Job summary
We are looking for a Senior Mental
Health Practitioner to join us in the Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion
(CJL&D) Team, with the potential to be based in Exeter or Barnstaple.
The post holder will be expected to be able to travel to other custody centres as and when required.
We are
looking for someone ideally with community experience from a background of Social Work, Mental Health/Learning Disability Nursing or CAMHS, with a view to
working with clients from all walks of life, who could be from the age of 10
years upwards that are alleged to have committed a crime.
Much of the work will
be in the police custody centres, which are based in Plymouth, Exeter, Torquay
and Barnstaple, each with a team of L&D clinicians.
We work very
closely with our partner agencies, police, courts, probation and prisons. The
band 6 clinicians work 8-6 over a seven day week, the work is extremely varied
and at times fast paced.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will require have good assessment skills (including risk assessment), have the ability to engage with clients in a short time frame and have an empathic and non-judgemental approach.
Our service offers triage assessments to identify someone's vulnerability needs (i.e. mental health, intellectual disability and neurodivergence, social vulnerabilities etc). Our role is to engage the individual with the correct agency to meet those identified needs with the aim of reducing further offending.
You will be expected to work on your own or as part of a wider team and will often work under pressure and without direct supervision, so we are looking for someone confident and capable.
You will prioritise tasks, and manage your own workload, providing support for your colleagues where required.
This is not a care co-ordination role, practitioners have to use many skills to achieve positive outcomes for the people that use the service.
The post holder will contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, providing supervision for other members and participating in team and service development, and evaluation. We will support you to learn the skills you need to thrive in the role In return, you will need to be motivated, flexible and eager to learn .
Devon Partnership NHS Trust is growing as we establish ourselves us as one of the leading providers of mental health services in the country.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Communication and Working Relationship Skills
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems and associated vulnerabilities.
- Able to produce well written reports.
- Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.
- IT Skills
- Analytical & Judgement Skills
- Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions
- Ability to manage risk.
- Ability to work without direct supervision
- Ability to use own initiative and to work independently
- Ability to assess situations quickly and decide upon the appropriate course of action.
- Physical Skills
- Good general standard of health
- Full car driving licence and ability to be mobile across a geographical area
- Computer literacy.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
- Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
- Ability to assess and co-ordinate care that includes physical health, Learning Disability, substance misuse presentations (adults and young people).
- Providing clinical supervision.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
- Participation in user involvement in services.
Desirable
- Experience of working with young people.
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the NSF and Mental Health Act/ Mental Health Capacity Act requirements.
- CPA Process.
Desirable
- Understanding of the Criminal Justice System and potential challenges offenders presenting with mental health issues have in accessing mental health services and the impact this has on the individual and society.
- Awareness of community structures and social care management responsibilities.
- Understanding of recovery principles in Mental Health.
- An awareness of Health and Criminal Justice Organisations working with Adults & young people e.g. Probation, Youth Offending Services (YOS), Mental Health & Learning Disability Services, Drug & Alcohol services, Child & Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS).
- An awareness of other relevant legislation eg Childrens Act, Criminal Justice, Housing, Benefits, Social Care.
Qualifications
Essential
- A professional mental health qualification eg RMN, Social Work Degree or equivalent, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, ENB 811/812 or CPN Degree.
Desirable
- Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism.
- Clinical Supervision qualification.
- Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Communication and Working Relationship Skills
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems and associated vulnerabilities.
- Able to produce well written reports.
- Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.
- IT Skills
- Analytical & Judgement Skills
- Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions
- Ability to manage risk.
- Ability to work without direct supervision
- Ability to use own initiative and to work independently
- Ability to assess situations quickly and decide upon the appropriate course of action.
- Physical Skills
- Good general standard of health
- Full car driving licence and ability to be mobile across a geographical area
- Computer literacy.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
- Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
- Ability to assess and co-ordinate care that includes physical health, Learning Disability, substance misuse presentations (adults and young people).
- Providing clinical supervision.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
- Participation in user involvement in services.
Desirable
- Experience of working with young people.
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the NSF and Mental Health Act/ Mental Health Capacity Act requirements.
- CPA Process.
Desirable
- Understanding of the Criminal Justice System and potential challenges offenders presenting with mental health issues have in accessing mental health services and the impact this has on the individual and society.
- Awareness of community structures and social care management responsibilities.
- Understanding of recovery principles in Mental Health.
- An awareness of Health and Criminal Justice Organisations working with Adults & young people e.g. Probation, Youth Offending Services (YOS), Mental Health & Learning Disability Services, Drug & Alcohol services, Child & Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS).
- An awareness of other relevant legislation eg Childrens Act, Criminal Justice, Housing, Benefits, Social Care.
Qualifications
Essential
- A professional mental health qualification eg RMN, Social Work Degree or equivalent, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, ENB 811/812 or CPN Degree.
Desirable
- Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism.
- Clinical Supervision qualification.
- Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
