Community Mental Health Practitioner (KCW EIS) in London

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others. There’s a place for you at CNWL. We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you’re at, there’s always a place for you at CNWL.

Community Mental Health Practitioner (KCW EIS) NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area: Mental Health

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)

Job ref: 333-J-KC-0939-B

Site: Early Intervention Team

Town: London

Salary: £47,951 - £56,863 Per annum incl. HCAS (pro rata if P/T)

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 24/08/ :59

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run. Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.

We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff. We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles.

Job overview: An exciting opportunity has opened up within our Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service in Kensington Chelsea and Westminster. Here at CNWL we are fully committed to developing our Nursing workforce and offering opportunities to aspiring candidates and this post is no different. You will be either a Band 6 RMN, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist looking for a new challenge.

Within this role you will be offered:

• Monthly Reflective Practice sessions allowing you the opportunity to share your learning and reflect on your experiences with your colleagues
• Monthly supervision sessions focussed on your development into this role
• Our highly successful 6-months Family Intervention training which upon completion will allow you to co-facilitate Family work sessions within the team
• Opportunities to shadow our wide-ranging, specialised services with the Trust such as perinatal services, CAHMS, HTT, CMHT and many more.

Main duties of the job: The post holder will be a member of Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Early Intervention and will carry a caseload of service users 14 years and over who are experiencing a First Episode of Psychosis. Responsible for undertaking initial and comprehensive assessment of health and social care needs alone or with colleagues and feedback to Multi-Disciplinary Team. Care co-ordination responsibility for the overall care of an identified group of service users, being part of a service that is committed to recovery and social inclusion.

Carry out MDT activities including being on duty and clinic rota as appropriate and within sphere of profession. To be a role model to Band 5 RAD nurses and students Nurses in the team. Our EIP Practitioners are specially trained and committed to using these skills to offer nursing which is centred around working with an individual’s strengths in order to maximise autonomy and to deliver NICE concordant care for First Episode Psychosis. You will be working with individuals who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis, ranging from 14 to 35 years of age and where the prognosis for a full recovery is very high. You can be a part of this. If you are an enthusiastic practitioner who is keen to try and upskill themselves and advance into becoming a more established community practitioner then we want to hear from you.

Working for our organisation: We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. We can offer:

• Flexible working opportunities
• Working within a dynamic team with visibility of the Senior Management Team
• A range of staff benefits including “kids pass”, range of salary sacrifices schemes (inc for electronic goods and 30% savings on a car), interest free loans and more
• Award-winning Staff Networks that have thousands of members and exciting events.
• Career mapping and development programmes.
• Support and guidance with your Nurse revalidation.
• Opportunity to shadow senior Leaders.
• Hidden Gem & annual award ceremonies.

The Team serves the population of Kensington Chelsea and Westminster, a diverse and vibrant borough. It is an established team with a friendly, supportive culture. There is a visible, supportive management team and a strong emphasis on training and professional development opportunities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities: Work collaboratively with other members of the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of MH care pathway. To educate health professionals, other services eg ASC and voluntary sector regarding First Episode Psychosis and the role of an EIS including pre-referral advice and consultation to assist in the appropriate triage and allocation of referrals. Ensure, and clarify where necessary, the patient pathways through mental health services. Undertake initial assessment and reviews including the formulation of care plans to meet the identified needs of the patient. Undertake Risk Assessments and formulate risk management plans as per Trust policies. Regular attendance and participation at the clinical meetings that facilitate discussion of patient/client needs and ensure a shared approach to care, treatment and risk management where necessary.

Plan and implement care as appropriate to the needs of the patient that is underpinned by best practice guidance and person centred principles. Review and evaluation of care plans and risk management plans on an ongoing basis. Advice regarding medication management including promoting concordance and monitoring and advising regards effect and side effects in accordance with profession. Facilitate undertaking of physical and mental health reviews. Provide information, advice and assessment to carers, as required. To work with primary care to ensure that referrals to secondary services are timely and appropriate and that more complex cases are referred on. Work as part of the mental health practitioner team at base, in clinic and in service users homes as appropriate. To develop and maintain access to community & voluntary agencies/services who can offer patients alternative avenues for support and therapeutic help. Ensure safe discharge process back to primary care when secondary services no longer required. Facilitating and attending joint training events within Organisation/ Borough as appropriate and agreed with service management team. To promote appropriate service users involvement in all aspects of the delivery of the service. To participate in clinical and business meetings. To create and maintain systems for managing data including audit. Supervise junior colleagues and students.

Person specification:

• Qualifications: Current UK professional registration as a Registered Mental Health Nurse/Occupational Therapist or Social Worker. Evidence of post registration training and CPD ENB998/Slice/Mentorship in Practice/Practice Teacher course or professional equivalent. Training in Psychosocial Interventions; Family Therapy/Work training; Other relevant training, eg substance misuse, work with adolescents.

• Previous Experience: Substantial years post-registration with at significant years’ experience working with people experiencing psychosis and with complex health and social care needs. Or at least experience working with first episode psychosis in a Community or inpatient setting. Experience of working in multidisciplinary mental health team in community as a Care Co-ordinator. Work with adolescents. Work with families. Work with people experiencing mental health crisis. Supervision of students and junior staff. Audit and research. Working with people who use substances.

• Skills and knowledge: Able to develop a comprehensive programme of intervention and support for the identified client group and their families. Skills in risk assessment and management. Can demonstrate understanding of psychosis and its impact on service users and carers. Knowledge of current legislation and guidance applicable to this client group. Can demonstrate understanding of the needs of particular groups, e.g. young people, residents of inner city; black and minority ethnic groups, and skills in engaging with them. Skills in psychosocial interventions. Skills in leadership: ability to motivate others, use initiative and manage change. Basic counselling and group work skills. Dual diagnosis/substance misuse.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period. If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.