Job summary
The North East Single Point of Access (NESPA) in Essex is a gateway to mental health services for people aged 18+ who are registered with a GP in either Colchester or Tendring. The SPA Practitioner is responsible for monitoring and triaging all referrals received into the dedicated NESPA inbox, ensuring these are directed to the most appropriate support in a timely manner. In order to do this effectively, the SPA Practitioner will work closely with referrers, people who access our services (as well as family, friends and carers), and other stakeholders. The SPA function sits within the wider Primary Care Mental Health Team, and the SPA practitioner will work in collaboration with relevant PCN colleagues.
Main duties of the job
Mental Health SPA Practitioner
We are looking for a dynamic, innovative and committed individual to join us to deliver improved access and outstanding services to adults in north east Essex. We required an autonomous practitioner to oversee the Single Point of Access function which serves as the gateway to mental health for the local population to access services.
You will be at the forefront of this innovative development. As a highly competent and proficient practitioner, you will triage referrals to ensure that those accessing mental health services are directed to the most appropriate support in a timely manner. You will demonstrate good risk assessment and management skills, ensuring that decisions made regarding referrals are in the interests of the individual patient's needs and their safety, upgrading referrals where necessary.
In order to do this effectively, the SPA Practitioner will work closely with PCN practitioners, referrers, people who access our services as well as family, friends and carers, and other stakeholders. In return, you will receive excellent training and development opportunities to enable you to deliver exceptional care.
You will be part of a new, dynamic and supportive team.
About us
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
- Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
The SPA Practitioner is expected to be kind and responsive, but professional and informative and to contribute to the quality of the services we provide by;
- Keeping the people who access our services as safe as possible through the use of sound clinical skills, effective risk assessments and information gathering.
- Ensuring the best possible clinical outcomes by using up-to-date skills and adhering to evidence based policies and procedures
- Ensuring the people who contact our services have a good experience by respecting, empowering and working in partnership with people throughout the care planning process
Job Role
- Undertake clinical triaging of referrals to the SPA, deciding on the correct care pathway for the referral
- Gather further information from the referrer, patient, their carers and other organisations as necessary to assist in appropriate triage of referrals.
- Demonstrate good risk assessment and management skills, ensuring that decisions made regarding referrals are in the interests of the individual patients needs and their safety, upgrading referrals where necessary.
- Support with routine assessments coming into the trust
- Screening and triaging of ADHD and ASD referrals
- Be fully conversant with statutory and non-statutory services across Essex
- Redirect referrals into specialist mental health services where appropriate, and liaise with these teams as necessary.
- Liaise with Primary Care Network practitioners where appropriate
- Signpost callers on as appropriate into non-statutory, third sector services.
- Respond to referrals within time limits set out
- Ensuring that referrals are prioritised depending on the urgency of the referral.
- Ensure safe and effective delivery of care / advice to patients and their carers, utilising own knowledge and skills
- Provide support, information and education to family members, carers and other professionals who may access the SPA
- Build and maintain excellent working relationships with key stakeholders, such as PCN practitioners, GPs, IAPT, and others
- Maintain a good public image of the SPA by dealing with all calls and referrals in a professional manner
- Be aware of appropriate escalation procedures in relation to difficult calls, i.e. a suicidal patient etc.
- Ensure that there is effective liaison / communication pathways with other services
- Participate in both clinical and managerial 1:1 support in relation to the role
- Participate in the ongoing training / teaching / reflective practice sessions as required
- Participate in the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the SPA process, ensuring that all required data is collected
- Monitor standards of clinical practice of the SPA, recommending changes where necessary
- Ensure that all professional and Trust-wide clinical policies and procedures are adhered to
Be responsible for the maintenance and accurate patient
For further details please contact;Marie Newland (Clinical Manager)marie.newland@nhs.net
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
The SPA Practitioner is expected to be kind and responsive, but professional and informative and to contribute to the quality of the services we provide by;
- Keeping the people who access our services as safe as possible through the use of sound clinical skills, effective risk assessments and information gathering.
- Ensuring the best possible clinical outcomes by using up-to-date skills and adhering to evidence based policies and procedures
- Ensuring the people who contact our services have a good experience by respecting, empowering and working in partnership with people throughout the care planning process
Job Role
- Undertake clinical triaging of referrals to the SPA, deciding on the correct care pathway for the referral
- Gather further information from the referrer, patient, their carers and other organisations as necessary to assist in appropriate triage of referrals.
- Demonstrate good risk assessment and management skills, ensuring that decisions made regarding referrals are in the interests of the individual patients needs and their safety, upgrading referrals where necessary.
- Support with routine assessments coming into the trust
- Screening and triaging of ADHD and ASD referrals
- Be fully conversant with statutory and non-statutory services across Essex
- Redirect referrals into specialist mental health services where appropriate, and liaise with these teams as necessary.
- Liaise with Primary Care Network practitioners where appropriate
- Signpost callers on as appropriate into non-statutory, third sector services.
- Respond to referrals within time limits set out
- Ensuring that referrals are prioritised depending on the urgency of the referral.
- Ensure safe and effective delivery of care / advice to patients and their carers, utilising own knowledge and skills
- Provide support, information and education to family members, carers and other professionals who may access the SPA
- Build and maintain excellent working relationships with key stakeholders, such as PCN practitioners, GPs, IAPT, and others
- Maintain a good public image of the SPA by dealing with all calls and referrals in a professional manner
- Be aware of appropriate escalation procedures in relation to difficult calls, i.e. a suicidal patient etc.
- Ensure that there is effective liaison / communication pathways with other services
- Participate in both clinical and managerial 1:1 support in relation to the role
- Participate in the ongoing training / teaching / reflective practice sessions as required
- Participate in the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the SPA process, ensuring that all required data is collected
- Monitor standards of clinical practice of the SPA, recommending changes where necessary
- Ensure that all professional and Trust-wide clinical policies and procedures are adhered to
Be responsible for the maintenance and accurate patient
For further details please contact;Marie Newland (Clinical Manager)marie.newland@nhs.net
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or social work
Desirable
- Evidence of appropriate CPD post qualification Evidence of further training e.g. BSc Community Nursing or AMHP status or clinical skill based qualification.
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting
Desirable
- Experience working in primary care
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or social work
Desirable
- Evidence of appropriate CPD post qualification Evidence of further training e.g. BSc Community Nursing or AMHP status or clinical skill based qualification.
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting
Desirable
- Experience working in primary care
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).
