Clinical Team Leader in Plymouth

We are looking for an inspirational and motivated Clinical Team Leader to join the young persons place of safety and inpatient team at Plym Bridge House. The successful applicant will have a minimum of two years post registration experience, ideally with experience within a CAMHS setting. The successful applicant will work between the two services and will have excellent communication skills and be able to provide motivating and innovative Clinical Leadership as well as being able to mentor and inspire junior staff.

You will need to have a passion for working with young people with mental health needs including PTSD related to recent and/or current trauma, psychosis, anorexia nervosa and other non-specific eating disorders as well as depression, anxiety and OCD. Candidates will need to possess excellent communication skills as you will be working alongside other professionals, families, and carers. The successful candidate will work in an established MDT team and support the team in the delivery of therapeutic programmes and plans of care.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a regionally respected team who engage in rewarding and intensive work with the most complex and challenging presentations. The service is part of the broader Plymouth Children’s, young people and Families services.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Clinical Team Leader within the Place of Safety will be an autonomous role supervising and supporting a small team to co-ordinate Section 136/135 admissions to the Children and Young Persons Place of Safety Suite (CYPPOS), supporting the detained person whilst awaiting outcome of assessment. This role is a dual role across both CPY POS and Tier 4 Unit. The primary role will be Clinical Team Leader for POS but when not required to work in this area the post holder will be required to support the senior management team in the running of the Tier 4 unit. This may require aligning with shift patterns on a 24/7 rota basis. You will be in contact with relatives, carers and other professional agencies and will be required to be responsible for decision making and direction of the team.

To contribute to the establishment of a positive working environment and open learning culture, which fosters high morale and commitment amongst all staff, and that promotes wellbeing, personal development and continuous improvement in the standards of business activities and professional practice. All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Job responsibilities

• To provide inspirational, innovative Clinical Leadership within the spirit of the NMC code of Professional Conduct, the operational ethos of CAMHS and Livewell Southwest.
• To provide psychological/Mental Health leadership to ensure care and assessment is provided to young people who are detained to the Place of Safety.
• The Clinical Team Leader is required to mentor/supervise and inspire junior staff and be able to teach qualified and unqualified staff, including basic and / or post basic students.
• The Clinical Team Leader will be expected to be involved in the management and leadership of the service and support positive clinical decision making.
• The Clinical Team Leader will adopt a multitude of specific roles to fulfil the Clinical, Managerial and Staffing needs of the service.
• The Clinical Team Leader will be expected to adopt a lead role in Quality Improvement initiatives.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

Clinical Functions:

• To provide clinical expertise and support in the delivery of mental health support throughout the 24 hour day through the operation of an internal rotation shift system.
• To actively participate in all aspects of the management and development of the Service.
• To ensure the delivery system is devised to meet the needs of patients which is evidence based wherever possible.
• To participate in multidisciplinary assessments and discussions to ensure the smooth transition of any young person using the Place of Safety.
• To practice clinically, developing and maintaining clinical competencies.
• To act as clinical role model, demonstrating high standards of nursing practice.
• To ensure all other team members are guided and supported in developing and maintaining clinical competencies.
• To maintain good working relationships with other agencies and organisations that commission services.
• To be trained in and actively participate in the management of violence and aggression via approved physical intervention techniques, utilizing the reporting systems and completing the Managers Report, ensuring the use of SBAR and ensuring debriefs are conducted for both staff and patient groups.
• To present information and material at case conferences, stakeholder events and organisational reviews in a systematic way, and to ensure that essential information is shared.
• To liaise and engage in professional discussions with the families/carers/support networks.
• To actively participate in line management supervision and the appraisal process in accordance with the Organisational policy.
• To arrange & participate in regular group & individual Clinical supervision.
• To deliver line management, appraisals and negotiate meaningful Personal Development Plans, and provide clinical supervision utilising a systematic consistent approach to team members.
• To maintain & contribute to standards of nursing care, policies & procedures.
• To Clinically Lead the function of the Children and Young Persons Place of Safety (CYP POS) and offer clinical advice where required.
• To have knowledge of Section 135/136.

Administrative Functions:

• To maintain confidentiality in relation to all material, whether verbal, written or taped.
• To prepare reports for stakeholders.
• To be aware of the mental health legislation and children’s legislation, as they may affect the young people under your care, e.g. Mental Health Act (1983) and the Children Act (1989).
• To be aware of child protection policies and to see that they are implemented.
• To maintain effective communication with the Acute Trust (Derriford Hospital), Police and any other professional organisations and give advice / practical help in difficult situations.
• To use the electronic record system.
• Provide, receive and analyse complex information from a range of sources.
• To be aware of Health and Safety policies and other Livewell Southwest policies applicable to the Unit.
• To support the reporting of any untoward occurrences in a timely way and ensure processes are followed in accordance with policy.
• To actively engage in the auditing process to monitor and maintain standards, offering feedback on outcomes.
• To be aware of, and assist in, implementing organisational & NMC policies and procedures.

Personal and Professional Development:

• To attend line management supervision and clinical supervision and ensure that practice supervision requirements are maintained.
• To attend mandatory study days and training particular to the role as directed by line manager.
• To maintain competencies required for role.
• To participate in regular group supervision and staff group to support practice supervision requirements.

Physical Effort:

• To have the ability to sit with young people and their families for extended periods of time, often within very pressurised circumstances and to sustain frequent, intense concentration.
• Apply a high level of expertise to create a safe, calm and appropriate environment for young people in a highly emotive situation and be able to respond appropriately to this need.
• To undertake physical intervention techniques, that requires occasional requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several long periods.
• Regularly inputting information into patient notes and other records, linked to the young person you will be assigned to work alongside for the day.
• Knowledge of the use of the Plym Bridge Houses SAS alarm system.

Mental Effort:

• The workload (clinical and operational) will be highly unpredictable and interruptions often require immediate action from the post holder.
• Supporting colleagues and families in managing difficult behaviour, verbal and physical aggression, and levels of suicidal risk in young people.
• Emotional Effort: Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances examples include dealing with patient issues relating to child protection or risk to life.
• Participation in team processes and with staff issues, e.g. safety, risk management, service continuity.
• There is a requirement for long periods of intense concentration whilst delivering clinical practice.

Working Conditions:

• Facilitate the reasonable needs of the young person, within a managed risk environment.
• Regular exposure to unpleasant working conditions when dealing with distressed and potentially angry persons.
• Exposure to incidents of self-harm and the ability to provide thoughtful support and care of young people.
• The needs of a 24 hour 7 day a week service may require weekend working.
• All duties will include a mandatory 30 minute break or longer if required dependent on the length of the shift.

Person Specification

• Registered mental health or children’s nurse.
• Communications Skills.
• Leadership Skills.
• Team Work Skills.
• Management Ability.
• Able to take charge.
• Requirement to train and participate in Physical Intervention training and teamwork.
• Administration Skills.
• Computer Skills.
• Interpersonal Skills.
• Supervision of Junior Staff.
• Dependable, reliable and flexible working ability.
• Responsible and self-motivated.
• Able to manage own stress.
• Ability to recognise and support stress in others.
• Flexible and approachable.
• To work on rota 24/7 Day Services.
• Specialist counselling Skills.
• Good knowledge of Systmone.
• Research and audit skills.
• Ability to reflect constructively on practice.
• Mentorship or equivalent.

Experience:

• Relevant & significant post registration in a mental health setting.
• Multidisciplinary work.
• Life experience in a wide range of settings.
• Team leader position in a variety of clinical settings.
• Experience working with children and young people.

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.