Health and Justice (Reconnect) Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information. In summary:

In addition to the responsibilities already listed -

Research and Service Development

Identify and highlight to the Team Leader relevant issues in relation to the needs for people and their carers; assessed using best practice evidence, in order that these are reflected in service planning, development and future provision.

Actively engage in the organisations clinical governance initiatives, for example to participate and lead in audit, clinical supervision and bringing critically evaluated evidence and research into practice.

Participate and lead on research within area of clinical expertise.

Participate in the development of the service to ensure clinical governance processes are actively implemented at team level.

Human Resources and Training

As required, supervise junior staff; provide clinical advice/supervision support, leadership, and professional supervision, in line with Trust Policies.

Support in the provision of formal and informal training of pre/post registration students, staff members, carers, and service users.

Participate in staff appraisal and performance reviews as identified.

To participate, when required, in the recruitment, selection and induction of junior/support staff.

Provide a learning environment to support students (multidisciplinary) undergoing training and assist new and junior members of staff, peers, and other disciplines to develop professional competence.

Lead on the development and delivery of specialist Mental Health Nursing education and training to clients, carers, families staff, students and other relevant organisations.

Promote mental health education to reduce stigma within the community and support relatives of sufferers of all types of Mental illness.

Systems and equipment

Maintain timely data collection and regular inputting of information through the use of data collection systems e.g., daily diaries/RIO, Safeguard, ensuring that confidentiality is maintained at all times in accordance with legislation and Trust policy.

To work in partnership with other service providers to access and provide equipment and opportunities for service users to maximise functioning where possible.

Responsible for ensuring actions are carried out where safety alerts are issued regarding equipment.

Decisions and judgements

Undertake specialist assessments of patients with complex mental health, physical health and social problems to ensure appropriate treatment support and management.

Undertake a comprehensive and specialist nursing mental health assessment resulting in an individualised resettlement plan.

Facilitate the discharge or transfer of the patient to other services where appropriate.

Ensure that practice is evidence-based paying particular attention to the Trusts guidelines, policies, protocols, and pathways.

Be available for individual supervision with agreed clinical supervisor in line with Trust policies.

Implement, review, and maintain Trust Policies and Procedures and propose changes to working practices within the ward area.

Communication and relationships

Communicate sensitive diagnosis and treatment related information with patients, utilising highly developed communication skills to overcome barriers to understanding.

Establish therapeutic relationships with service users, and implement evidence based therapeutic interventions with appropriate boundaries in accordance with professional code of conduct.

Ensure that all members of the multi-disciplinary team, their colleagues, service users and appropriate others are informed/updated of changes involving current care plans, progress, mental state and psychosocial factors in line with best practice.

Liaise with and advise service users and carers, local authority, and other statutory bodies and third sector agencies.

Communicate sensitive information to carers and relatives.

Use a range of communication styles and channels as appropriate to the task.

General

Responsible for the promotion of carer and service user involvement within the service and for its provision.

Responsible for participation in the Trust appraisal process, identifying own/others mandatory professional, supervisory, personal development, and training needs and in supporting the provision of induction, mentorship, appraisal and clinical supervision to colleagues as appropriate.

Responsible for the effective utilisation of clinical/financial resources to ensure adequate clinical care is provided with a requirement that all incidents, which may compromise care, are reported immediately to a senior manager, and clinicians involved in their care as appropriate.

Responsible for accessing and participating in clinical, managerial and caseload supervision.

Responsible for understanding and meeting own professional responsibilities under Child Protection legislation and Adult Safeguarding policies.

Physical demands of the job

• Be aware of physical effort regarding sitting for long periods.
• Be aware of the prolonged exposure to Visual Display Units (VDU) and the associated health and safety risks.

Most challenging/difficult parts of the job

The nature of the client group is such that the post holder will be required to concentrate when assessing / implementing programmes of care.

The post holder will be frequently exposed to emotional or distressing circumstances.

The post holder will frequently be exposed to potential incidents of physical and non-physical assault.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Essential

• Registered Mental Health Nurse / General Nurse / Learning Disability Nurse on NMC Register.
• Registered OT, Speech and Language Therapist or Social Worker.
• Valid Registration with the relevant governing body for the profession.

Desirable

• Dual Registration
• Practice Assessor or equivalent qualification for assessing students.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with a range of vulnerabilities which may include mental health, physical health, learning disabilities, abuse, addiction and social issues.
• Experience of working with a range of statutory, non-statutory agencies.
• Experience of assessing service users.

Desirable

• Lived Experience of vulnerability, criminal justice systems and / or leaving care. Level 1 prison vetting will need to be passed for the post - please call to discuss this on an individual basis.
• Experience of delivering mental health care in non-traditional settings and of practicing involvement in Early Detection and Assertive Outreach Work.
• Experience in working in community mental health with complex presentations including - substance misuse, psychosis, personality disorder, dual diagnosis.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Essential

• Knowledge of various approaches to the assessment of mental disorder
• Awareness of harassment, social exclusion issues and the effects of person and institutional discrimination
• Knowledge/awareness of relevant legislation and guidance including common law issues, the Mental Health Act (1983), Community Care Act (1990), Human Rights Act (1998), Criminal Justice Act (2003)

Desirable

• Awareness of basic research methodology
• Monitoring and relapse management.
• Skills related to Early Signs

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Lewes

1 Brighton Road

Sussex

BN7 1EA

Employer's website

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