Job summary
We have an exciting and rare opportunity for two Mental Health Well-being Practitioners (MHWPs) to join our older adult community mental health teams (CMHTs). The CMHTs have a key role in promoting metal wellbeing and engaging service users and carers to meet their mental health needs, avoiding the need for more restrictive treatment options such as inpatient care.
MHWP roles were introduced to the older adult CMHTs in 2022 to increase access to psychological interventions and since then have had a significant impact on ensuring patients receive a psychological intervention tailored to their needs and reducing waiting times for therapy.
The CMHTs are well regarded by service users and carers with respondents on recent patient and carer experience questionnaires consistently rating their experience of the service positively. The teams reflect the diversity of the local community and team members are passionate in their desire to support each other to provide high quality patient care. As an MHWP you will have opportunities to work both independently and as a core part of a team and the flexibility to structure your time according to the needs of your caseload.
Main duties of the job
As an MHWP in the older adult CMHTs, you will be part of a psychology and psychotherapy workforce, delivering specified wellbeing-focused psychologically-informed interventions in line with best available evidence, under close supervision from a clinical psychologist or CBT therapist. You will also have the opportunity to work with people with behaviours that challenge in the context of a dementia diagnosis.
You will also work alongside the range of professionals in the multi-disciplinary team (including nurses, OTs, social workers, support workers, psychologists / psychological therapists, psychiatrists and administrators) and contribute to the MDT by care coordinating\key-working and contributing to information gathering, risk assessment and care planning. We are in the process of transitioning to Dialog+ as a tool for co-produced care planning and use of this will be key to your role in collaborating to develop care plans that are focused on strengths and are outcome based.
We are looking for someone who can engage sensitively and empathically with service users and carers and who is able to value each of their service users as an individual. The role will involve regular working from the team base and seeing service users both in clinic and in their own homes across the relevant borough.
About us
We have two full-time posts available, one based in our Croydon team, (located at Heavers Resource Centre, 122 Selhurst Road, SE25 6LL), and the other based in the Lewisham team (located at 91 Granville Park, SE13 7DW). Both teams have good public transport links, with national rail stations (Selhurst / Norwood Junction for the Croydon team, Lewisham for the Lewisham team) and bus routes located within walking distance. Ability to drive is therefore not essential to this role.
Heavers Resource Centre is a spacious team location, with office space for both the older adult CMHT and Croydon Memory Service, as well as council-run day services and a residential home for older people. Crystal Palace Football Ground and Croydon Town Centre shops are both within a few minutes' drive or bus ride.
91 Granville Park is a hub for SLaM older adult services In Lewisham, including the older adult CMHT, memory service and care home intervention team for the borough. It is within walking distance of Lewisham shopping centre and the open space of Blackheath Common.
Please note that the Croydon post attracts outer London high cost area supplement (HCAS) while the Lewisham post attracts inner London HCAS. You will be asked about your preference for location at interview, but may be offered either post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
- Carry out relevant risk assessments and risk management with the multi-disciplinary team
- Engage calmly and with sensitivity and empathy to support service users in highly distressing or emotional circumstances.
- Engage with and gather information from service users, relatives and patient records.
To work in collaboration with the individual service user and their family and carers as appropriate to develop care plans that are focused on strengths and are outcome based.
To attend multi-disciplinary reviews and act as a care co-ordinator, for a caseload of service users in order to support and monitor progress during multi-disciplinary interventions.
- To deliver specified wellbeing-focused psychologically informed interventions, in line with best available evidence, under close supervision from a clinical psychologist or CBT therapist including:
- Behavioural activation and graded exposure
- Teaching problem-solving skills
- Improving sleep
- Recognising and managing emotions
- Guided self-help for bulimia and binge-eating
- Building confidence
- Medication support
- To be responsive to service users needs and choices; and uphold their right to be treated with dignity and respect.
- To include carers and families in line with the service users wishes.
To liaise with other health and care providers, including third sector agencies and primary care, to ensure continuity of care for service users.
To communicate information concerning the assessment, formulation and care plans of service users in a skilled and sensitive manner to promote effective multi-disciplinary working and therapeutic outcomes for clients.
KR 2 Responsibilities for team or service clinical functioning
- To form professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
- To monitor and record progression, highlight concerns and report any perceived changes in service users wellbeing to the team
- To demonstrate effective communication skills in discussing highly sensitive and complex information appropriately with people whose understanding may be temporarily or permanently impaired.
- To provide relevant information, written and oral, for records and reviews relating to service users progress under supervision from a suitably qualified member of the team.
- Provide highly effective written communications as required for service users and other health and care professionals
Participate in clinical governance and quality improvement programs as directed by the line manager
KR 3 Care or management of resources
- To maintain and order stock and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job, including the responsible management of petty cash if required.
- To be responsible for the care and cleaning of any equipment and materials used
KR 4 Management and supervision
- Report regularly and in detail to the clinical skills supervisor and case management supervisor.
- Make good use of clinical skills and case management supervision to discuss casework, make plans for action, reflect on and implement best practice in care planning and interventions.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting.
To participate in the dissemination and sharing of information and skills with staff, students and volunteers.
KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance
To ensure that up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards
KR 8 Research and development
As part of a team, incorporate up-to-date evidence-based methods into the intervention programme as directed by the clinical skills supervisor
To participate in complex audit and research projects as applicable
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
- To adhere to the employers expectations of professional behaviour and all relevant policies and procedures.
- To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs and that actively addresses inequity of access and outcome across protected characteristics.
- To complete and stay up to date with all statutory and mandatory training.
- Attend and fulfil all of the requirements of the training element of the post, including practical, academic and practice-based assessments
- To undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with line manager.
KR10 General
- To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent, reliable attendance.
To contribute to a healthy and safe working environment by adhering to health and safety regulations and the employers policies.
- To travel to home visits across the relevant borough as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
- To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
- Carry out relevant risk assessments and risk management with the multi-disciplinary team
- Engage calmly and with sensitivity and empathy to support service users in highly distressing or emotional circumstances.
- Engage with and gather information from service users, relatives and patient records.
To work in collaboration with the individual service user and their family and carers as appropriate to develop care plans that are focused on strengths and are outcome based.
To attend multi-disciplinary reviews and act as a care co-ordinator, for a caseload of service users in order to support and monitor progress during multi-disciplinary interventions.
- To deliver specified wellbeing-focused psychologically informed interventions, in line with best available evidence, under close supervision from a clinical psychologist or CBT therapist including:
- Behavioural activation and graded exposure
- Teaching problem-solving skills
- Improving sleep
- Recognising and managing emotions
- Guided self-help for bulimia and binge-eating
- Building confidence
- Medication support
- To be responsive to service users needs and choices; and uphold their right to be treated with dignity and respect.
- To include carers and families in line with the service users wishes.
To liaise with other health and care providers, including third sector agencies and primary care, to ensure continuity of care for service users.
To communicate information concerning the assessment, formulation and care plans of service users in a skilled and sensitive manner to promote effective multi-disciplinary working and therapeutic outcomes for clients.
KR 2 Responsibilities for team or service clinical functioning
- To form professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
- To monitor and record progression, highlight concerns and report any perceived changes in service users wellbeing to the team
- To demonstrate effective communication skills in discussing highly sensitive and complex information appropriately with people whose understanding may be temporarily or permanently impaired.
- To provide relevant information, written and oral, for records and reviews relating to service users progress under supervision from a suitably qualified member of the team.
- Provide highly effective written communications as required for service users and other health and care professionals
Participate in clinical governance and quality improvement programs as directed by the line manager
KR 3 Care or management of resources
- To maintain and order stock and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job, including the responsible management of petty cash if required.
- To be responsible for the care and cleaning of any equipment and materials used
KR 4 Management and supervision
- Report regularly and in detail to the clinical skills supervisor and case management supervisor.
- Make good use of clinical skills and case management supervision to discuss casework, make plans for action, reflect on and implement best practice in care planning and interventions.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting.
To participate in the dissemination and sharing of information and skills with staff, students and volunteers.
KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance
To ensure that up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards
KR 8 Research and development
As part of a team, incorporate up-to-date evidence-based methods into the intervention programme as directed by the clinical skills supervisor
To participate in complex audit and research projects as applicable
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
- To adhere to the employers expectations of professional behaviour and all relevant policies and procedures.
- To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs and that actively addresses inequity of access and outcome across protected characteristics.
- To complete and stay up to date with all statutory and mandatory training.
- Attend and fulfil all of the requirements of the training element of the post, including practical, academic and practice-based assessments
- To undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with line manager.
KR10 General
- To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent, reliable attendance.
To contribute to a healthy and safe working environment by adhering to health and safety regulations and the employers policies.
- To travel to home visits across the relevant borough as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
- To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A graduate certificate (Level 6) or postgraduate certificate (Level 7) delivering the national curriculum for Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners (Adult Specialist Mental Health) (A)
Desirable
- Any training relevant to the service user group (A/I)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health needs gained through a graduate certificate or postgraduate certificate training with significant supervised practice (A/I)
- Experience running groups/activities (A/I)
- Experience working as part of a team (A/I)
- Experience of being supervised (A/I)
- Experience of analysing and communicating complex information verbally and in writing (A/I)
Desirable
- Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties (A/I)
- Experience working with Older Adults (A/I)
- Experience working with people with cognitive impairment (A/I)
Knowledge / Skills (Clinical)
Essential
- Able to establish and maintain empathic, supportive relationships with people in significant distress or who are cognitively impaired, their families and carers (A/I)
- Able to receive, understand and communicate confidential client information of a sensitive and often complex nature, including discussing care with family members within boundaries of confidentiality (A/I)
- Able to communicate in a sensitive and reassuring manner, with empathy, and where appropriate reassurance (A/I)
- Able to make good use of clinical supervision in a group and/or individual format (A/I)
- Able to assist in assessment and observation activities related to individual's health and wellbeing, arriving at judgments about how to respond within the care plan (A/I)
Knowledge / Skills (non-clinical)
Essential
- Commitment to team working and ability to work successfully in a team (A/I)
- Able to liaise with other teams and services including external agencies as required for the wellbeing of service users (A/I)
- Able to prioritise workload according to peoples' changing needs and the priorities of the team (A/I)
- Able to assist in maintaining own and others health safety and security (A/I)
- To be able to use basic computer skills to collect, collate and report on client's progress on a daily basis. (A/I)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A graduate certificate (Level 6) or postgraduate certificate (Level 7) delivering the national curriculum for Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners (Adult Specialist Mental Health) (A)
Desirable
- Any training relevant to the service user group (A/I)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health needs gained through a graduate certificate or postgraduate certificate training with significant supervised practice (A/I)
- Experience running groups/activities (A/I)
- Experience working as part of a team (A/I)
- Experience of being supervised (A/I)
- Experience of analysing and communicating complex information verbally and in writing (A/I)
Desirable
- Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties (A/I)
- Experience working with Older Adults (A/I)
- Experience working with people with cognitive impairment (A/I)
Knowledge / Skills (Clinical)
Essential
- Able to establish and maintain empathic, supportive relationships with people in significant distress or who are cognitively impaired, their families and carers (A/I)
- Able to receive, understand and communicate confidential client information of a sensitive and often complex nature, including discussing care with family members within boundaries of confidentiality (A/I)
- Able to communicate in a sensitive and reassuring manner, with empathy, and where appropriate reassurance (A/I)
- Able to make good use of clinical supervision in a group and/or individual format (A/I)
- Able to assist in assessment and observation activities related to individual's health and wellbeing, arriving at judgments about how to respond within the care plan (A/I)
Knowledge / Skills (non-clinical)
Essential
- Commitment to team working and ability to work successfully in a team (A/I)
- Able to liaise with other teams and services including external agencies as required for the wellbeing of service users (A/I)
- Able to prioritise workload according to peoples' changing needs and the priorities of the team (A/I)
- Able to assist in maintaining own and others health safety and security (A/I)
- To be able to use basic computer skills to collect, collate and report on client's progress on a daily basis. (A/I)
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).
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).
