Probation Mental Health Practitioner

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

The postholder will be working closely with the Probation Service to contribute to the management of risk, the prevention of crime, and to support the successful rehabilitation of people on probation. Access to secondary and specialist mental health services can be particularly challenging for individuals within the criminal justice system yet is integral to their rehabilitation. The postholder will offer an important bridge between health and probation services, providing consultancy to probation practitioners, supporting probation colleagues to make effective referrals and undertaking some direct work with people on probation

This involves a commitment to close partnership working with both statutory and voluntary sector agencies and a commitment to working with a complex and diverse range of individuals with varying needs.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

To attend varying community settings and provide mental health assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways for individuals where a potential mental health or learning disability need has been identified.

1. To attend varying community settings and provide mental health assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways for individuals where a potential mental health or learning disability need has been identified.
2. To provide involved agencies with written information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion.
3. To work closely and build links with all partners, acting as a single point of contact for mental health.
4. Facilitate mental health act assessments in the community if clinically indicated.
5. To be proficient in all aspects of care and risk management associated with the role of lead professional, whilst referring to appropriate community teams.
6. To provide specialist advice and service where indicated.
7. To provide mental health information that is proportionate in order to provide the best outcome for the person, where a potential mental health need has been identified.
8. To have the interpersonal skills necessary to develop a therapeutic alliance with emotionally and psychologically disturbed clients and their carers enabling the client to accept responsibility for their personal wellbeing appropriate to their level of cognitive functioning.
9. To work collaboratively with clients, carers and multiple other agencies to provide effective care to optimise and maintain clients mental state and overall functioning.
10. To have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding or current issues and research relevant to the legislative framework and systems in which mental health care is delivered e.g. CPA, MHA (1983), S136.
11. To take personal responsibility and supervise junior staff, ensuring the maintenance of written and electronic client and Trust records including inputting data related to own work activity and to be accountable for your own professional practice.
12. To participate in the development of and practice within the policies and procedures of the Trust and adhere to NHS and NMC guidelines or appropriate governing body specific to professional role.
13. To have an understanding or and participate in the clinical audit process within health and social care.
14. To promote and disseminate evidence based practice relevant to the probation and the criminal justice system to individuals and target groups within the health and social care community, through the development and delivery or appropriate training.
15. To participate in the Trusts appraisal system taking responsibility for own continues professional development, keeping abreast of current research and evidence base and participating in training and development opportunities.

For full job description please see attached supporting documents

Qualifications

Essential

• A Professional Qualification at degree level or equivalent in either mental health nursing or social work.
• Hold current registration with relevant professional body
• Evidence of post registration training and development

Desirable

• An NMC approved mentorship qualification, such as Supporting Learning in Practice (SLiP) or equivalent, and evidence of ongoing mentoring activity.
• Equivalent level of teaching mentoring qualification.

Special Knowledge/Skills

Essential

• Experience of carrying out complex risk assessment and development comprehensive packages of care to meet individual needs and management associated risks.
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication.
• Skills in specialist assessments, negotiation, engagement and teamwork.

Desirable

• Recognised qualification in clinical supervision.
• Experience of substance misuse.
• Relapse prevention.
• Use of assessment tools.

Training

Essential

• Working knowledge of the MHA 1983, CPA and other relevant codes of practice

Desirable

• Training in P.S.I. and C.B.T.
• HCR-20

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Demonstrate ability to be flexible, self-motivated and work in M.D.T. setting and ability to work with Partnership agencies.
• Ability to prioritise workload.
• Ability to travel across the Trust as appropriate to the role
• Ability to work unsocial hours

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people who are difficult to engage having developed through theoretical and practical knowledge of working with people with severe and enduring mental illness.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing situations.
• Substantial experience of practice at a senior level working autonomously and responsibility of supervising others.
• Substantial experience in community setting.
• Evidence of leadership skills and experience of supervising other staff.
• Experience of support carers and families.
• A proven commitment to working in partnership with service users and carers in the delivery of effective services

Desirable

• Experience/training in Research

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

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).