Single Point of Access (SPA) Mental Health Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical practice, including own professional development

To ensure that all children and young people have an individual risk assessment and care plan which has been created collaboratively with children and young people and (if appropriate) carers views, ensuring the regular review of both.

Develop care plans based on individuals needs and that of the family and carers (where appropriate) that are outcome based.

To undertake the role of Care Co-ordinators, where relevant to the role.

Monitor, evaluate and modify interventions/treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention(s).

To provide a care group specific specialised range of clinical interventions and knowledge of evidence-based models of practice.

The ability to act promptly and safely by prioritising children and young persons needs and co-ordinating their care.

Working autonomously, competently and safely with the utilisation of supervision and the expertise of colleagues as required.

To maintain confidentiality.

To take appropriate action when working with vulnerable adults and children following safe guarding vulnerable adult and children procedures, liaising with appropriate agencies.

To work in partnership with other agencies to gain the best person-centred outcomes for the individual.

Collect data as directed to ensure service delivery is accurately reflected.

Ensure participation in clinical supervision.

Maintain awareness of professional and organisational developments, participating in the clinical governance framework.

Ensure that an up to date knowledge of developments related to the care group is maintained.

Ensure that development needs are addressed through the staff appraisal framework and prioritised to meet requirements for registration purposes.

Knowledge of the MHA (2007).

Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) to include practical knowledge of FACE documentation, Deprivation of Liberties, (DOLS) Safeguarding and best interest decisions.

To promote respect for diversity and combat stigma and exclusion.

Practice Development, including professional development of others

To act as a mentor for students on placement learning opportunities with the team.

To supervise junior staff.

Provide managerial supervision to support workers.

Promote evidence-based practice

Research and Development

To use research in practice and developing research work from ones own practice

To identify service needs and gaps across agencies with regard to childrens mental health.

To maintain awareness of up to date research & development pertaining to advances in Child & Adolescent Mental Health issues.

Governance including quality, standards, documentation & ethics

To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist reports relevant to practice setting.

To keep accurate and timely electronic record of each contact, using Carenotes and other software programmes used by the Trust. Complete outcome measures as required.

To adhere to the relevant professional standards and ethics and comply with local and national standards of practice.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of children and young people and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

To contribute in the Trust and professional clinical and social care governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.

To apply national guidelines/ legislation relating to health and social care in service provision.

To participate in clinical and social care governance care group forums as required.

To contribute to the delivery of performance targets and standards are met.

To complete clinical outcome measures as required.

To contribute to the maintenance of professional standards of practice within the clinical setting.

To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained amongst junior staff.

Report any incidents which put at risk or have the potential to put at risk, the health and safety of children and young people, staff or the assets or reputation of the Trust.

To develop and promote safe working practices and maintain requirements for health and safety, Manual handling, COSHH: Fire Safety and Environment and attend relevant mandatory training regarding this.

All staff have a responsibility to maintain the health and safety of themselves and others within the performance of their duties in accordance with Trust health and safety policies and to undertaken specific health and safety responsibilities as necessary.

To maintain and further develop knowledge and experience through training and ongoing clinical development in line with care group requirements.

To participate in monitoring service development and personal growth in line with the post holders PDP.

To attend essential Trust training.

To promote, maintain and further develop the necessary requirements for communicating with children and young people whose understanding may be impaired by their mental health needs, learning disability or by the nature of distress they are experiencing.

Effective use of interpersonal skills such as reassurance is essential to obtain and provide sensitive key information.

Use of negotiating skills with children and young people, carer and other agencies.

The ability to use different teaching networks to suit children and young people, carers and other agencies.

Develop professional networks that assist the children and young people in managing through the care pathway.

To work flexibly to the needs of the service, you may be required to carry out alternative duties consistent with your status, role, knowledge and experience, taking account of any professional registration and/or qualification requirements, and which are commensurate with your Pay Band.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional qualification (full registration i.e. HCPC, SWE, NMC, with evidence of continuing professional development, in a field relevant to child and adolescent mental health
• Evidence of clinical training in a field relevant to the post eg brief psychotherapy, solution focused approaches, cognitive behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing, or systemic work.

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

• oDemonstrate experience in mental health
• Significant level of experience of working with children and families, including work with child mental health needs
• To be able to recognise in children and young people a wide range of clinical and behavioural presentations.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills to safeguard and protect children and young people's welfare in line with the Children Act 2004 requirements
• Demonstrate skills to assess risk using already established assessment tools
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills for systemic assessment of risk factors in the environment and skills to develop a range of strategies to address identified risk
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills for development of protocols with families and other staff / practitioners to manage risk
• Demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitude to promote safety for themselves and others
• Experience of mental health assessment and implementation of arrange of evidence based therapeutic interventions.
• specialist knowledge of child and adolescent mental health

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.

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

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Omega House

Eastleigh

SO50 5PB

Employer's website

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