Community Mental Health Practitioner

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

JOB PURPOSE: The post holder will be responsible and accountable for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of skilled interventions to address identified needs and risk for allocated clients on a defined caseload. Works within a multi-disciplinary team as a member of a

Core CMHT.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1. To work as a member of an integrated multi-disciplinary team providing comprehensive assessment of clients and their carers, planning, implementing and evaluating skilled interventions to address identified needs.
2. To have knowledge of current issues and research relevant to the legislative framework and systems in which mental health care is delivered e.g. CPA, MHA (1983).
3. To contribute to service development within the clinical governance structure and policies and procedures of the Trust. Adhering to NHS guidance outlined by the relevant statutory registration bodies.

Professional

1. Assesses needs and identifies problems relevant to the care of people referred. Devises a plan of care in partnership with the person and carers. Implements the planned programme of care to ensure a high standard is achieved. Reviews the effectiveness of the care provided and where appropriate initiates any action.
2. To be competent in all aspects of care and risk management as defined within the framework of the care programme approach.
3. To work collaboratively with clients, carers and multiple other agencies to provide effective care to optimize and maintain clients mental health and overall functioning, ensuring needs are met.
4. Management of enquiries and direct referrals of people in accordance with the Core C.M.H.T. Operational Policy and participates in the team duty rota. To participate in the team duty rota.
5. Maintain professional registration and demonstrate commitment to statutory codes of practice and continued professional development requirements.
6. To be responsible for the safe custody, transportation and administration of medicines including I.M. preparations.(if appropriate to qualification)

Education

1. Provide peer supervision and support to other team members and to take personal responsibility and supervise junior staff in the maintenance of written and electronic client and Trust records including inputting data related to own work activity. To identify any areas of concern to a senior member of staff.
2. To have an understanding of and participate in the clinical audit process.
3. To have an awareness of evidence based practice relevant to the specialist area and participate in the education of individuals and target group.
4. To participate in the Trusts values based appraisal system, understanding appropriate training and participating in personal development opportunities.

Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respectat all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

Honest, open, transparent

Respectful

Person first and in the centre

Improve and be outstanding

Relevant today, ready for tomorrow

Families and carers matter

Safeguarding:

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;

maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;

understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection policy;

comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;

receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;

understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;

recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;

ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participatingin relevanttraining;

comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);

demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;

abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;

work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;

being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;

Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly;

In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to work on as part of MDT.
• Good communication skills. Ability to work on own initiative, with reference to policies and procedures.
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
• A willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of services users and the team including extended hours.
• Reliable and enthusiastic.
• Motivated and resourceful.
• Professional attitude.

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Training

Essential

• Assessment and care planning skills and risk assessment and risk management.

Desirable

• Relevant Post basic qualification and training.

Experience

Essential

• Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing people experiencing mental health problems.
• Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing risk in a variety of settings.
• Proven ability in assessing the needs and strengths of people and their carers.
• Ability to deliver a range of therapeutic techniques which can be incorporated into one to one and / or group interventions.
• Working within an integrated multi-disciplinary environment and co-working with other teams within team meetings, case conferences and professional meetings.

Desirable

• Ability to support colleagues and supervise students/trainees.
• Experience of working holistically with adults with an emphasis on coexisting mental and physical health needs that impacts on wellbeing.

Special Knowledge/Skills

Essential

• Working knowledge of recent government legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Health & Safety, Care Programme Approach, Care Act & Safeguarding.
• Able to work incorporating principles of Clinical Governance.
• Knowledge of working collaboratively with people and their carers to ensure their involvement in the assessment and care planning process.
• Shows awareness of cultural diversity and is able to incorporate this into care planning and the delivery of care.
• Knowledge and evidence of using IT systems.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of audit processes.
• Knowledge of carer services/ issues/ assessment.

Desirable

• Knowledge of audit processes.
• Knowledge of carers services / issues / assessment.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Mental Health Nurse / Social Worker / Occupational Therapist.

Desirable

• Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
• Expected to work towards Practice Educator.

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).