Mental Health Clinician SUN Service

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

The closing date is 15 May 2025

Job summary

Are you interested in improving care for people with a diagnosis, or traits of, personality disorder/Complex Emotional Difficulties (CED)?

Are you a registered mental health clinician?

Do you like to innovate and lead on new developments?

Do you believe in working in partnership with people with Lived Experience?

If so, then come and join this exciting new service.

KMPT is growing its community services for people with CED and would like to invite you to join this new service. The Service User Network (SUN) is providing regular groups, both in person and online, facilitated in partnership with people with Lived Experience. The groups aim to help those who experience CED and are a new addition to this care pathway. The service model promotes open access and inclusivity, and is embedded in local communities. It is an innovative and exciting development in local mental health care, with an enthusiastic, creative and supportive team. Please do get in touch for a conversation to find out more if you are interested.

We are seeking a band 6 practitioner to join the team.

A professional qualification is required for the role, such as Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Associate Psychologist, Social Work, or other mental health profession e.g. Arts Therapist, Psychotherapist, or Counselling Psychologist. You will also have experience of, and interest in, group facilitation.

This is a full-time post but applications to work part time are also welcomed.

Main duties of the job

The provision of SUN groups co-facilitated with SUN lived Experience facilitators across Kent, both in person and online including evening sessions.
Lead on production of RASP plans, manage safe clinically effective care
Support the development of a group culture that is in keeping with SUN and Therapeutic Community ethos of support, inclusion, safety, and responsibility.
Support management and supervision of Lived Experience
Work in collaboration with other colleagues and service in the pathway providing services to people who are experiencing complex mental health problems including escalation for additional intervention if required.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

About us

Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.

We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people in Kent and Medway, as well as specialist services for adults in Sussex and Surrey. We arerated Good overall by the CQC.

Each year we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 people in the community.

We are proud to employ over 3,800 people from 66 nationalities, and to serve an increasingly diverse range of communities across rural and urban areas.

You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.

The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.

Our strategy

Our mission is what we set out to do every dayWe deliver brilliant care through brilliant people

Our vision is where we want to be in the futureTo provide outstanding care and to work in partnership to deliver this in the right place, for every service user, every time.

Check out our recruitment videos Recruitment - YouTube

Date posted

01 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-WK0267

Job locations

The Brenchley Unit

22 Oakapple Lane

Maidstone

ME16 9NW

Job description

Job responsibilities

As part of a new team of Clinicians and SUN facilitators with lived experience, delivering a SUN (Service User Network) service across Kent the post holder with support and supervision from the Team leader and clinical lead will;

Work in partnership with the MDT, CRHT, and Acute Inpatient Services, other community teams, and Primary Care to provide support and treatment to service users to attend SUN groups and facilitate the safe management of their needs within a community setting.
Provide a prompt response to requests for information and advice in line with agreed response times.
Deliver education and training that better support the SUN groups in the recovery of people with CED.
To participate in the formal evaluation of the SUN service in liaison with the Band 7 Team Lead and the Clinical Lead of the service.
Maintain awareness of current research within own area of specialist practice and demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice

Job description

Job responsibilities

Work in partnership with the MDT, CRHT, and Acute Inpatient Services, other community teams, and Primary Care to provide support and treatment to service users to attend SUN groups and facilitate the safe management of their needs within a community setting.
Provide a prompt response to requests for information and advice in line with agreed response times.
Deliver education and training that better support the SUN groups in the recovery of people with CED.
To participate in the formal evaluation of the SUN service in liaison with the Band 7 Team Lead and the Clinical Lead of the service.
Maintain awareness of current research within own area of specialist practice and demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Professional Qualification in Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Associate Psychologist, Social Work or other mental health profession e.g. Arts therapist, Psychotherapist, counselling psychologist.

Desirable

Group work skills training

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people with personality disorder
Experience of facilitating groups within a mental health setting
Experience of risk assessment and management of people with personality disorder
Experience of team working

Desirable

Experience of working in a voluntary sector organisation
Experience of reflective practice

Skills

Essential

Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Evidence of recent CPD
Competent assessment and treatment skills
Time management
Knowledge of psychosocial interventions

Desirable

Understanding of national and local policies

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Professional Qualification in Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Associate Psychologist, Social Work or other mental health profession e.g. Arts therapist, Psychotherapist, counselling psychologist.

Desirable

Group work skills training

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people with personality disorder
Experience of facilitating groups within a mental health setting
Experience of risk assessment and management of people with personality disorder
Experience of team working

Desirable

Experience of working in a voluntary sector organisation
Experience of reflective practice

Skills

Essential

Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Evidence of recent CPD
Competent assessment and treatment skills
Time management
Knowledge of psychosocial interventions

Desirable

Understanding of national and local policies

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.