Job summary
*When applying for this job, please ensure that you detail in your application how you meet the essential criteria as outlined in the attached job description*
Job overview
The Southwark Team for Early Psychosis (STEP) are pleased to be looking for a highly enthusiastic and dedicated fulltime care coordinator, who shares our passion for supporting people experiencing psychosis using a holistic approach.
This role is a development role and so the successful candidate will hold less responsibility than a senior STEP care coordinator.
About the location:
Our office and team base are at a community outpatient's clinic at St Giles House, 1 St Giles Road, Camberwell, SE5 7UD. The office is a short walk from Denmark Hill overground station.
STEP is currently under-represented in terms of staff from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds and we would strongly encourage people from these backgrounds to apply. Successful applicants will be selected on merit; however, we are committed to using Positive Action to increase the diversity of our workforce.
We also strongly encourage applications from people with lived experience of mental health challenges. We see this as valuable experience and recognise the necessity of including people with lived experience in our service.
Main duties of the job
The main role of a STEP care co-ordinator is to support a caseload of around 15-17 service users who are experiencing first episode psychosis. Care coordinators use their skills, experience and knowledge to support service users to achieve the goals that are important to them and move forward with recovery as they see it, working with clients to identify and use early warning signs, to enable early detection and intervention.
This role includes:
- Assessing service users who are newly referred to the team
- Managing a complex caseload of allocated service users
- Working with service user's families and other people in their networks
- Working with the multi-disciplinary team to plan and implement care packages
- Undertaking the role of duty worker
We value our care coordinators and appreciate the importance of investing in staff. Newly appointed care coordinators will have the opportunity to take part in early intervention training, family intervention training and other training opportunities as and when the opportunity arises.
About us
STEP is a borough wide community service working in Southwark with people experiencing first episode psychosis. We are a cohesive and supportive team that enjoy working with each other, and we are looking forward to welcoming more enthusiastic and passionate colleagues.
The team is part of the research based Early Intervention Model and works intensively with service users and carers for up to three years, promoting social inclusion and recovery. The team consists of professionals skilled in supporting people experiencing psychosis and includes care coordinators (occupational therapists, nurses and social workers), psychiatrists, psychologists, vocational and employment specialists, and an admin team.
We are passionate about supporting people with psychosis and use a holistic approach and psycho-social interventions to do so. We pride ourselves on being an innovative service and use creative approaches to try and meet the needs of the diverse community that we serve. This includes using the Tree of Life Approach, recovery stories, and the Open Dialogue approach.
Please ensure that you use the personal statement to explain how you meet the job specification attached.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
- Assessment: To be responsible for the assessment of newly referred adults who may be undergoing their first psychotic episode. To work with diagnostic uncertainty, providing ongoing comprehensive assessment and outcome monitoring of all caseload service users. To formulate integrated needs assessments for service users requiring commissioned services and to monitor care packages as directed. To undertake risk assessments regularly, in liaison with all other health professionals and agencies involved. To ensure that risk assessments are regularly updated, are meaningful and are reflected in care plans.
- Engagement: To assertively outreach difficult to engage service users. To meet service users regularly, to respond flexibly when agreeing venue, such as home visit, team base, education, work or recreational establishment to assist with engagement & encourage participation in treatment delivery as well as facilitating independence.
- Support: To provide on-going care co-ordination within the CPA framework of a designated caseload of service users who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis. To ensure that the Trust and Social Services CPA and Care Management protocols are followed and standards met. To provide support and advice in relation to service users regarding the issues concerning them. To work collaboratively with service users focussing on a recovery approach. Provide information to help service users make an informed choice about opportunities and services available to them and to then assist clients to obtain the required services, support and entitlement.
- Interventions: To provide interventions relevant to a first episode client group. To ensure all interventions are age appropriate and that care is sensitive to the needs of black and minority ethnic service users. To adopt a client centred approach embodied with the principles of the recovery model. To provide low intensity CBT and Mindfulness interventions under supervision. To provide psychoeducation to services users. To co-facilitate, where agreed, therapeutic groups with a focus on service user rehabilitation reintegration and social inclusion.
- Families and Carers: To involve families and carers in treatment plans where This may require direct Family Intervention work. Ensuring services are provided within guidance of the Children & Families' Act and Care Act. To ensure that the needs of carers are assessed, and the care services are offered as necessary. To provide families and carers with psychoeducation.
- MDT Working: To work in co-operation with members of the multi-disciplinary team and all other relevant health and social care professionals to assess, develop, implement and evaluate high quality packages of client-centred care. To form productive relationships with in-patient services to facilitate safe and effective discharges. To facilitate the transfer of those service users who require transfer across teams and for those who fulfil the criteria for discharge back to Primary Care. To maintain and develop liaison with GPs and practice nurses. To participate in Mental Health Act Assessments of service users that you are responsible for as appropriate. To participate in all clinical meetings. To keep the Team Manager informed of any situation concerning service user or staff health and safety as necessary.
- Teaching: To participate in teaching activities within the team and across community services. To be responsible for facilitating student training placements (in line with your own professional discipline). To provide supervision to other junior members of staff as appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
- Assessment: To be responsible for the assessment of newly referred adults who may be undergoing their first psychotic episode. To work with diagnostic uncertainty, providing ongoing comprehensive assessment and outcome monitoring of all caseload service users. To formulate integrated needs assessments for service users requiring commissioned services and to monitor care packages as directed. To undertake risk assessments regularly, in liaison with all other health professionals and agencies involved. To ensure that risk assessments are regularly updated, are meaningful and are reflected in care plans.
- Engagement: To assertively outreach difficult to engage service users. To meet service users regularly, to respond flexibly when agreeing venue, such as home visit, team base, education, work or recreational establishment to assist with engagement & encourage participation in treatment delivery as well as facilitating independence.
- Support: To provide on-going care co-ordination within the CPA framework of a designated caseload of service users who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis. To ensure that the Trust and Social Services CPA and Care Management protocols are followed and standards met. To provide support and advice in relation to service users regarding the issues concerning them. To work collaboratively with service users focussing on a recovery approach. Provide information to help service users make an informed choice about opportunities and services available to them and to then assist clients to obtain the required services, support and entitlement.
- Interventions: To provide interventions relevant to a first episode client group. To ensure all interventions are age appropriate and that care is sensitive to the needs of black and minority ethnic service users. To adopt a client centred approach embodied with the principles of the recovery model. To provide low intensity CBT and Mindfulness interventions under supervision. To provide psychoeducation to services users. To co-facilitate, where agreed, therapeutic groups with a focus on service user rehabilitation reintegration and social inclusion.
- Families and Carers: To involve families and carers in treatment plans where This may require direct Family Intervention work. Ensuring services are provided within guidance of the Children & Families' Act and Care Act. To ensure that the needs of carers are assessed, and the care services are offered as necessary. To provide families and carers with psychoeducation.
- MDT Working: To work in co-operation with members of the multi-disciplinary team and all other relevant health and social care professionals to assess, develop, implement and evaluate high quality packages of client-centred care. To form productive relationships with in-patient services to facilitate safe and effective discharges. To facilitate the transfer of those service users who require transfer across teams and for those who fulfil the criteria for discharge back to Primary Care. To maintain and develop liaison with GPs and practice nurses. To participate in Mental Health Act Assessments of service users that you are responsible for as appropriate. To participate in all clinical meetings. To keep the Team Manager informed of any situation concerning service user or staff health and safety as necessary.
- Teaching: To participate in teaching activities within the team and across community services. To be responsible for facilitating student training placements (in line with your own professional discipline). To provide supervision to other junior members of staff as appropriate.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Post-registration experience of working in a mental health setting
- Experience of working with people experiencing psychosis
- Experience of working with service users experiencing a crisis related to their mental health
- Experience of providing care that is sensitive to the needs of minority groups
Desirable
- Experience of care coordination / case management
- Experience of using psycho-social interventions
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Skills in completing assessments of service user's mental health needs
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Interest in Early Intervention Service and the impact psychosis can have on people's lives
- An understanding of an Early Intervention in Psychosis Service care package
- An understanding of how environmental factors can contribute to mental health difficulties
- Skills in risk assessment and crisis management
Qualifications
Essential
- oRelevant professional qualification with affiliated professional registration - RMN with NMC registration or Occupational Therapist or Social Worker with HCPC registration.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Post-registration experience of working in a mental health setting
- Experience of working with people experiencing psychosis
- Experience of working with service users experiencing a crisis related to their mental health
- Experience of providing care that is sensitive to the needs of minority groups
Desirable
- Experience of care coordination / case management
- Experience of using psycho-social interventions
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Skills in completing assessments of service user's mental health needs
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Interest in Early Intervention Service and the impact psychosis can have on people's lives
- An understanding of an Early Intervention in Psychosis Service care package
- An understanding of how environmental factors can contribute to mental health difficulties
- Skills in risk assessment and crisis management
Qualifications
Essential
- oRelevant professional qualification with affiliated professional registration - RMN with NMC registration or Occupational Therapist or Social Worker with HCPC registration.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
