Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary
37.5 hours per week. An exciting opportunity to work within MAIS service as an a experienced Mental Health Practitioner within Adult Mental Health Services. You will work within a registered-led multi-disciplinary Service delivering mental health assessments and interventions providing outstanding care in the community for Service Users. As a Community Mental Health Practitioner, you will have the opportunity to provide a range of evidence based, recovery focussed interventions on both an individual and group basis to service users and their carers. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with and provide consultation to the wider support networks.

All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
Job Share(s) Considered
"please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility"
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity

Main duties of the job
You will, as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team in accordance with Livewell policies, work collaboratively with service users with a significant degree of mental health complexity, their carers and other agencies, enabling them to access mental health specialist support when required in line with Recovery and Trauma Informed Principles.

You will manage a defined caseload, working closely with other statutory and non-statutory agencies to provide specialist mental health assessment and evidenced based treatments (both individual and group work based) for people mental health symptoms and complex presentations. You will deliver care in line with agreed principles and policies.

You will be responsible for prioritising workload and providing clinical advice to junior staff.

You will also be able to offer consultation to other services and contribute to multi agency forum, you will contribute to the training of others.

You will participate in, and chair, Risk Management and Professionals meetings.

You will have access to support and supervision from an experienced multi-disciplinary team.

You will contribute to the development of training programmes for junior staff and the local induction programme and mentor students.

You will lead on investigations for complaints, SIRI;s and grievances.

About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities
The post holder will be expected to be able to make clear clinical decisions based on the analysis of often complex presenting difficulties; this can include being the decision maker in terms of the onward care plan for patients experiencing crisis mental health needs.

Undertake holistic and comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessment of patients referred to the service.

Utilise a range of clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical/ home setting in which they are seen

Ability to match patient need with available skills and resources.

Work closely with peer support workers and volunteers to enhance patient experience.

Provide a consultation-liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams referring to the teams. This will include giving specialist advice on care, treatment and patients management issues.

To be part of a multi-disciplinary team approach responding to individuals.

To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers

To provide skilled telephone-based support to help avoid further escalation of an issue

To offer an mental health assessments and appointments in a location most convenient/appropriate for the patient; this may be in their home, telephone or in a clinical setting.

To provide MH assessment to patients to identify presenting symptoms and concerns.

Identify the most appropriate intervention required for patient, with an emphasis on positive risk management, and refer, as necessary.

Following assessments provide high quality assessment reports/letters to the relevant professionals. Monitor reports by junior staff to ensure they are of the same standards.

Maintain high standards of integrity when communicating with patients and others.

Demonstrate ability to use IT systems effectively including email and clinical systems used by the team.

Possess a good working knowledge of mental health legislation including Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards and use this in relation to advising and planning care, independently or with other professionals.

The post holder will provide assessment and interventions in the setting most appropriate to meet the patients needs.

Be able to make clinical decision.

Maintain high standards of clinical care to patients.

Formulate care plans, implement, and evaluate them alongside patients and carers ensuring informed consent is obtained.

To work within their professional registration (NMC, HCPC, BCAP) only.

Responsibility for People Management
Provide clinical supervision and line management supervision for junior members of staff.

Have the ability to challenge staff where the standard falls below expectations.

Have the ability to foster capability and support staff to develop.

Assist in education programmes provided for junior staff.

Provide mentorship for students both formally and informally.

Participate regularly in recruitment and selection of staff.

The post holder will actively participate in line management supervision with the Team Manager of the Team.

Provide line management for junior staff.

The post holder will actively participate in clinical supervision in accordance with Livewell SW policy.

The post holder will actively participate in the Livewell SW appraisal system and provide appraisals for junior staff.

Support the Team Practice Leads in the effective running of the team and monitoring of standards through effective clinical supervision of junior staff.

To take a clinical lead in absence of managers/ Practice leads.

Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

• To comply with Livewell Southwest financial policies and procedures.
• Exercise a duty of care in relation to use of the organisations equipment and resources in a cost-effective manner.
• To maintain equipment as issued to them by Livewell Southwest for the job role - Lone working devise, mobile phone and IT equipment.
• The post holder would be responsible for the safe storage and stock control levels of medication if required (NMC registered).
• The post holder would be expected to be an authorised signatory for the ordering and authorisation of medication if required (NMC registered).

Responsibility for administration

• Maintain all records used by the team securely in line with the organisations policy and local practice.
• The post holder will be responsible for updating their own practice, knowledge, and skills within their sphere of practice including Livewell SW mandatory training.
• Knowledge of Mental Health and Mental Health service delivery.
• To take a lead role in the co-ordination of shift ensuring appropriate allocation of work with the available skill mix utilising, prioritising, negotiation, and delegation skills.
• Regularly take a lead in clinical meetings ensuring all patients are reviewed and decisions and plans are put into action and represent the patients views.
• Liaise with other services to arrange appointments that both meet patient and service demands.
• Responsible for electronic contacts and monitor the standard of work of junior staff.
• Maintain confidentiality of the patients as per policy whilst sharing information when appropriate to do so.
• Keep accurate and contemporaneous electronic/written patient records and comply with professional and organisational record keeping policies.
• Comply with local and national policies in relation to confidentiality and information sharing protocols.

Responsibility for people who use our services

• Advise referrers/family/patients, medical and other professional staff on the management of patients and contribute to care planning to meet identified needs.
• Conduct risk assessments on all patients presenting to the service in line with up-to-date guidance and Livewell Southwest policy. The post holder will have highly developed risk assessment skills to manage complex presentations.
• Evaluate effectiveness of care interventions with all disciplines of staff, adjusting care plans where necessary.
• To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers
• Refer and signpost people to appropriate mental health services as required both within and outside of the organisations area. Assist people to complete self-referrals when this is in their best interests.
• Involve carers and families of people with mental health needs, providing support and advice as needed.
• Provide education to patients and carers to enhance their knowledge therefore improving longer-term concordance.
• Promote RECOVERY
• Provide education to patients and carers in line with current policy and good practice guidelines.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyse often large amounts of complex information from a range of other services, assimilate these and their relevance to a persons mental health needs.
• Formulate a clinical opinion including an assessment of risk and advise on an appropriate care plan.
• Take a lead role in the collaboration and the planning of individual care with patient, carer, other Teams and Services. Including maintaining the safety of patients, staff, and the public in challenging, potentially violent situations.
• Adhere to the Policy for the Safe, Secure and Handling of Medicines and local Home Treatment protocols ensuring patients receive medication in a safe and timely fashion.
• Assess and monitor the effect of medication and report observations to medical staff.

Person Specification

Additional requirements And behavioural attributes
Essential

• To participate in on- call structure. Ability to work flexible hours.
• Able to work alone and unsupervised following induction period
• Reflective, curious and creative in approach to patient care
• Responsible and self-motivated, tact, diplomacy and self-confident.
• Able to manage difficult and distressing situations effectively.
• Flexible and adaptable, ability to learn new skills and develop role.
• Display values of being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. commitment to the aims and values of the NHS combined with high personal integrity.
• Committed to developing and improving mental health services.
• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.

Specific skills
Essential

• IT skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Risk assessment and formulation skills, including safety planning.
• Robust and positive approach towards risk assessment
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to prioritise and reprioritise work to meet clinical demand.
• Ability to identify and refer on for unmet need. Working effectively with patients who may have a variety of communication difficulties.
• Triaging referrals based on clinical urgency.
• Ability to manage environmental stress.
• Ability to work in a changing team.
• Articulate with a high level of communication skills.
• Ability to deal with high levels of emotional stress.
• Ability to sustain high levels of concentration.

Desirable

• Staff appraisal skills
• Committed to developing new ideas and improving patient care.
• Physical healthcare skills

Experience
Essential

• Significant post-registration experience of working with people with complex mental ill health within the community, including those who may abuse drugs and/or alcohol
• Significant experience as a Key Worker/ or Home Treatment/Crisis worker
• Experience of working collaboratively with patients and their families/carers
• Previous experience of working at a level relevant to the role, post registration experience in acute mental health.
• Completing complex mental health assessments in a variety of different settings in the community and signposting to relevant services
• Relapse prevention and Recovery Principles
• Experience of working with people in high levels of distress
• Extensive post-qualifying experience of practicing low intensity CBT interventions with people with a range of mental health problems in a community mental health setting

Desirable

• Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring, and teaching to students and other health professionals
• Experience of working in an acute inpatient unit
• Experience of working with older adults
• Experience of working with people with an offending background
• Experience of conducting basic physical health screening
• Previous experience of working in a community mental health setting.
• Evidence of developing and contributing to service development.
• Experience of change in health care.
• Collaborative working with peer support organisations
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
• Experience working with a psychologist or MH professional
• Experience of managing or supervising junior staff.
• Managing a caseload of clients with a range of mental health presentation.

Qualifications
Essential

• One of the following:
• RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing NMC Registration
• RGN/Dip HE/BSc Registered Nurse NMC Registration
• Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration
• Social Work Degree HCPC Registration
• Paramedic Science Degree/BSc/Dip HE HCPC Registration Registered

Desirable

• Post qualification experience/training in mental health and related issues.
• Clinical Supervision training
• Evidence of completion of statutory and mandatory training
• Mentorship qualification or equivalent experience.
• Non-medical prescriber or willingness to work towards this where appropriate.
• Leadership qualifications.
• (Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Mental health nurse, psychological wellbeing practitioner)

Knowledge
Essential

• Evidence of post registration development.
• Clinical Risk Assessment.
• Safeguarding Adults and Children
• Clinical Governance
• Care program approach & person-centered framework
• Psychological models of care and treatment
• Sound working knowledge of Mental Health Act (1983), Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (2005).
• Understanding of National guidelines and initiatives related to provision of mental health services
• Understanding of the provision of mental health care and recovery services in the community.
• Specialist knowledge of mental disorders and their impact on physical health.

Desirable

• CBT skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Solution focused therapy skills.
• Physical healthcare skills.
• Motivational interviewing skills.
• DBT skills.
• Cognitive assessment skills.
• Microsoft Outlook.
• Culturally competent assessment and intervention skills
• SystmOne, Care First or other electronic records system also eCPA

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.