First Contact Assessor Watford

Are you a talented qualified mental health professional with a skill for assessment? Are you interested in working with an outstanding Trust to develop and deliver community treatment in mental health? If yes, we would love to hear from you. We are seeking to recruit an assessor to join the Adult Community Mental Health Service (ACMHS) in South West Hertfordshire. We welcome diversity in our workforce and encourage applicants from people of all ages and backgrounds, such as those with lived experience of mental health difficulties. Our team is based in Watford and this is a face-to-face contact role.

Here's what our staff say about working in the team:

• “It's a privilege to help people make the changes they want to see in their lives. I get to see about three people each day, on site, and I love my job.” (LP, Counselling Psychologist, South West ACMHS)
• “This was my first job in NHS and I didn't know what to expect, but there is so much training provided, I was and am able to shadow different professionals in first contact assessments - it is such a great opportunity to learn and participate in MDT.” (AV, Health Care Assistant)

Main duties of the job:

• Work in partnership with service users in the designated care group with complex health presentations, to enable them to lead fulfilling lives.
• Work in partnership with Health and Social care professionals from other agencies and organisations including Community Navigators, Adult Care Services and the Voluntary sector.
• Demonstrate an understanding of clinical interventions relevant to the Pathway/Protocols to include psycho-education, relevant aspects of social inclusion, Recovery, care plans and discharge planning, working closely with carers, families and partner agencies to facilitate this.
• Promote the safety and well-being of service users and their families/carers.
• Act within the appropriate professional code of conduct at all times.
• Comply with the Trust's Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

About us:

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission. Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities:

• The role of the Mental Health Practitioner will be to work as part of the Adult Community Mental Health Services undertaking first contact assessments for all those referred by the Single Point of Access Referral Advisors for consideration for Adult Community Mental Health Services pathway.
• Provide assessment, consultation, support, education and problem-solving approaches in the area of assessment and management of mental health problems in Adults of working age.
• Signpost to other services and provide advice regarding other digital and community-based resources.
• Liaise with GPs and other Primary Care services to obtain additional information to support the assessment process and access to the appropriate pathway.
• Strengthen access and provide triage for people who may need mental health services.
• Ensure systems are in place to promote smooth pathways between primary care and secondary mental health services.

Person Specification:

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

• Essential: Registered mental health professional appropriate to the job role (nursing, OT, SW); Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Desirable: Completion of Mentorship/preceptorship Course/ENB equivalent, or intention to complete; Non-medical prescriber.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

• Essential: Minimum of one year post-registration experience; Previous experience of working in the community/primary care setting; Experience of supervising staff; Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems; Experience of working consultatively with professionals; Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments; Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies; Experience of working within the CPA process; Experience of delivering teaching sessions to colleagues and professionals.
• Desirable: Experience of working alongside people with complex mental health problems.

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. 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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.