Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication and Key Working Relationships

o Work closely with other members of the clinical team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.

o To liaise with other services such as GP, secondary care and tertiary organisations

Planning and Organisation

* Work autonomously while prioritising own work efficiently and effectively.

Analytics

* Make judgement when dealing with enquires, to resolve problems for patients and staff.

Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy

o Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.

o Assess and support people with a common mental health problem in the self-management of their recovery.

o Undertake patient-centred interviews which identify areas where the person wishes to see change and/or recovery and make an accurate assessment of risk to self and others.

o Make decisions on the suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service's referral protocols, refer unsuitable clients on to a more relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or 'step-up' the person's treatment to high intensity psychological therapy, following the service's stepped care model.

o Provide a range of information, signposting and support via evidence based, high-volume, low-intensity psychological treatments. This support may be offered by telephone, online or face to face.

o Deliver online and in person psycho-educational groups and courses

o Ability to adapt materials for those with additional learning or cultural needs

o Educate and involve family members, carers and others in treatment as necessary.

o Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of client contacts offered (including both clinical treatments and initial assessments) carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.

o Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.

o To communicate effectively with patients, carers and significant others.

o Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapeutic process

o Operate at all times from an inclusive values base which promotes IAPT Recovery and recognises and respects diversity.

o Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and clinical practice.

Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility

* Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating bodies, and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g. NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence).

* Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.

* Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

* Pro-actively take responsibility for regular attendance of Case Management Supervision and Line Management Supervision. To participate in service and locality objective setting and performance review. Participate in setting and reviewing own personal development plan for the post on an annual basis.

* Exercise personal responsibility for the systematic clinical governance of your own professional practice.

* To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.

* To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.

* All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.

* All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.

* It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources

* To maintain equipment to enable effective work e.g. laptop and mobile phones.

Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management

o Prepare and present clinical information for all patients on their caseload to clinical case management supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis. This is to ensure safe practice and that the clinical governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are delivered.

o Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors into own clinical practice, and where relevant in guiding and informing wider service delivery.

o Contribute to the clinical governance framework of the service by identifying and acting on areas of concern and supporting senior clinicians who are taking the lead in designated areas of responsibility.

o Adhere to Trust Values

o To work with the step 2 management team and Service Lead to develop both the team and the service.

Information Resources & Administrative Duties

* Provide data as required (e.g. group statistics, recovery rates)

* Have a comprehensive understanding of Trust information systems (e.g. RiO)

* Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service, both within the service IAPTus database and otherwise as part of audits and research.

* Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

* Attending meetings as necessary and appropriate to the PWP role

* To work flexibly and able to travel to other areas within the county as and when required.

* Obtain and maintain professional registration relevant to the PWP role

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• PWP Qualification (training must be completed in an adult IAPT service)Psychology or other health-related undergraduate degreePWP Registration (via BABCP or BACP)
• * if newly qualified, evidence of working towards registration
• Evidence of qualifications required.

Desirable

• Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy.Psychology or other health related postgraduate degree IAPT PWP Supervisor TrainingIAPT PWP Long Term Health Conditions and MUS Training

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of working with people who have suffered with a mental health problem
• Demonstrate high standards in written communication
• Able to write clear reports and letters
• Able to manage own caseload and time
• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
• Computer literate
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
• Demonstrate an understanding of anxiety and depression and how they present in Primary Care
• Experience of assessing and managing risk
• Listen to others views, respecting and valuing individual needs.
• Professional and patient focussed approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
• Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities.
• Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
• Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.
• Able to record and retrieve information on paper/electronic records as appropriate.
• High standards of written communication skills with the ability to use email and internet.
• Evidence of a good standard of Literacy or English language skills
• Advanced communication skills
• Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the patients.

Desirable

• Experience of working in Primary Care ServicesExperience in a service where agreed targets are in place to demonstrate clinical outcomesExperience of running courses and/or trainingHave received training (either formally or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.Demonstrate a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental healthKnowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problemsEvidence of providing case management supervision to PWPsDemonstrate an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how they relate to this post

Additional Criteria

Essential

• High level of enthusiasm and motivation.
• Able to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Able to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Able to work under pressure
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Able to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users within own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Compassionate - Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives (as appropriate), remaining sensitive and empathic.
• Intuitive and caring nature.
• Act in ways that support equality and diversity.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the impact frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
• Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
• Access to a private car and ability to drive across the county to attend meetings or to any designated venue within the locality to provide treatment or run courses.
• * Essential for non-remote/hybrid contracts. Desirable for remote workers.
• Postholder must show willingness to work one evening shift.
• Willingness to work/study from home or other venue as required via telephone/video call

Desirable

• Fluent in languages other than English

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bracken House

Crewkerne Road

Chard

Somerset

TA20 1YA

Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)