Job summary
We are looking for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner who wishes to play a pivotal role in our newly developed Community Mental Health Team.
The successful candidate will perform as our Duty Practitioner on a daily basis, you will not carry a caseload and your sole responsibility will be the management and response of duty.
Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
Main duties of the job
- To maintain patient safety, in collaboration with patients, carers and families.
- 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 risk assessments.
- Responsible for decision making and coordination in a crisis situation.
- Take responsibility for the management of complex people who present 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 eg: Police; A & E as required.
- Support the team to deliver a range of interventions in accordance with the agreed plan of care.
- Maintain an effective reporting system by observing and reporting 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.
About us
Durham City East CMHT is currently based at Chester Le Street Health Centre. We have accessible car parking on site that is free for all staff.
The Durham Community Service is delivered in partnership with Durham County Council, we are a fully integrated team between health and social care.
Working for Tees, Esk & Wear Valley comes with a variety of staff benefits including the opportunity for us to consider more flexible ways of working, a lease car scheme, continuous development, and training opportunities. The Trust has invested in a fantastic employee support service that is designed to help staff with a range of physical and mental wellbeing services in recognition.
In return the successful candidate can expect the following:
- Support with settling into the team and developing into the role.
- A commitment to supporting you to remain up to date with your practice and develop skills through formal and informal training.
- Regular clinical and leadership supervision.
- Warm, friendly and supportive colleagues.
- Colleagues who are committed to the psychological and physical wellbeing of staff in the team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The main purpose of the role is clinical decision making and providing support and advice to known service users open to the team when their care co-ordinator, or other member of staff directly involved in their care, is not available and to other professionals when they are seeking help.
The duty worker will also carry out urgent assessments and interventions when care coordinator is not available.
You will have support from community workers and professionals who will act under the direct guidance and supervision of the duty worker and fulfil a number of appropriate roles/tasks.
You will have a strong sense of initiative, excellent team working ability, be an excellent communicator and be able to demonstrate knowledge of high-level interventions and assessment skills particularly around risk assessment and management.
The applicant will need to have up to date knowledge on mental health service delivery frameworks. Your role will involve working closely with other partners, agencies, carers, service users, families and the local community, ensuring continuity of service is provided at a high level.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The main purpose of the role is clinical decision making and providing support and advice to known service users open to the team when their care co-ordinator, or other member of staff directly involved in their care, is not available and to other professionals when they are seeking help.
The duty worker will also carry out urgent assessments and interventions when care coordinator is not available.
You will have support from community workers and professionals who will act under the direct guidance and supervision of the duty worker and fulfil a number of appropriate roles/tasks.
You will have a strong sense of initiative, excellent team working ability, be an excellent communicator and be able to demonstrate knowledge of high-level interventions and assessment skills particularly around risk assessment and management.
The applicant will need to have up to date knowledge on mental health service delivery frameworks. Your role will involve working closely with other partners, agencies, carers, service users, families and the local community, ensuring continuity of service is provided at a high level.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current professional registration with an approved professional body.
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
- For registered nurses: MIP, FLIP, ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice or City & Guilds 730 Teaching in Adult Education. Must be achieved within agreed timescale.
- Recognised sign-off mentor, clinical educator or equivalent. Must be achieved within agreed timescale.
- Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualification
- Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
Experience
Essential
- Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
- Providing clinical supervision to individuals or groups as professionally appropriate.
- Mentoring or facilitating students on practice placement.
- Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community environment.
Desirable
- Leadership or management experience
- Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a care environment
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field.
- Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
- Care Programme Approach and its application in practice.
- Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current professional registration with an approved professional body.
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
- For registered nurses: MIP, FLIP, ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice or City & Guilds 730 Teaching in Adult Education. Must be achieved within agreed timescale.
- Recognised sign-off mentor, clinical educator or equivalent. Must be achieved within agreed timescale.
- Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualification
- Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
Experience
Essential
- Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
- Providing clinical supervision to individuals or groups as professionally appropriate.
- Mentoring or facilitating students on practice placement.
- Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community environment.
Desirable
- Leadership or management experience
- Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a care environment
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field.
- Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
- Care Programme Approach and its application in practice.
- Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
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
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).
