Job summary
Specialist Senior Assistant Practitioner
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join The North London NHS Foundation Trust in our multidisciplinary Focus Homeless Community Mental Health Team
The Focus Homeless Community Mental Health Team works intensively with people with provide specialist mental health support to people experiencing homelessness in Camden who have enduring mental health disorders. The service will improve access to assessments, treatment, and care planning while strengthening liaison with partner agencies across the Adult Homeless Pathway.
The service is looking for a Band 5 Specialist Senior Assistant Practitioner. The Focus Homeless Community Mental Health Team is a fast paced service that operates over 5 days of the week (Monday-Friday 09:00 - 17:00.
However, the mini outreach Team within Focus is flexible working.
No working on the Weekends or Bank Holidays
The service looks after rough sleepers and people within the homelessness pathway who have enduring mental health disorders. The service offer assessment and treatment service for mental health issues and support and assist homeless clients with substance misuse issues, housing and benefits.
For further information about this role please contact Katie Fathi
Focus Homeless Community Mental Health Team,
Team Manager on 07812 776 097 or email katie.fathi1@nhs.net
Main duties of the job
Clinical Responsibilities:
- Conduct individual assessments and interventions for clients experiencing a mental health deterioration.
- Provide specialist clinical care, including risk assessment, care planning, and evidence-based interventions.
- Offer expertise in homelessness intervention contributing to multidisciplinary team discussions and developing new protocols.
- Administer, review, and provide guidance on medication in consultation with staff.
- Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with clinical governance and safeguarding policies.
Education, Training, and Development:
- Engage in professional development, supervision, and mandatory training.
- Support workforce planning and service development initiatives.
- Contribute to clinical governance, audits, and service evaluations to enhance care quality.
Communication and Collaboration:
- Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team and liaise with external agencies.
- Provide information, support, and education to clients, carers, and families.
- Ensure effective documentation and reporting.
About us
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.Our Five-Year Strategy:
1. We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
2. With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
3. We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
4. We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.
Why NLFT?
We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
Excellent internal staff network
In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information the role requirements and duties.
Service Purpose
To provide specialist mental health support to people experiencing homelessness in Camden who have enduring mental health disorders. The service will improve access to assessments, treatment, and care planning while strengthening liaison with partner agencies across the Adult Homeless Pathway.
2. Service Scope
Target Population
- Adults (18+) who are rough sleeping or within the Camden Adult Homeless Pathway.
- Individuals experiencing homelessness with enduring or severe mental health disorders.
- People requiring Mental Health Act assessments or crisis intervention.
Core Functions
- Mental Health Act support and contribution to statutory assessments.
- Mental health assessments and care planning for homeless individuals.
- Direct engagement with people rough sleeping, in hostels, and temporary accommodation.
- Liaison and consultation with homelessness services, outreach teams, and voluntary sector providers.
- Awareness raising and informal training to frontline homelessness workers.
- Seasonal capacity support during the winter period, when service demand peaks.
3. Service Delivery Model
- Location: Community-based, with delivery in hostels, day centres, outreach settings, and health/social care premises.
- Operating Hours: Standard working hours, with flexibility during winter and periods of high demand.
- Partnerships: Integrated working with Camden Adult Social Care, outreach providers, hostels, crisis teams, and voluntary sector organisations.
- Approach: Trauma-informed, person-centred, recovery-focused, and prevention-oriented.
4. Outcomes & Performance Indicators
Key Outcomes
- Improved access to timely mental health assessments and interventions.
- Reduced mental health crises, A&E attendances, and hospital admissions among the homeless population.
- Increased engagement with treatment and recovery services.
- Stronger collaboration between health, housing, and homelessness services.
- Enhanced service capacity and responsiveness during winter pressures.
Performance Indicators
- Number of Mental Health Act assessments supported.
- Number of mental health assessments completed within the homeless pathway.
- Reduction in repeat crisis presentations and A&E attendances.
- Partner agency feedback on liaison and support provided.
- Evidence of preventative interventions and successful engagement in care.
5. Governance & Reporting
- Line management provided by the Focus Homeless Community Mental Health Team Manager and in their absence by the Focus Homeless Community Mental Health Team Service Manager
- Regular reporting on activity, outcomes, and service user impact to Camden mental health commissioners.
- Quarterly review meetings with key stakeholders to monitor performance and identify improvements.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information the role requirements and duties.
Service Purpose
To provide specialist mental health support to people experiencing homelessness in Camden who have enduring mental health disorders. The service will improve access to assessments, treatment, and care planning while strengthening liaison with partner agencies across the Adult Homeless Pathway.
2. Service Scope
Target Population
- Adults (18+) who are rough sleeping or within the Camden Adult Homeless Pathway.
- Individuals experiencing homelessness with enduring or severe mental health disorders.
- People requiring Mental Health Act assessments or crisis intervention.
Core Functions
- Mental Health Act support and contribution to statutory assessments.
- Mental health assessments and care planning for homeless individuals.
- Direct engagement with people rough sleeping, in hostels, and temporary accommodation.
- Liaison and consultation with homelessness services, outreach teams, and voluntary sector providers.
- Awareness raising and informal training to frontline homelessness workers.
- Seasonal capacity support during the winter period, when service demand peaks.
3. Service Delivery Model
- Location: Community-based, with delivery in hostels, day centres, outreach settings, and health/social care premises.
- Operating Hours: Standard working hours, with flexibility during winter and periods of high demand.
- Partnerships: Integrated working with Camden Adult Social Care, outreach providers, hostels, crisis teams, and voluntary sector organisations.
- Approach: Trauma-informed, person-centred, recovery-focused, and prevention-oriented.
4. Outcomes & Performance Indicators
Key Outcomes
- Improved access to timely mental health assessments and interventions.
- Reduced mental health crises, A&E attendances, and hospital admissions among the homeless population.
- Increased engagement with treatment and recovery services.
- Stronger collaboration between health, housing, and homelessness services.
- Enhanced service capacity and responsiveness during winter pressures.
Performance Indicators
- Number of Mental Health Act assessments supported.
- Number of mental health assessments completed within the homeless pathway.
- Reduction in repeat crisis presentations and A&E attendances.
- Partner agency feedback on liaison and support provided.
- Evidence of preventative interventions and successful engagement in care.
5. Governance & Reporting
- Line management provided by the Focus Homeless Community Mental Health Team Manager and in their absence by the Focus Homeless Community Mental Health Team Service Manager
- Regular reporting on activity, outcomes, and service user impact to Camden mental health commissioners.
- Quarterly review meetings with key stakeholders to monitor performance and identify improvements.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registration
- Diploma or degree in occupational therapy
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of working in mental health
- Evidence of understanding of national policies and procedures relating to mental health
- Evidence of use of standardised assessment
- evidence of clear written communication skills
Desirable
- evidence of supervising students or junior staff
Knowledge
Essential
- evidence of understanding of models of practice
- evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- training in models of practice or standardised assessments
- evidence of ability to apply research and theory into practice
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registration
- Diploma or degree in occupational therapy
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of working in mental health
- Evidence of understanding of national policies and procedures relating to mental health
- Evidence of use of standardised assessment
- evidence of clear written communication skills
Desirable
- evidence of supervising students or junior staff
Knowledge
Essential
- evidence of understanding of models of practice
- evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- training in models of practice or standardised assessments
- evidence of ability to apply research and theory into practice
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).
