Specialist Mental Health Paramedic

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 03 January 2025

Job summary

**INTERNAL ONLY FOR WMAS STAFF**

An opportunity has arisen as part of an exciting new mental health focused initiative delivered by West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with West Midlands Integrated Care Boards

This role represents a unique opportunity to be part of an exciting new service delivery and quality improvement project within West Midlands Ambulance Service.

The introduction of five new mental health response vehicles represents a significant investment in seeking to improve the quality of care afforded to patients presenting to the ambulance service with mental health needs. The implementation of these resources forms part of a wider project to improve the ambulance response to mental health, including through the use of specialist mental health clinicians with the emergency operations centre and delivering innovative new clinical development and education opportunities for staff across the organisation to facilitate increased knowledge and skills relating to the management of patients with mental health needs.

Mental health response vehicles are based at and operate seven days a week from ambulance hubs within five of six ICB areas, including Birmingham and Solihull (Hollymoor Hub), Coventry and Warwickshire (Coventry Hub), Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Worcester Hub), Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (Shrewsbury Hub) and Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent (Stoke Hub).

This vacancy is for Worcester, Coventry & Shrewsbury HUBs

Main duties of the job

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and accessible workplace for everyone where our colleagues feel empowered to succeed.

Each person plays a vital part to ensuring our organisation meets the differing needs of our communities ultimately enabling us to save lives. We acknowledge that a workforce that reflects the communities that it serves provide better patient care and we are therefore looking for self-motivated, enthusiastic people from all backgrounds that care about making a difference to our patients.

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity at all levels. We are proud to have maintained Disability Confident Leader status and as part of our commitments to this we guarantee to invite all applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role to attend assessment or interview. If you have a disability or learning difficulty, and prefer to disclose it, please feel free to do so in your application. You can also contact the Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@wmas.nhs.uk if you wish to have a confidential discussion. We use this information, with your permission, to ensure you are fully supported during the recruitment process.

The Trust is proud to support our Armed Forces community and have signed up to the Step Into Health initiative. We welcome applications from Armed Forces Veterans and Service leavers.

About us

As part of this role, post-holders will be supported to apply for and complete additional formal education in mental health care in partnership with local higher education institutions.

Specialist Mental Health Paramedics will work across the West Midlands Ambulance Service as part of the regional mental health response vehicle team to provide high quality, patient centred specialist care to patients presenting with primary mental health needs.

If this position involves a regulated activity it will require an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. The disclosure will, where appropriate to the role, include information against the Independent Safeguarding Authority barred lists for working with children, adults or both

Where a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is required for the post, all applicants are required to cover the cost of the check. The cost of £57.76 for an enhanced check is payable to our online provider at the time that the DBS application is submitted. Upon receipt of your DBS you will then be required to sign up to the DBS online update service.

Date posted

11 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year plus any additional unsocial hours relevant to the post

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

C9217-204-24-25

Job locations

Shrewsbury HUB

Mercian Close

Longden Road

Shrewsbury

SY3 9EA

Coventry HUB

Ibstock Road

Coventry

CV6 6JR

Worcester HUB

Spetchley Road

Worcester

WR5 2NL

Job description

Job responsibilities

At the commencement of each shift to check that the allocated vehicle is equipped appropriately and is road worthy reporting issues to the appropriate department. The responsibility for the vehicle and equipment is then signed for.

The immediate response to emergency and urgent calls driving under Blue Light conditions when required complying with all relevant traffic legislation and driving with consideration for other road users.

Required to have knowledge of current procedures for Radio, Automatic Vehicle Location system and satellite navigation unit to promote a prompt response to emergency calls.

Required to operate in both internal and external environments during inclement weather conditions with various degrees of light and darkness.

Provision of care, assistance and support as appropriate to patients with impaired mobility or any other physical or mental disabilities (possibly due to medical, traumatic or surgical complaints), some of which may present with severely challenging behavioural problems.

Responsible for undertaking manual handling operations relating to patients with various medical conditions several times a day. This may include the extraction of patients from difficult and awkward positions and carrying patients and equipment up and down stairs and uneven surfaces.

Conduct dynamic risk assessments when responding to incidents for protection of yourself your crewmate and the patient, as physical or verbal abuse may be present on occasions.

When required, and until relieved by an appropriate officer, liaise with members of the other Emergency Services undertaking an incident management role.

Knowledge of how to deal with situations involving multiple casualties including road traffic accidents and fires involving trapped or injured persons.

Management of Gynaecological and Obstetric patients and in the absence of a qualified midwife undertake and supervise Emergency Child Birth treating mother and baby accordingly

Conduct thorough physical examinations of patients using recognised assessment skills to allow, where possible, a diagnosis to be made.

Exercise clinical judgement in implementing emergency care/treatment plans and when required utilising Alternative Care Pathways, eg direct admission to a specialist unit such as Coronary Care, referral to specialist community teams for assessment at home.

Communicate using tact and diplomacy with patient, family, colleagues, other health professionals and the general public to ascertain extremely sensitive or confidential information to aid the formation of a diagnosis.

When indicated use your own clinical judgment for the administration of a range of drugs relevant to the patients needs and appropriate to the skill level of a WMAS Advanced State Registered Paramedic. This will include the use of a class A controlled drug i.e. Morphine Sulphate.

Communicate extremely sensitive issues to patients and relatives such as sudden or unexpected bereavements.

Negotiate with and persuade reluctant patients with a defined clinical need to consent to treatment.

Provide pre-hospital advice and guidance to patients and relatives that will contribute to patient care, whilst being aware of religious, cultural and language barriers

Liaise with all levels of medical staff in connection with the on-going treatment of the patient ensuring all relevant information is passed and all documentation is completed factually and accurately.

Comply with the Confirmation of Death Policy providing initial support, empathy and counselling to bereaved relatives

Accurately and factually complete all WMAS documentation including confidential details as required by the service. On occasions individuals may be expected to give evidence to Her Majestys Coroner or Crown Court.

Maintain Professional Registration as a Paramedic and undertake continual professional development, to maintain skill levels and knowledge, carry out procedures in accordance with JRCALC Guidelines, eg. defibrillation, cannulation, fluid replacement, intraosseous infusion, intubation, needle cricoidthyrotomy, needle thoracenthesis, 12 lead ECG interpretation and diagnosis to enable thrombolitic therapy (Advanced Life Support).

Responsibility to supervise and mentor new and lesser-qualified staff whilst assuming full Clinical Responsibility, ie. ECA, EMT, AEMT, SRP.

To recognise and report to the appropriate authorities any concerns regarding Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults.

Adherence to the following drug legislation:- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 - 2001 regulations. Prescriptions Only Medication Act 1968,1997 Amendments Act 1992.

Adherence to the law governing the use and documentation of class A and other controlled drugs used and carried.

Presentation at all times of a smart appearance, incorporating current regulations relating to the wearing of service uniform.

Adherence to the Code of Conduct, Operational Instructions, Quality Procedures, Data Protection, Caldicott procedures and any other verbal or written instructions promulgated by the service currently or in the future.

To participate in clinical trials, audits and equipment testing as requested.

Maintain a professional portfolio with evidence of ongoing clinical practice, reflective practice and future training needs