Mental Health Practitioner (Merton HTT) | South West London and St George\'s Mental Health NHS Trust

We are looking for an enthusiastic, driven registered practitioner who can work autonomously in the community, complete full mental health assessments, manage risk in the community, while also being an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. You will take a lead in coordinating shifts, delegating to other team members as well as liaising with other key stakeholders. You will be required to urgently respond to requests for assessment and treatment of people experiencing a mental health crisis.

To undertake the role of the gatekeeper for all people requiring admission to inpatient services, including those requiring assessment under the MHA, and to provide an alternative to hospital admission through Home Treatment interventions where appropriate. You will work autonomously as well as an effective team member. This dynamic and driven multidisciplinary team offers an alternative to psychiatric hospital admission, supporting service users in acute mental health crisis in their homes, as well as supporting loved ones and carers during this period.

The Service operates a 24/7 service, with an HTT night function covered by our Coral Assessment Hub via the Mental Health Crisis Line. To provide comprehensive assessment of a service user’s mental state and social needs which would aid the completion of a collaborative care plan for community management. To provide comprehensive risk assessment, formulation, and management as part of the service user’s journey.

To act as keyworker for a small caseload of service users, with support from the multidisciplinary team. Cover the duty / shift coordination role on a regular basis. Liaison with other agencies involved in a service user’s care. To support and supervise junior members of staff. Lead on the discharge or transfer of care for our service users to appropriate agencies. Adhere to professional confidentiality standards. Adhere to the code of practice/conduct of your registering body at all times. Discharge professional responsibilities under the Mental Health Act (1983) and revised subsequent act Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the NMC Professional Code of Conduct. Be accountable and responsible for own practice.

You will be an experienced and competent nurse or equivalent clinician. You will be confident in using RIO (patient electronic record system) and have a good knowledge of EPMA (Electronic Prescribing and Medicine Administration), a patient’s medicine management system.

The post holder will be expected to participate in the following:

• Engaging clients in crisis.
• Participating in rapid assessments at home.
• Coordinating effective gate keeping assessments when needed.
• Providing a range of interventions for service users and carers.
• Planning for robust and sustainable discharge and aftercare.
• Involving clients in planning and evaluating care given.
• Working as part of the team to achieve the best possible care for clients.

The post holder will be based in the Home Treatment Team (CHTT) and be the first point of contact for all referrals. The post holder will be directly accountable for care planned and implemented within the limits of his/her professional competence. To develop and maintain a high standard of practice based on assessment, through the use of psycho-education, the Recovery Model, and supportive clinical management.

To communicate/liaise effectively within relevant agencies and teams to ensure that an integrated programme of care is provided throughout. To attend clinical meetings to provide the team with relevant information in relation to caseload and to feedback on new assessments and use of zoning. To identify and support carers and facilitate assessments where appropriate. To offer advice and support to other professionals on issues of referrals to HTT or signposting if not appropriate for HTT.

To undertake home visits (single or joint); single visits only when there are no health, risk or safety issues evident. To actively participate in relapse prevention work. To actively support the client in self-management of their symptoms and diagnosis and with the formation of their collaborative crisis plan. To provide comprehensive risk assessments in accordance with the Trust Guidelines.

To ensure all Key Performance Indicators are assessed, recorded and updated regularly on RIO. To work flexibly in ensuring maximum efforts are made to engage service users/carers. To ensure effective communication with the inpatient service, social services, IRH’s and to include other statutory and non-statutory organisations including the voluntary sector to provide continuity of care.

To have knowledge of the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act Care Programme Approach, Care Act, Deprivation of Liberty, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Community Treatment Orders. To maintain confidentiality at all times, and ensure accurate records are maintained in accordance with NMC guidelines and Trust Policy. To manage medicines in accordance with the NMC guidelines and The Trust Medicines Policy. To ensure effective communication with Children & Families Teams when safeguarding children. To report to Team manager any incident or Serious Untoward Incidents that may take place and provide reports and accurate records relating to the incidents.