Community Mental Health Nurse

NHS; Welwyn Garden City; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job description

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

The post-holder will support the Team Leader in the development and implementation of a multi-professional Crisis Resolution/Home Treatment Team providing a high-quality service to meet the needs of people in acute phases of mental illness, and their carers. To ensure efficient and effective running of the team, providing leadership and supervision within the multi-disciplinary staff group as appropriate. The post-holder will undertake urgent assessments of people with mental health problems in acute crisis and, where appropriate, provide intensive community-based treatment/support services as an alternative to in-patient admission. The service will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The post-holder will be responsible for helping to establish and maintain team systems and processes for effective team working and processes, including outcome measures and audit under the direction of the Team Manager. All staff should comply with the Trust's Open Culture, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, and Equality and Diversity.

Main duties of the job

• Be responsible for the assessment of care needs and risk assessment of service users presenting with a wide variety of clinical conditions. Following this, the post holder will be responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of programmes of care, without direct supervision (though clinical supervision is implemented as per policy to support you).
• To respond to any crisis that a service user may advise of, with the aim of promoting independent living in the community.
• Work with the philosophy to support service users to remain in their own homes.
• Administer and/or supervise medications and have a sound knowledge of medications and their desired and undesired effects.
• Provide education, advice, and guidance to service users and their carers.
• Provide a range of clinical interventions and treatments appropriate to the individual's needs.
• Participate fully in providing quality care in line with local and national policies.
• Act as a role model in providing a service for people with mental health needs.
• Challenge practice that compromises or challenges high-quality care to service users.
• Participate in continuing professional development that will also benefit the development and quality of the service.
• Remain updated with local and national guidelines and policies.
• Participate in home visits with other professionals such as Consultant Psychiatrist, Specialty Doctors, Social Workers, etc.
• Participate in clinical and management supervision.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health, and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence, and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities

Communication and Relationships

1.1. To support the Team Leader in establishing and maintaining effective inter-team and inter-agency communication.

1.2 To provide effective liaison/communication relating to referral and admission to, and discharge from the CRHT Team across in-patient and community service.

1.3 Maintain effective joint working with Sector ACMHSs, PATH, and other community-based teams according to local circumstances.

1.4 Ensure that all relevant information regarding client care is communicated to the appropriate persons within and outside the team, bringing to the CRHT Team Manager's attention issues of concern regarding practice or workload.

2. Analytical and Judgemental

2.1 To assess clients meeting defined referral criteria as per CRHTT and local Operational Policies.

2.2 Carry out Risk Assessment and Management activities.

2.3 To plan, implement, and evaluate programmes of care for clients in crisis with acute mental health problems in the community, and to coordinate activities with other professionals and agencies.

3. Planning and Organisation

3.1 Allocate and re-allocate tasks or staff on a daily basis to meet organisational and workload requirements, and in response to urgent, unplanned client activity, to ensure that rapid response, assessment, and intensive home treatment is a reality.

3.2 To assist the Team Leader in the effective day-to-day management of the team, including, e.g., Duty Rota, time worked, and annual leave, thus ensuring appropriate skill mix at all times.

3.3 To stand in for the Team Leader as required.

3.4 To assist the CRHTT Leader in the appointment, orientation, and induction of new staff.

3.5 To be aware of and to comply with relevant mental health and work-related legislation at all times.

4. Physical Skills

4.1 Must be able to drive a car in the performance of CRHTT duties.

4.2 Document CRHTT and work-related activities and write reports both electronically and by hand.

4.3 Use computerised information systems.

5.1 To ensure the effective use of supervising and administering medication and monitoring therapeutic and adverse effects of prescribed medication as per Trust, CRHTT, and NMC Policies and guidelines; ensure stock medication is maintained as per policy.

5.2 To remain updated on all relevant aspects of psychotropic medication.

5.3 To maintain client records, care plans, and other documentation in line with Trust, CRHTT, and NMC policies.

For a more in-depth Person and Job Description please read attached before applying.

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Degree, diploma or equivalent in Nursing (Mental Health Nursing).
• Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
• Willingness to complete AMHP training.
• Pre or post-registration training/short courses in mental health.
• Community and inpatient nursing experience.

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of legislation related to mental health (e.g., Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Care Programme Approach, etc.).
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to manage distressing and challenging situations.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Excellent communication skills, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to feedback and discuss cases within the multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent documentation of duties performed.
• Confidence to work autonomously in the community.

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

• Good range of problem-solving skills.
• Good range of information-gathering skills.
• Ability to assess and manage risks.
• Experience in working with service users with personality disorder.
• Maintaining a positive, non-judgemental attitude and therapeutic optimism towards working with people with personality disorder.

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.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£39,205 to £47,084 a year, per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAs)