Mental Health Practitioner (Developmental)

Are you an ambitious Band 5 Mental Health Nurse/OT who holds professional registration and aspires to become a band 6? We have created fast track development opportunities within Home Treatment Team, perfect for someone who is keen to work towards band 6 within 6-12 months, depending on competencies. Applicants MUST HAVE a UK NMC Registration/PIN or state registration as an OT. These will be permanent roles of 33.75 hours, and the salary for this Band 5-Band 6 development role will initially be: £32,073 - £39,043 pa, pro rata. (Band 5, before progressing to Band 6).

We will particularly welcome applications from people with older adult experience (including dementia), acute mental health experience, or from other health sectors where transferable skills can be demonstrated. The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team taking referrals, conducting biopsychosocial assessments and providing treatment interventions for patients 18 and over who are experiencing mental health crisis. This includes managing and administering medication and ensuring physical checks are routinely conducted. Good risk assessment and formulation are both vital. Some autonomous working may be required at times. High quality communication skills are essential. The purpose is both to prevent unnecessary admissions and facilitate early or prompt discharges from Livewell's inpatient functional wards.

Main duties of the job:

• Upon completion of the development role the successful applicant will be performing the following role across 3 twelve hour shifts per week with an occasional shorter shift to make up hours. However different/part time working patterns and flexi-working arrangements are available.
• To receive and triage referrals for those presenting in a mental health crisis.
• To be part of a multi-disciplinary team approach responding to individuals requiring a same day response or signposting due to a mental health crisis.
• To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers and patients and carers.
• To provide skilled telephone-based support to help contain a crisis and avoid further escalation of an issue.
• To offer an urgent mental health assessment in a location most convenient/appropriate for the patient; this may be in their home, GP surgery or Emergency Department.
• Identify the most appropriate intervention required for patient, with an emphasis on positive risk management, and refer as necessary.

The team operates a night time on-call service in which all band 6 staff participate. This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline. All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Job responsibilities:

This is a developmental opportunity. Competency will be achieved by completion of a pre-written set of competencies. This is projected to take around 6 months but can run for up to 12 months. This is a development role, with an expectation that the required competencies will be achieved within 12 months. Progress will be reviewed regularly, and where these competencies are not met, this will be addressed in line with organisational processes.

For full details regarding these Band 5 - Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner development roles, please see the attached job descriptions and personal specifications. The successful candidate shall begin on the band 5-6 development job description and then move to the Band 6 Job description upon completion of the development program.

Person Specification:

Knowledge:

• Band 5: Mental Health Act. Confidentiality. Applies knowledge of CPA and Care Co-ordination. Psychiatric illnesses especially those on the schizophrenic and bi-polar spectrum plus evidence of giving relevant nursing care. Knowledge of NICE guidelines in relation to mental health and the ability to apply evidence-based practice.
• Band 5: MCA/DOLS. Breakaway. Networking with other agencies. Ethical issues in relation to Mental Health. System one/ECPA/computer patient records. Interest and awareness of national and local services developments.

Experience:

• Band 5: Multi-disciplinary working. Relevant experience of working with adults with a history of severe and enduring mental illness within health-based organisations.
• Band 5: Life experience in wide range of settings. Experience within a community mental health setting.

Qualifications:

• Band 5: RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing- NMC Registration. Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration.

Skills:

• Band 5 Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner within a team including: Communication and liaison skills. Self-management ability. Interpersonal skills. Crisis management. Lone working. Ability to plan/implement a package of care in the community for patients with mental health problems.
• Band 5 Ability to carry out role of link working within primary care. Independent assessments - Planning care and reviewing patients at request of primary care in primary care setting. Ability to recognise and support stress in others. Mentorship or equivalent. Group Interaction Skills. Specific Therapeutic interventions. Good working knowledge of the Care Quality Commission.