point of contact for ED referrals and to proactively screen and receive referrals from ED and respond in a timely manner
To work autonomously using sound decision-making skills within the clinical setting in relation to the assessment of mental health and social care needs of designated patients in the ED
To undertake and record comprehensive risk assessment, devise and implement risk assessment plans for patients at risk of abuse, vulnerability, self-harm, self-neglect, or risk of physical, sexual, emotional harm to others, using the agreed risk assessment documentation for the service
To liaise and negotiate with the Lewisham AMHP Service and Emergency Duty Team in order to minimise delays in assessments under the Mental Health Act 1983, undertaking pre-assessments and MHAA of identified individuals as appropriate
Be an active member of the team using knowledge & skills to support colleagues in the delivery of care, assessment & treatment to patients with a range of mental health diagnoses.
Embrace & promote a strengths-based approach to assessment interventions. Liaise with, advise & support a range of external partnership agencies both voluntary & statutory.
Person Specification
Person Specification
Essential
- Registered Social Worker
- AMHP qualification and evidence of completion of mandatory refresher training
Desirable
- Registered Mental Health Nurse
- PEPS 1 and 2 practice education qualification
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES
Essential
- Significant post-qualifying experience of practice in mental health services
- Extensive experience of risk assessment and management of acute mental health crisis
- Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care to meet the needs of service users, appropriate to the setting of the Emergency Department.
- Ability to conduct triage assessments for patients who present at the 'front door' at A&E
- Demonstrable skills in autonomous decision-making regarding discharge, signposting and admission of service users following a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of risk.
- Ability to manage, prioritise clinical demands, supervision and support the Emergency Department pathways.
Desirable
- Experience of working with service users with specific diagnosis of Personality Disorder, harmful substance misuse and alcohol issues
- Thorough knowledge of relevant legislation including the MHA 1983, MCA 2005, Care Act 2014, Children Act 1989 including child and adult safeguarding
- Excellent communication skills and ability to negotiate and reach compromises in verbal discussions in a manner that inspires confidence and respect from service users and others.
Person Specification
Person Specification
Essential
- Registered Social Worker
- AMHP qualification and evidence of completion of mandatory refresher training
Desirable
- Registered Mental Health Nurse
- PEPS 1 and 2 practice education qualification
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES
Essential
- Significant post-qualifying experience of practice in mental health services
- Extensive experience of risk assessment and management of acute mental health crisis
- Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care to meet the needs of service users, appropriate to the setting of the Emergency Department.
- Ability to conduct triage assessments for patients who present at the 'front door' at A&E
- Demonstrable skills in autonomous decision-making regarding discharge, signposting and admission of service users following a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of risk.
- Ability to manage, prioritise clinical demands, supervision and support the Emergency Department pathways.
Desirable
- Experience of working with service users with specific diagnosis of Personality Disorder, harmful substance misuse and alcohol issues
- Thorough knowledge of relevant legislation including the MHA 1983, MCA 2005, Care Act 2014, Children Act 1989 including child and adult safeguarding
- Excellent communication skills and ability to negotiate and reach compromises in verbal discussions in a manner that inspires confidence and respect from service users and others.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Lewisham Psychiatric Liaison Team, Ladywell Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham High Street
Lewisham, London
SE13 6LW
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
