Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner - HMP Hull

We are looking for a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to work alongside an integrated mental health team based at HMP Hull. Rethink Mental Illness works alongside Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust to deliver an integrated stepped care mental health service within HMP Hull and Humber.

Main duties of the job:

• You will work as part of an integrated primary care mental health team within the Prison to provide high volume, low intensity interventions which will be a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions, for clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
• This includes providing guided self-help in both 1:1 and group formats, in line with the current Step 2 IAPT guidelines.
• You will also work with the following people and teams within Rethink: Associate Director for Criminal Justice and Care Navigation, Head Criminal Justice and Secure Care, Head of Care Navigation, Counsellors, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, Care Navigators.

About us:

The team comprises a range of highly skilled professionals who work collaboratively to provide the highest quality of care for those with mental health needs within the prison and for Rethink Mental Illness employees, this is carried out between 0800 - 1600 Monday to Friday. You will work as part of an integrated care mental health team delivering Step 1 interventions, working alongside other professionals to support the mental health of the prison population.

The team supports people with a common mental health problem in the self-management of their recovery, building a professional relationship of trust in a non-judgmental manner with every client as a basis for developing and enabling therapeutic relationships. This ranges from providing informal information, support, and signposting, facilitating group activities and forums, to developing and training Peer Mentors and delivering service user engagement activities.

You will work alongside the other staff in the mental health team to deliver high quality mental health support during an individual's time in prison and in onward planning for their release into the community.

Job responsibilities:

• To accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
• Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary; or steps-up the person's treatment to high intensity.
• Assess and support people with mental health problems in the self-management of their recovery.
• Undertake person-centred interviews identifying areas where the person wishes to see change and or recovery and make an accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
• Provide assessment and low intensity interventions e.g., psycho-educational interventions, Guided Self Help, drawing from CBT theories and techniques.
• Implement and support a range of evidence-based interventions utilising a self-management model of mental health care.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment.
• Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
• Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
• Record and evaluate outcome measures as part of the ongoing therapy process.
• Ensure the accurate entry of clinical data onto agreed systems, maintaining the highest standards of clinical record keeping.
• Work in partnership with other disciplines and to maintain links with statutory and non-statutory agencies as appropriate, in relation to continuing care on release from prison.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Support the collation of monthly performance data for the service management team.
• Communicate effectively with patients, stakeholders, colleagues, and relevant professionals, both in verbal and written form.
• You will have an open and transparent attitude to work, utilising all elements of supervision appropriately.
• Uphold the values of Rethink Mental Illness at all times and represent the best interests of the company in all I do.
• Flexible approach to work and prepared to provide contingency cover to other prisons if required.

Person Specification:

• Successfully completed academic course of study in line with the IAPT Low Intensity National Programme and qualified as a PWP, e.g., Post Grad Diploma in Psychological Therapies.
• Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy.
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems.
• Knowledge/relevant experience in other therapy modalities that are relevant to practice as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (e.g., solution focused therapy, supervision training).

Experience:

• Post-qualification experience in offering and delivering the full range of evidence-based IAPT low intensity interventions at Step 2.
• Evidence of working within a stepped care service with people who have experienced a mental health problem delivering and demonstrating recovery outcomes.
• Knowledge of assessment procedures, screening, referral, record-keeping, and evidence-based brief psychological interventions.
• Demonstrates an understanding use of evidence-based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
• Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients and practice in a non-discriminatory manner, respecting the beliefs and cultural practices of individuals and groups.
• Operates at all times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises and respects diversity.
• Experience of using clinical outcome measures to inform practice.
• Confident communicator with excellent verbal and written skills.
• Good working knowledge of standard IT packages including Microsoft Word, Excel, and use of database/information systems.
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and be self-reflective in own personal and professional development.
• Experience working in a prison environment or experience of working with offenders.
• Ability to prioritise workload demands and positively respond to unforeseen challenges.
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner.
• Ability to utilise continued professional development, in collaboration with supervisor and line manager to ensure work remains at the highest possible standard.

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.