Community Mental Health Duty Worker

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

The Community Mental Health Hub Team is looking for 2 experienced Mental Health Practitioner (Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker) with a keen interest in working with patients experiencing mental health difficulties. These are two full-time, duty worker posts without caseload responsibilities. The usual hours of works are Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.

If you enjoy problem solving and thinking on your feet, this exciting new specialist role is for you!

You will be joining a warm, friendly and highly supportive multi-disciplinary team of dedicated colleagues who work together to offer the best possible service to the people they serve. Excellent communication skills are required and an ability to liaise with all stakeholders involved; including service users, carers, third sector providers and other agencies.

Ideally, we would prefer someone who has experience of supporting service users with mental health problems (and we positively encourage applicants with lived experience). An inclusive and positive attitude is essential. If your current role includes duty work, that will be an advantage in your application. We always provide a robust induction and the wellbeing of our team is paramount. Supervision, appraisal and training are all highly valued and prioritized for all staff.

Main duties of the job

To undertake holistic assessments of service users with mental health issues.
To promote the work of the Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH).
To maintain up-to-date clinical records and documentation in line with agreed local policies and procedures
To respond to duty referrals on a daily basis
To ensure that own professional practice and clinical knowledge is maintained at all times
To work in partnership with the primary care team, statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that the appropriate care needs are met.
To maintain patient safety, in collaboration with patients, carers and other team members.
Recognising the potential for or signs of patient harm, abuse or neglect
Provides clinical advice on complex issues to other members of the clinical team and staff from other disciplines.
Undertakes urgent and priority assessments, including comprehensive risk assessments.
Responsible for decision making and coordination in a crisis situation.
Support service users' short term who presents to the team when their Care Coordinator / Lead Professional is absent from work and the person requires an urgent response.
To liaise with other services i.e. Police, A & E, Single Point of Access.
Maintain an effective reporting standard, verbally and in writing
Support members of the team with other specialist assessments, as required for e.g. mental capacity and safeguarding assessments
To supervise junior staff members and to support students on placement.

About us

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage & support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues & of course patients & service users when working on our healthcare settings.

CNWL is committed to workforce development and is keen to enable the successful applicant to innovate & evolve with the service.

In Hillingdon Community Mental Health Hubs we work with adults covering the Hillingdon borough & we are based at Mill House walking distance from the Uxbridge Town centre.

We are service user-led & work with adults with mental & physical health issues who require support from a multidisciplinary approach. With a recently transformed new Hub model it is an exciting opportunity to join the team when services are changing to be more responsive to the service users within the Hillingdon borough.

We are a multidisciplinary service, comprising of mental health nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, employment specialists, & peer support workers. The team is supported by a good administrative system & offers an excellent work environment. With good links with local statutory & non-statutory services.

We offer Regular individual supervision
We work within a dynamic team with visibility of the Senior Management Team
Opportunities for flexible working & some remote working
Great Opportunities available for carer development

Date posted

03 November 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£40,701 to £48,054 a year per annum inc HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-G-HM-0590-B

Job locations

Mill House

38 Riverside

Uxbridge

UB8 2YF

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE:

To ensure mental health needs of adults with mental illness are appropriately assessed and a high level of quality care is delivered in the community. To provide support and advice to users, carers and other professionals on mental health issues.

This can include relapse prevention of mental health and wellbeing, crisis planning and other interventions that maximise the service users ability to resolve crises, remain at home, avoid the need for hospitalisation and also safe stepping down of patients ready discharge.

MAIN DUTIES:

To undertake holistic assessments of service users with mental health issues.
To promote the work of the Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH).
To maintain up-to-date clinical records and documentation in line with agreed local policies and procedures, NMC guidelines and CNWL policy.
To respond to duty referrals on a daily basis and ability to prioritise urgent referrals.
To ensure that own professional practice and clinical knowledge is maintained at all times in accordance with NMC guidelines and CNWL policies and procedures.
To work in partnership with the primary care team, statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that the appropriate care needs are met.
To maintain patient safety, in collaboration with patients, carers and other team members.
Responsible for recognising the potential for or signs of patient harm, abuse or neglect and taking all reasonable steps to protect the patient.
Provides clinical advice on complex issues to other members of the clinical team and staff from other disciplines.
Undertakes urgent and priority assessments, including comprehensive risk assessments.
Responsible for decision making and coordination in a crisis situation.
Support service users short term who presents to the team when their Care Coordinator / Lead Professional is absent from work and the person requires an urgent response.
To liaise with other services i.e. Police, A & E, Single Point of Access.
Responsible for participating in the setting of quality standards and offering a consistent approach to people open within the team.
Maintain an effective reporting standard, verbally and in writing on patient conditions.
Support members of the team with other specialist assessments, as required for example, application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005; Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, s42 Care Act regarding Safeguarding Adults and Making Safeguarding Personal.
To maintain professional standards of care at all time.
To supervise junior staff members and to support students on placement.
Undertake and maintain all essential training to role.

COMMUNICATION:

To maintain effective communication links with relevant external agencies ensuring that service users receive high quality, co-ordinated packages of care.
To analyse complex written information, that will require periods of prolonged concentration e.g. producing or interpreting confidential service user reports.
To have a high level of interpersonal and communication skills to deal with a range of highly sensitive and emotive situations.
To liaise effectively with Home Treatment Team (HTT).
To develop and promote effective communication and liaison with GPs, other primary care professionals, Social Services and voluntary organisations.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

To undertake holistic assessments of service users utilising the single assessment process, risk assessment tools and mental state examination in order to provide a high standard of nursing care to service users in the community.
To deliver appropriate therapeutic interventions to service users utilising a range of evidence-based therapies e.g. anxiety management, relaxation techniques and problem-solving techniques.
To respond to urgent and unplanned clinical events involving service users known to the team, utilising analytical and problem-solving skills to ensure the situation is managed effectively.
To have an in-depth understanding of mental health issues to manage service users with complex mental health problems.
To monitor service users and advise both them and their carers on psychotropic medications, observing efficacy and monitoring any adverse reactions.
To report and act on any adverse reaction observed in conjunction with the General Practitioner or Consultant Psychiatrist, as appropriate.
To administer depot medication to service users and monitor any adverse reactions or side effects or changes in mental state.
To regularly advise other professionals on medication management issues e.g. side effects, recommended medication dosages, changing medication. (In consultation with the Consultant Psychiatrist or General Practitioner, as appropriate).
To regularly attend and participate in clinical reviews (zoning, MDT and any other clinical consultations).
To utilise clinical supervision and reflective practice.
To participate and contribute to regular reviews of own performance through Appraisal and Development Review Process.
To agree and implement a service and personal development plan.
To have a sound understanding and knowledge of current legislation and its application to service users with mental health problems e.g. Mental Health Act, Care Act, Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act.
To work within Recovery framework, in partnership with Service Users and Carers being hopeful that people can move on, from the most distressing points of their mental distress and create meaning in their lives

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:

To be responsible for the monitoring and maintaining of supplies of clinical and sterile services equipment.
To have an understanding and awareness of budget management issues to ensure that care is delivered within available service resources.
To liaise with the Team Leader, pharmacist to ensure adequate supply of depot injections are available at all times.

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT:

To assist as required in the development of the team in accordance with research and evidenced based practice to ensure a modern and exemplary service is delivered.
To participate in QI projects, audits and service reviews.
To engage with service users, carers and other agencies advocating for these groups to ensure they are fully involved in service evaluation, monitoring and development.
To promote user empowerment, carer involvement and anti-discriminatory practices in the delivery of mental health care, at all times.
To work with other members of the team to further integrate with in-patient wards, HTT, SPA and GPs.

SERVICE GOVERNANCE:

To participate, along with other members of the team in audit and research activities that contribute to improvements in the delivery of care within the team.
To ensure that own professional practice is maintained in accordance with NMC guidelines, revalidation, local procedures and CNWL policy.
To adhere to all policies and procedures in the prevention and management of areas of risk e.g. Risk Management, Fire Safety, Health and Safety, Lone Worker policy.
This is an outline of the postholders duties and responsibilities. It is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time in order to meet the changing needs of the Trust and Department.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust, we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues, and of course, patients and service users when working on our healthcare.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE:

MAIN DUTIES:

To undertake holistic assessments of service users with mental health issues.
To promote the work of the Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH).
To maintain up-to-date clinical records and documentation in line with agreed local policies and procedures, NMC guidelines and CNWL policy.
To respond to duty referrals on a daily basis and ability to prioritise urgent referrals.
To ensure that own professional practice and clinical knowledge is maintained at all times in accordance with NMC guidelines and CNWL policies and procedures.
To work in partnership with the primary care team, statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that the appropriate care needs are met.
To maintain patient safety, in collaboration with patients, carers and other team members.
Responsible for recognising the potential for or signs of patient harm, abuse or neglect and taking all reasonable steps to protect the patient.
Provides clinical advice on complex issues to other members of the clinical team and staff from other disciplines.
Undertakes urgent and priority assessments, including comprehensive risk assessments.
Responsible for decision making and coordination in a crisis situation.
Support service users short term who presents to the team when their Care Coordinator / Lead Professional is absent from work and the person requires an urgent response.
To liaise with other services i.e. Police, A & E, Single Point of Access.
Responsible for participating in the setting of quality standards and offering a consistent approach to people open within the team.
Maintain an effective reporting standard, verbally and in writing on patient conditions.
Support members of the team with other specialist assessments, as required for example, application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005; Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, s42 Care Act regarding Safeguarding Adults and Making Safeguarding Personal.
To maintain professional standards of care at all time.
To supervise junior staff members and to support students on placement.
Undertake and maintain all essential training to role.

COMMUNICATION:

To maintain effective communication links with relevant external agencies ensuring that service users receive high quality, co-ordinated packages of care.
To analyse complex written information, that will require periods of prolonged concentration e.g. producing or interpreting confidential service user reports.
To have a high level of interpersonal and communication skills to deal with a range of highly sensitive and emotive situations.
To liaise effectively with Home Treatment Team (HTT).
To develop and promote effective communication and liaison with GPs, other primary care professionals, Social Services and voluntary organisations.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

To undertake holistic assessments of service users utilising the single assessment process, risk assessment tools and mental state examination in order to provide a high standard of nursing care to service users in the community.
To deliver appropriate therapeutic interventions to service users utilising a range of evidence-based therapies e.g. anxiety management, relaxation techniques and problem-solving techniques.
To respond to urgent and unplanned clinical events involving service users known to the team, utilising analytical and problem-solving skills to ensure the situation is managed effectively.
To have an in-depth understanding of mental health issues to manage service users with complex mental health problems.
To monitor service users and advise both them and their carers on psychotropic medications, observing efficacy and monitoring any adverse reactions.
To report and act on any adverse reaction observed in conjunction with the General Practitioner or Consultant Psychiatrist, as appropriate.
To administer depot medication to service users and monitor any adverse reactions or side effects or changes in mental state.
To regularly advise other professionals on medication management issues e.g. side effects, recommended medication dosages, changing medication. (In consultation with the Consultant Psychiatrist or General Practitioner, as appropriate).
To regularly attend and participate in clinical reviews (zoning, MDT and any other clinical consultations).
To utilise clinical supervision and reflective practice.
To participate and contribute to regular reviews of own performance through Appraisal and Development Review Process.
To agree and implement a service and personal development plan.
To have a sound understanding and knowledge of current legislation and its application to service users with mental health problems e.g. Mental Health Act, Care Act, Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act.
To work within Recovery framework, in partnership with Service Users and Carers being hopeful that people can move on, from the most distressing points of their mental distress and create meaning in their lives

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:

To be responsible for the monitoring and maintaining of supplies of clinical and sterile services equipment.
To have an understanding and awareness of budget management issues to ensure that care is delivered within available service resources.
To liaise with the Team Leader, pharmacist to ensure adequate supply of depot injections are available at all times.

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT:

To assist as required in the development of the team in accordance with research and evidenced based practice to ensure a modern and exemplary service is delivered.
To participate in QI projects, audits and service reviews.
To engage with service users, carers and other agencies advocating for these groups to ensure they are fully involved in service evaluation, monitoring and development.
To promote user empowerment, carer involvement and anti-discriminatory practices in the delivery of mental health care, at all times.
To work with other members of the team to further integrate with in-patient wards, HTT, SPA and GPs.

SERVICE GOVERNANCE:

To participate, along with other members of the team in audit and research activities that contribute to improvements in the delivery of care within the team.
To ensure that own professional practice is maintained in accordance with NMC guidelines, revalidation, local procedures and CNWL policy.
To adhere to all policies and procedures in the prevention and management of areas of risk e.g. Risk Management, Fire Safety, Health and Safety, Lone Worker policy.
This is an outline of the postholders duties and responsibilities. It is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time in order to meet the changing needs of the Trust and Department.

Person Specification

Education and Work experience

Essential

Professional Qualification at degree level or higher in the relevant field
Professionals Registered (NMC, OT or SW) and evidence of Post Qualification Continued Professional Development

Desirable

Master Level Degree or other specialist Qualification relevant to the post

Skills/Abilities

Essential

Ability to participate in the work of the M.D.T. and contribute to the work of the team
To demonstrate knowledge of a range of therapeutic assessment and interventions available to reduce distress for individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis (risk assessment, MSE, capacity assessment, Full needs assessments)
Ability to teach and supervise qualified and unqualified staff
To demonstrate their understanding of legislation
Ability to assess and support individuals experiencing acute mental illness distress and crisis
Ability to determine priorities against conflicting demands
Ability to reflect on practice and interpersonal relationships
Verbal, non-verbal communication skills and telephone skills.
Skills in a range of therapeutic interventions
Skills in psycho-social treatment options
Demonstrate clinical leadership
Negotiating skills

Desirable

Understanding and Ability to complete high standard dialogue+ care plan
Project Management and Leadership skills and abilities

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Significant post registration experience, and some experience working in community mental health settings
Experience of working alongside people with complex health problems in the designated care group
Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
Experience of working consultatively with professionals
Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments, care plan and mental state examinations
Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies
Understanding of clinical governance
Previous experience of working in the community
Ability to work independently
Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions

Desirable

Experience of supervising and managing staff junior staff
Management and organisation skills
Experience in undertaking quality improvement projects and auditing

KNOWLEDGE/ UNDERSTANDING

Essential

Mental Health and legislation
Needs of client group and their carers
Evidence based practice
Clinical governance
The principles of whole team approach
Understanding of CMHT practices

Desirable

Standard Setting and Audit
Evidence based service development

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Essential

Potential to embrace new concepts
Courteous and respectful of the client group
Assertive independent, flexible and self aware
Diplomatic in multi-disciplinary and interagency working
Passion for the delivery of a quality services
Computer, word processing skills, (IT)

Person Specification

Education and Work experience

Essential

Professional Qualification at degree level or higher in the relevant field
Professionals Registered (NMC, OT or SW) and evidence of Post Qualification Continued Professional Development

Desirable

Master Level Degree or other specialist Qualification relevant to the post

Skills/Abilities

Essential

Ability to participate in the work of the M.D.T. and contribute to the work of the team
To demonstrate knowledge of a range of therapeutic assessment and interventions available to reduce distress for individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis (risk assessment, MSE, capacity assessment, Full needs assessments)
Ability to teach and supervise qualified and unqualified staff
To demonstrate their understanding of legislation
Ability to assess and support individuals experiencing acute mental illness distress and crisis
Ability to determine priorities against conflicting demands
Ability to reflect on practice and interpersonal relationships
Verbal, non-verbal communication skills and telephone skills.
Skills in a range of therapeutic interventions
Skills in psycho-social treatment options
Demonstrate clinical leadership
Negotiating skills

Desirable

Understanding and Ability to complete high standard dialogue+ care plan
Project Management and Leadership skills and abilities

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Significant post registration experience, and some experience working in community mental health settings
Experience of working alongside people with complex health problems in the designated care group
Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
Experience of working consultatively with professionals
Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments, care plan and mental state examinations
Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies
Understanding of clinical governance
Previous experience of working in the community
Ability to work independently
Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions

Desirable

Experience of supervising and managing staff junior staff
Management and organisation skills
Experience in undertaking quality improvement projects and auditing

KNOWLEDGE/ UNDERSTANDING

Essential

Mental Health and legislation
Needs of client group and their carers
Evidence based practice
Clinical governance
The principles of whole team approach
Understanding of CMHT practices

Desirable

Standard Setting and Audit
Evidence based service development

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Essential

Potential to embrace new concepts
Courteous and respectful of the client group
Assertive independent, flexible and self aware
Diplomatic in multi-disciplinary and interagency working
Passion for the delivery of a quality services
Computer, word processing skills, (IT)

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).