Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as an Advanced Practitioner in Lewisham Home Treatment Team playing a crucial role in the clinical leadership of the team, supporting staff to provide a high quality service to service users and carers.We are looking for a highly experienced and enthusiastic person who has a real passion for mental health and who promotes the highest standards of care in their practice. This is a diverse and challenging role and requires an experienced mental health professional ( a Nurse, OT or Social Worker) who can assess and manage risk in crisis situations and support staff to do the same whilst ensuring that high standards of practice are maintained. The role will involve a substantial level of direct care and support to services users and carers working within the shift pattern of the team as well as providing clinical and professional supervision and supporting service development initiatives within the team. It is vital that you have an excellent understanding of safeguarding and practical experience of how it affects your role and the service users you support.
Main duties of the job
In exchange, you will be working within a highly skilled and knowledgeable multi-disciplinary team who will support you in your development and your ability to deliver the best care you can to our service users. You will also have access to all of the staff benefits that South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has to offer including subsidised London accommodation, on-site nursery, and discounts in a number of high street chains.The rota for this role includes working weekends and weekdays between the hours of 8am and 10pm (Long Day or 8am-4pm or 2pm-10pm).
Part of our Advanced Practitioners main duties are:
- To ensure least restrictive options are thoroughly considered for all patients presenting to the Liaison Service where admission is being considered.
- To ensure timely assessment of patients who are admitted to an acute ward with a view to enabling discharge at the earliest opportunity.
- To undertake comprehensive psychiatric and risk assessments of service users in line with policy standards
- To ensure capacity is assessed and safe treatment and care is delivered to those who may lack capacity.
- To rapidly and continuously evaluate the patient's changing condition and response to therapeutic interventions and modify the plan of care for optimal patient outcome.
- To assess high risk or complex patients to provide management advice and appropriate clinical interventions
- To operate within the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act
About us
About the location:
The Service is based within the Acute Hospital - University Hospital, Lewisham. Lewisham Home Treatment Team provides a rapid assessment and referral service to patients experiencing mental health difficulties who present to the Emergency Department or the general hospital wards.
Benefits:
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family.
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
- Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
- Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career.
- Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
- Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
- NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
- Counselling services
- Wellbeing events
- Long service awards
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will work as an experienced mental health professional (Nurse, OT or Social Worker) who acting within their own professional boundaries will ensure that all possible alternatives to hospital admission have been thoroughly and carefully explored for those patients who present to the Emergency Department or general hospital wards in a mental health crisis. The post holder will provide a trusted, senior assessment and Home Treatment opinion where admission is being considered by the initial assessor. The post holder will also ensure that in the event a patient is admitted to an acute ward timely reviews are undertaken to ensure discharge occurs at the earliest opportunity.
Advanced Practitioners undertake assessments and home visits whilst exhibiting the ability to balance both clinical demands and managerial responsibilities. They will be available shift to shift to consult and take a lead in the treatment of more complex and/or high risk cases demonstrating safe clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment diagnostic skills and effective interventions . The post holder will be able to demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision making process. They will work with the multi-professional team to meet the needs of the service users and provide clinical professional supervision and leadership to the team.
The post holder will need to co-ordinate robust multidisciplinary working and maintain excellent communication and working relationships with all staff across the Home Treatment and Psychiatric Liaison service and the acute wards.
The post holder will provide management support as delegated by the Clinical Services lead, including supervision of staff, team training and service development initiatives. It is expected that the post holder be responsible for organising the roster ensuing safe staffing at all times. They will also be expected to deputise for the Clinical Service Lead in their absence.
Advanced Practitioners are expected to work either the early or late shift making certain that there is always an Advanced Practitioner on duty during the hours of 8am to 10pm 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will work as an experienced mental health professional (Nurse, OT or Social Worker) who acting within their own professional boundaries will ensure that all possible alternatives to hospital admission have been thoroughly and carefully explored for those patients who present to the Emergency Department or general hospital wards in a mental health crisis. The post holder will provide a trusted, senior assessment and Home Treatment opinion where admission is being considered by the initial assessor. The post holder will also ensure that in the event a patient is admitted to an acute ward timely reviews are undertaken to ensure discharge occurs at the earliest opportunity.
Advanced Practitioners undertake assessments and home visits whilst exhibiting the ability to balance both clinical demands and managerial responsibilities. They will be available shift to shift to consult and take a lead in the treatment of more complex and/or high risk cases demonstrating safe clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment diagnostic skills and effective interventions . The post holder will be able to demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision making process. They will work with the multi-professional team to meet the needs of the service users and provide clinical professional supervision and leadership to the team.
The post holder will need to co-ordinate robust multidisciplinary working and maintain excellent communication and working relationships with all staff across the Home Treatment and Psychiatric Liaison service and the acute wards.
The post holder will provide management support as delegated by the Clinical Services lead, including supervision of staff, team training and service development initiatives. It is expected that the post holder be responsible for organising the roster ensuing safe staffing at all times. They will also be expected to deputise for the Clinical Service Lead in their absence.
Advanced Practitioners are expected to work either the early or late shift making certain that there is always an Advanced Practitioner on duty during the hours of 8am to 10pm 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Professional Qualification in Nursing (RMN), Social Work (Dip SW/CQSW) or Occupational Therapy
- Post registration qualification in specialty or relevant experience
- Mentorship for RMNs
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Masters Degree
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Ability to analyse complex issues/problems, gather relevant information and exercise sound judgement in reaching the most appropriate conclusions.
- Strong commitment to improving patient services with a clear focus on achieving performance goals
- Competence in provision of clinical supervision/ people management skills
- Teaching and mentorship within a clinical setting
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Substantial Post registration experience
- Experience and knowledge of quality, standard setting and audit
- Experience in managing complaints and quality assurance
- Experience of working within acute and crisis services
Desirable
- Comprehensive experience at local leadership level within speciality
- Experience of working within home treatment
Other
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation and influencing skills demonstrated by the ability to engage others
- Excellent written and verbal skills
Desirable
- Full valid UK Driving Licence
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Professional Qualification in Nursing (RMN), Social Work (Dip SW/CQSW) or Occupational Therapy
- Post registration qualification in specialty or relevant experience
- Mentorship for RMNs
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Masters Degree
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Ability to analyse complex issues/problems, gather relevant information and exercise sound judgement in reaching the most appropriate conclusions.
- Strong commitment to improving patient services with a clear focus on achieving performance goals
- Competence in provision of clinical supervision/ people management skills
- Teaching and mentorship within a clinical setting
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Substantial Post registration experience
- Experience and knowledge of quality, standard setting and audit
- Experience in managing complaints and quality assurance
- Experience of working within acute and crisis services
Desirable
- Comprehensive experience at local leadership level within speciality
- Experience of working within home treatment
Other
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation and influencing skills demonstrated by the ability to engage others
- Excellent written and verbal skills
Desirable
- Full valid UK Driving Licence
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).
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
4 th Floor Ladywell Unit, University Hospital Lewisham
Lewisham High Street
London
SE13 6LW
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
