Community Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

The purpose of the Single Point of Access (SPA) is to assess older people being referred to South Somerset OPCMHT to ascertain the most appropriate service to meet their needs. The post requires significant clinical and organisational skills. You will adhere to the goals of 'No wrong Front Door' and support the operations of the Team who seek to identify the right service for a person at the right time.

You will be responsible for coordinating the intake of referrals into South Somerset OPCMHT, carrying out telephone triages, face to face assessments and brief interventions with people aged over 65yrs and their families. You will also support the daily management of the duty rota.

The SPA Clinician will work with front line administrators and OPCMHT colleagues to identify presenting needs, manage risk and complete/co-ordinate DUTY visits. This will involve liaising with the person referred, their carers/family members and professionals at the point of referral.

Main duties of the job

The Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) for older people work with adults aged 65 and over who are experiencing moderate or severe mental illness. The CMHT's assess, treat, monitor, and support patients and their families predominately in their own homes and, where necessary, can refer to other teams such as the Intensive Dementia Support Service (IDSS) or Home Treatment Team. They can also arrange admissions to hospital when necessary. The CMHT's also provide an 'in-reach service', providing specialist support and assessments for patients' admitted to Community Hospitals.The CMHT'S consist of Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Support, Time & Recovery Workers, Assistant Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, and administration support. The CMHT's are also part of a bigger team known as the Integrated Team which bring together CMHT's, District Nursing Teams and Integrated Rehabilitation Teams.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.