Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job responsibilities

To provide a Single Point of Access for all external referrals to mental health services in Calderdale. To provide highly developed and skilled assessment, screening and brief interventions for a wide variety of Service Users in various settings and to signpost and broker Service Users toward relevant and appropriate resources to meet their needs.

There is potential for change to this job description, subject to service redesign.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

Professional

1. Maintain a continuing knowledge of current good practice and other professional matters.

2. Maintain personal NMC registration or equivalent and ensure adherence to statutory codes of practice.

3. To undertake screening and initial assessments in a wide variety of settings both independently or within a multi-interdisciplinary framework in respect of service users presenting with mental health issues and/or self harming behaviours.

4. Together with the Team Manager have involvement in initiatives related to further development of the single point of access service.

5. To be actively involved in the clinical supervision and professional development review process.

6. Contribute to the provision of information and involvement in changes to working practices in respect of such information.

7. To collate and interpret complex facts in order to promote a range of options for service users at the point of referral and assessment by the single point of access team.

8. Provide professional advice to team members and others as appropriate.

9. To be involved in clinical team meetings and multi-disciplinary care plan reviews in order to develop and implement individual care pathways.

10. Involvement in quality circle groups where appropriate.

11. Act as an advisor to outside agencies such as police, probation, housing etc. and provide specialist advice around the single point of access service and mental health issues.

12. Ensure that an evidence based practice approach is utilised in order to meet service user and service needs.

13. Maintain own personal safety and the safety of others within the acute care settings inclusive of lone working policies and initiatives.

14. To participate in the ethos of a family friendly, flexible working environment.

15. Where required to participate in the selection and recruitment process.

16. Involvement in the induction and orientation of students and new staff members.

Management

1. Responsible for their own individual day to day performance and that of others within the single point of access service during periods of duty.

2. To assist the Team Manager in monitoring and evaluating service provision.

3. Exercise positive leadership based upon fair, clear and equitable staff relationships using effective communications.

4. Communicate highly sensitive and complex information to referrers, service users, relatives, carers, and fellow professionals in a professional, empathetic and reassuring manner, taking into consideration barriers that may be present.

5. Act as the first contact point, demonstrating high degrees of clinical knowledge in relation to management of complex symptoms, medications, side and adverse effects, interactions, self-harm and suicide intent and general mental health issues to offer professional advice and manage risk effectively over the telephone, triggering responses where appropriate.

6. To facilitate the gate-keeping, signposting and brokering to appropriate services as required.

7. To undertake a range of initial assessments and providing brief intervention as required.

8. To be involved in interdisciplinary communications and staff meetings to ensure a clear understanding and the promotion of the single point of access service philosophy.

9. Together with the Team Manager, be involved in the planning, development and review of services and policies within the single point of access services and to ensure that such policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines are adhered to.

10. Ensuring all staff are aware of customer relation issues and engage where necessary with all service users, carers, relatives and visitors in a professional manner to a high standard.

11. Maintain awareness of research and to participate in such activities if required.

12. To be involved with the production of statistics as required by the Team Manager.

13. Involvement in audit activity where required.

14. Be fully conversant with the Mental Health Act 1983 or future amendments and current implementation. To support Mental Health Act assessments and offer alternative options to admission where appropriate.

15. To be involved in the clinical supervision and professional development review processes.

Development

1. To assist the Team Manager to forge links with tutors and staff within universities in order to promote the team as a suitable placement for learners.

2. Maintain a suitable learning environment for other staff members both within and outwith the team.

3. Involvement in the educational and training requirements for outside agencies such as police, probation etc.

4. Maintain a specialist knowledge and expertise in matters pertaining to mental health.

5. Maintain continuous professional development as required by the NMC and other regulatory bodies.

6. To participate in the appraisal system ensuring the yearly action and development plans are established and reviewed.

Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respectat all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

Honest, open, transparent

Respectful

Person first and in the centre

Improve and be outstanding

Relevant today, ready for tomorrow

Families and carers matter

Special Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• High degree of understanding in respect of modern mental health issues and developments.
• Fully conversant with local, national policies, procedures and protocols. Conversant with the MHA, child protection, safeguarding and other related acts. To have been involved in the supervision of others.
• Skilled in therapeutic assessment related to risk and risk management.
• Good written/oral communication skills. Formulation of complex care plans. Multi-disciplinary working, working within a team and ability to work independently.
• Management of junior staff.

Desirable

• -Audit.
• -Research awareness/training.
• -Managerial awareness/training.
• -Crisis services experience.
• -Brief focuses solution based therapy.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Fit to perform as outlined in the job description.
• Reliability, enthusiasm, motivation, flexible resourcefulness, adaptable.
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)
• Autonomy.
• Diplomacy.
• Good team worker.

Desirable

• Leadership skills.

Qualifications

Essential

• RMN current registration, Dip. Social Work, OT.

Desirable

• Approved Mental Health Professional
• PSI Post Graduated Counselling. Post Graduate Counselling.
• Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
• Practice Educator/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.

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).

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working with people with complex mental health needs including within the community. Management of resources.
• High degree of experience with service users, relatives, carers and other statutory and non-statutory organisations.
• Current or recent experience in either an acute inpatient or community setting. Involvement with staff supervision and professional development process

Desirable

• Audit.
• Research awareness/training.
• Managerial awareness/training

Training.

Essential

• Crisis Intervention Skills.

Desirable

• PSI.
• Risk Management.
• Brief Focused Therapies.
• Leadership.

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).