Specialist Recovery Worker / Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

To have an excellent working knowledge of the value of trauma informed approaches, therapeutic communication and interventions and an understanding of the safety issues that may be associated with guests in mental health crisis. To lead discussions regarding the assessment, interventions, and review of guests needs.

To be the lead worker for guests staying within the service devising agreement plans negotiated with the guest.

To provide trauma informed interventions that relate to the guests needs including physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural needs.

To recognise that guests stay within the service with capacity and consent and so to work with them to create plans that support them to safely return home following a crisis stay. To create a Leaving Summary of their stay in collaboration with guests.

To observe and take action if there are any changes in guests wellbeing as well as undertake, with consent any routine observations that may be require for physical health management, as appropriate within a crisis house setting.

To maintain timely and accurate records and in line with Trust and service line policy and procedure.

To converse with guests who use services and their family/friends or carers/relatives in a positive and respectful manner, ascertaining their needs and assisting them as appropriate.

To lead and contribute to the initial and on-going assessment of guests health and social care needs by participating in assessment processes including assisting in initial data collection; monitoring of guests progress; as well as being able to report back clearly at any team care reviews.

To contribute towards the ongoing quality of service and care and identifies any risk issues in relation to the guests health and social care. Promptly informing the team and taking action if there are any:

- changes in the guests physical condition or mental state.

- any significant factors relevant to the guests.

- any incidents related to the guests.

To support the Crisis Prevention house Manager in ensuring the service is adequately resourced and staffed and that the Team is able to provide a comprehensive service to service users. This includes planning and maintaining a European Working Time Directive-compliant 24-hour rota, in line with service needs.

To participate in the collation, analysis and dissemination of statistics relating to the activity of the service and plan against service targets.

The post holder will positively promote flexibility and integration within the team and between other teams and services.

To support junior colleagues in the delivery of a range of identified trauma informed psychological interventions e.g. grounding techniques, active listening and validating skills.

To contribute to multi-disciplinary comprehensive, culturally appropriate assessments to establish eligibility for health and social care services.

To undertake continuous risk and safety assessment and to contribute to effective risk management and safety planning.

Recognising and valuing guests as individuals the post holder will ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity that is supportive of guests and their carers, understanding the negative impact of discrimination and inequity of ones mental and physical health.

Utilising agreed frameworks and guidance such as NICE or NTA; evidence based best practice and or local policy and procedure, as well as a range of profession specific tools, the post holder will actively assess, plan and determine the care needs of guests. They will undertake and contribute to specific or multi-disciplinary team reviews of such care.

To undertake the physical health care assessment and or on-going physical health monitoring / review of designated guests, recording any changes in the guests physical health, reporting these to appropriate members of the team and acting appropriately on the advice given.

To identify and provide information to guests that promotes their health and wellbeing. Directing them as appropriate to others / other services in order to address any identified needs.

The post holder will lead in the support and help for guests to empower them in becoming aware of their own physical health and well-being and engage guests in addressing these i.e., smoking cessation and obesity. This role will also involve the post holder providing appropriate information and support for other staff.

To contribute to the ongoing quality of service and care, identifying and promptly reporting any risk issues or other significant factors in relation to the guests health and social care.

The post holder will participate in and contribute to a range of service led, commissioner driven or nationally directed monitoring or performance management, related to care, care delivery or service provision.

Recognise and respond appropriately to any behaviour that is outside the accepted boundaries of the therapeutic community and the house rules as noted in the welcome pack. Or respond to concerns of harm to themselves or others.

To undertake and assist in the organisation of the day-to-day smooth running of the service, reporting any issues relating to the fabric or condition of the work environment and to promote a trauma informed environment.

At all times to act in accordance with trust policies in relation to risk assessment

To identify safeguarding issues for children and adults and to implement trust procedures as required

To have knowledge, understanding and experience of applying Mental Health legislation

To be aware of personal accountability and responsibility in respect of ensuring that quality of care standards is adhered to and that these are compliant with the Care Quality Commission and other regulatory and professional requirements.

The post holder will support in communicating with guests regarding medication re efficacy and possible side effects, should guests wish to report their concerns to identified members of the nursing staff or medical staff within, or outside of the team e.g., crisis team or GPs.

To follow trust policy in promptly reporting all accidents and incidents and to contribute to undertaking complaints or investigations if required.

To deputise as and when called upon to do so for senior clinical colleagues

Communication

Contribute to ensuring effective communication with guests, their carers, family, friends, external agencies and staff colleagues. Always acting in a dignified and responsible manner with service users, visitors, carers and colleagues; listening carefully and responding using appropriate language and communication skills which acknowledge cultural differences and professional boundaries.

To maintain and record integrated guest records accurately, sensitively and collaboratively.

To collect and record clinical or activity information as required by IT data bases for the Trust and Adult Social Care and carry out any other administrative duties as required by the team.

Health and safety

To recognise own responsibility in and contribute to the requirements of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974.

To be aware and to follow the trusts infection control policies, procedures and the importance of protecting themselves and service users in maintaining a clean and healthy environment.

Education, Training, Research and Development

To be managed by and receive supervision from a nominated line manager, including annual review of performance as part of the trusts appraisal system.

To be in receipt of and engage with clinical supervision and to use this to reflect on clinical and professional practice

To maintain and update relevant knowledge and skills, maintain a professional portfolio, and participate in training in line with service needs and clinical governance requirements.

To actively contribute to reviews of the teams activity and the monitoring of performance in line with the Trust, commissioner, SHA or national directives and audits. Participating in relevant governance, audit, practice development or research activity that may be expected in the service line.

To provide teaching and supervision for other members of the team according to experience and competence.

To supervise, mentor and assess nominated trainees and other junior staff as required.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Registered mental health professional qualification or Nationally recognised qualifications in relevant/identified posts (teaching, City and guilds, sports coaching) or Equivalent level experience

Desirable

• Evidence of recent and ongoing academic study
• Level 2 Safeguarding Children or Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults certificate
• Mentorship or recognised teaching and assessing certificate
• Evidence of studies or learning about mental health, trauma or domestic and sexual abuse.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience working with individuals with mental health issues in a community, in-patient, or crisis and emergency setting
• To demonstrate a sound knowledge base in relation to factors that cause mental health problems for people and preferred treatment methods, or trauma informed therapeutic models.
• Demonstrable understanding and experience of utilising a variety of assessment tools currently used in practice in relation to determine risk and assessing / planning care needs
• Practical experience of mentoring or supervising junior staff, students, other trainees or new staff
• Previous employment in NHS Mental Health Services or experience of liaising with NHS and other statutory/nonstatutory services

Desirable

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of current Mental Health legislation and its application / use in practice or legislation relevant to substance misuse services.
• An awareness of current research and evidence-based practice within the setting
• To demonstrate an understanding of the interventions needs to meet the physical health needs of people with mental health or substance addictions problems.
• To have experience of or if appropriate to service needs be willing to undertake training in de-escalation or breakaway techniques.
• To demonstrate an understanding of the societal factors that impact on the health and wellbeing of people, including discrimination and how this contributes to mental health problems.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skill
• Able to work on own initiative
• Able to work as part of a team and demonstrate the importance of a team approach
• Demonstrate well developed interpersonal skills
• Ability to maintain boundaries and form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers
• Competent using computers and keyboards for entering personally generated data, generating and responding to emails, conducting web searches etc.

Desirable

• Sound awareness of patient / service user services within the wider context of the organisation
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the roles within the multi-professional team

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Motivated and enthusiastic about working/creating a newly formed trauma informed service
• Willingness to work at other crisis prevention house sites in order to ensure safe staffing levels

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).

Employer details

Employer name

306 North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Haringey Crisis Prevention House,

Roger Sylvester Centre, 276 High Rd

Wood Green

N22 8JT

Employer's website

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