Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary
37.5 hours per week
An opportunity has arisen for a full-time band 6 post within the Single Point of Access (Barnsley). The service operates Mon-Fri 08:00-18:30 and weekends 8am-16:00hrs with flexible working patterns available.

The successful applicant will become part of a talented, passionate team of people committed to providing high quality care and treatment to patients.

Promoting diversity, exceptional patient care, lifelong learning, and an enriching work-life balance is paramount within the ethos team.

You will be working in a supportive environment alongside experienced staff with access to regular supervision and training.

The team offers triages, initial assessment for service users referred to secondary care mental health teams. We have very good established working relationship with other parts of the service and third sector organisations.

We are based at Lundwood health centre and cover several clinics out at GP practices across the borough in addition to home visits.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will be expected to carry out initial assessments in a variety of settings for service users referred into secondary care mental health services. The team accept referrals from local GP practices, other health care professionals and partnering agencies.

The post requires excellent risk assessment skills and confidence in decision making around complex mental health conditions.

You will be working in a supportive multi-disciplinary team however you must be able to undertake lone working in community settings. You will also be expected to liaise with other parts of statutory services and third sector organisations.

The applicant will undertake the role of duty worker in addition to assessments and triage. This will involve accepting referrals, providing advice and signposting to service users and their families.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
Has continuing responsibility for the provision of skilled interventions to people with mental health problems in the community. Works within a multi-disciplinary team as a member of a Core CMHT.

Key Result Areas:
Management of own caseload in line with C.P.A. procedures and risk management protocols.

Provision of leadership to the Core Team in respect of psycho-social interventions to people and carers.

• Supervision and support of other team members.
• Participation in service development and clinical governance structures.

Professional:

• Assesses needs and identifies problems relevant to the care of people referred.
• Devises a plan of care in partnership with the person and carers.
• Implements the planned programme of care to ensure a high standard is achieved.
• Reviews the effectiveness of the care provided and where appropriate initiates any action.
• Advises and supports the person and carers to promote health and well-being and to prevent illness.
• Recognises situations that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of the person and initiates action that may be required.
• Establishes and maintains satisfactory communication with all agencies involved in the persons care in both hospital and community.
• Functions as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Management of enquiries and direct referrals of people in accordance with the Core C.M.H.T. Operational Policy and participates in the team duty rota.
• Maintain professional registration and demonstrate commitment to statutory codes of practice and continued professional development requirements.
• Responsible for acting up in the absence of the team leader

Administrative:

• Maintains accurate patient care records in accordance with professional codes of conduct and trust procedures and ensures records are made available when required by the appropriate agency.
• Participates in the formulation of policies at unit level.
• Maintains accurate mileage records.
• Manages caseload with due economy of cost and time.
• Ensures safe carriage, storage and administration of drugs prescribed (registered nurses only).
• Responsible for the ordering of stock with due economy.
• Produces monthly statistics in line with trust directives.
• Keeps the Management Team and colleagues informed of developments relevant to the area of responsibility.

Education:

• Supervises students and trainees on placement.
• Assists in the teaching and in-service training of staff.
• Is conversant with current trends in clinical practice.
• Participates and accepts delegated responsibility in research and clinical audit as required.
• Attends courses or training sessions relevant to the updating of knowledge and experience.

Personnel:

• Promotes an understanding of mental health and well being.
• Ensures health and safety regulations are observed.
• Attends mandatory training sessions as directed by the Trust.
• Participates in the values based induction and the annual appraisal process.
• Attends team meetings.
• Supports the Trusts commitment to a healthy work-life balance.

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 respect at all time. The post holder must at all times act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

We put the person first and in the centre
We know that families and carers matter
We are respectful, honest, open and transparent
We improve and aim to be outstanding
We are relevant today and ready for tomorrow

Safeguarding:
Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:
All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

• ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;
• maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;
• understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection policy;
• comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;
• receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;
• understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;
• recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;
• ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participating in relevant training;
• comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);
• demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;
• abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;
• work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.
• adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;
• being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;
• Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promply;

In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.

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

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Significant experience of working within a mental health setting.
• Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing people experiencing mental health problems.
• Experience of supporting/mentoring and supervising colleagues/students/trainees.
• Knowledge and evidence of using IT systems.
• Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing risk in a variety of settings.
• Proven ability in assessing the needs and strengths of people and their carers.
• Experience of delivering a range of therapeutic techniques.
• Working within an integrated multi-disciplinary environment and co-working with other teams and professions within team meetings, case conferences and professional meetings.
• Ability to support colleagues with day-to-day caseload management including prioritisation of responsibilities in times of high clinical demand.
• Ability to promote and develop links with other professionals e.g. practitioners within long term conditions, primary care.
• Evidence of knowledge and application in practice of national guidance and standards, e.g. NICE, CQC, CQUINs.

Desirable

• Experience of working holistically with Adults with an emphasis on coexisting mental and physical health needs that impact on wellbeing.

Qualifications
Essential

• RMN Current NMC registration.
• Social Worker/Occupational Therapist-current Social Work England/HCPC registration.
• Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
• Practice Education/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate.

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).

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Time management.
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Reliability, enthusiasm, motivation, resourcefulness.
• A willingness to work flexibility to meet the needs of service users and the team including extended hours.
• 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) Professional attitude.
• Leadership skills.

Special Knowledge/Skills
Essential

• Working knowledge of recent government legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Health & Safety, Care Programme Approach, Care Act and Safeguarding.
• Able to work incorporating principles of Clinical Governance.
• Proven skills in partnership working with people who use services and their carers.
• Can evidence awareness of equality and diversity and is able to incorporate this into care planning and the delivery of care.
• Ability to act up in the absence of the team leader.
• Knowledge of audit processes.
• Experience of carer services/ issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge and skills in specialist areas such as dual diagnosis, peri-natal mental health, working with people experiencing psychosis, working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder.

Training
Essential

• Assessment and care planning skills.
• Risk assessment and risk management.
• Relevant post-registration qualifications and / or training.

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).

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.