Mental Health Practitioner (Developmental Post)

Band 5: A 12 month secondment / fixed term Developmental Post: Leading to Band 6 opportunity within the service.

Torbay Psychiatric Liaison Service are offering a further opportunity for a Band 5 clinician to develop their knowledge and skills with a view to achieving a Band 6 role after a minimum of 12 months practice.

The post holder will deliver high quality mental health services. The focus will be providing assessment, risk planning and a treatment plan to people with mental health difficulties and their carers. The post holder will be an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.

The position offered is a band 5 developmental post. You will have a qualification in mental health or in occupational therapy and will be working in an expanding multi-disciplinary team here at Torbay District General Hospital. Post will be for 37.5 hours per week and the shift pattern will cater for a 24/7 service, including night shifts on a rota basis. This is a development role in Liaison Psychiatry services.

We are seeking to appoint a Band 5 clinician with a view to development towards a Band 6 opportunity after a minimum 12 month period with the service. It would be desirable if the applicant has significant experience of post qualification at Band 5, prior to applying.

Planned Interview date: Monday 20th January 2025

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will deliver high quality mental health services. The focus will be providing triage, assessment and recovery focused planning, referral and signposting treatment to people within the general hospital.
• Contribute to the teams liaison with other professionals.
• Impart complex and sensitive information:
• Patients and families/carers re assessment, care planning, treatment and review
• Multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the provision of consistent well care
• Primary care teams regarding client care
• External agencies also involved in the provision of care e.g.: voluntary and private sector, police, social services, housing, employment etc
• Provide and receive information some of which may be contentious, sensitive and complex to and from individuals and their families/carers and actively seek support as appropriate.
• Actively contribute to multi-disciplinary team working.
• Facilitate fair access to social care services and promote social inclusion regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
• Undertake risk assessments and determine the appropriate course of action, which has taken into consideration a range of possible options. Where necessary, ensure that consultation with senior colleagues is undertaken.
• Undertake bio-psycho-social assessments and develop a working formulation and diagnosis which will lead to the development of personalised care packages.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust's core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills.

• Contribute to the teams engagement including liaising with a wide range of other professionals and agencies.
• Impart complex and sensitive information to:
• Patients and families/carers re assessment, care planning, treatment and review
• Multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the provision of consistent well-coordinated care
• Primary care teams regarding client care
• External agencies also involved in the provision of care e.g. voluntary and private sector, police, social services, housing, employment etc
• Service user/carer groups
• Contribute to the safe and effective day to day operations of the service including the handling of clinical enquiries.
• Provide and receive information some of which may be contentious, sensitive and complex to and from individuals and their families/carers and actively seek support as appropriate.
• Provide a high standard of written and verbal communication that is clear and in line with professional documentation standards.
• Participate in clinical meetings, professional meetings, and clinical risk meetings.
• Communicate information in a way that makes it relevant and understandable for service users and carers, working in line with practice standards and operational policies.
• Actively contribute to multi-disciplinary team working.
• Facilitate fair access to social care services and promote social inclusion regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills.

• Undertake risk assessments and determine the appropriate course of action which has taken into consideration a range of possible options. Where necessary, ensure that consultation with senior colleagues is undertaken.
• Have an awareness of your own clinical competencies, knowledge base and experience, and ensure that you practice within this and seek support as required.

Planning and Organisational Skills.

• Responsible for managing own workload to ensure the needs to the individuals who use our services are met, taking the wider needs of the team into consideration.
• Ensure that interventions are planned in an integrated and co-ordinated manner, this may include liaison with external agencies.
• Plan their own workload and the workload of junior colleagues (e.g. Band 3 colleagues) to ensure that the care provided is high quality and cost efficient.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy.

• Understand social factors that impact upon mental health.
• Ensure that all interventions have clear outcomes and that these are taken into consideration when sourcing the resources to best meet the individuals' needs.
• Deliver services using a recovery and strengths approach where the needs of the individual and their carers are held as central and their involvement is proactively encouraged.
• Deliver care in line with evidence based practice and employ engagement and therapeutic skills that are appropriate to the clinical situation presented.
• Provide specialist advice to referrers/other multi-disciplinary staff in relation to the care of individuals.
• Ensure that appropriate action is taken to safeguard adults and children. This will include attending safeguarding meetings and implementing relevant care plans under the guidance of a Senior Mental Health Practitioner. Ensure the assessment and treatment plans are holistic, outcome focused and take into account the physical health and social needs of the individual, including input of significant others. Ensure the monitoring and review of mental health medication taking into consideration interactions with physical health needs. Ensure timely and accurate documentation of all clinical activity in line with professional guidance and best practice.
• Practice in a way that actively minimises dependency and promotes recovery.
• Contribute to clinical governance arrangements in order to ensure the quality of the service provided, this will include ensuring performance targets are met to provide high quality care.

Responsibility for maintaining Supervision contact, mandatory training and HR policy compliance.

• Ensure that core training is maintained and you participate in training and development opportunities, in line with the Directorates Workforce Plan, and to meet professional requirements.

Responsibility for Information Resources and case management records.

• Ensure information resources are used to maintain a knowledge of Trust, Directorate and Team priorities and safety initiatives.
• Maintain up to date clinical record in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensure information is shared with key stakeholders and other agencies in a secure manner.

Freedom to Act.

• Work without direct supervision but within parameters of role. Take accountability for your own actions.
• Work within the parameters of a defined team caseload and take accountability for your own actions.
• Work within the operational policies and service specifications of the team.

Equality & Diversity

Devon Partnership NHS Trust is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse workforce and so we welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion or sexual orientation, maternity/pregnancy, marriage/civil partnership or transgender status. The Trust expects all staff to behave in a way which recognises and respects this diversity in line with the appropriate standards.

Recovery

It is a requirement of all employees to have an understanding of the broad principles of the Recovery Approach and to incorporate them into every aspect of their work in support of the Trust's aim to provide services that support people's recovery through being holistic and promoting social inclusion, self-management, personal autonomy and independence.

Risk Management / Health and Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out and maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.

Records Management

The post holder has responsibility for the timely and accurate creation, maintenance and storage of records in accordance with Trust policy, including email documents and with regard to the Data Protection Act, The Freedom of Information Act and any other relevant statutory requirements.

Clinical Governance, Compliance and Performance

The post holder will be responsible for proving that the Care Quality Commission outcome areas have been met in all registered/related activities for which the post holder is responsible. Where outcomes are not met the post holder is expected to put in place/recommend action to improve. The post holder will proactively seek and engage the support of the governance teams in the Compliance and Corporate Development directorate to gather information as required. The post holder will build an understanding of and adhere to the CQC guidelines as well as the Trust's guidelines on the approach to maintaining CQC registration.

Prevention and Control of healthcare Associated Infection

The post holder is expected to comply with Trust Infection Control Policies and conduct themselves at all times in such a manner as to minimise the risk of healthcare associated infection.

The Trust operates a non-smoking policy. Employees are not permitted to smoke anywhere within the premises of the Trust or when outside on official business. Staff must also be mindful of public perception and must therefore not smoke whilst travelling in Trust identified vehicles or when can be identified as Devon Partnership Mental Health Trust staff.

Trust employees are expected to follow Trust policies, procedures and guidance as well as professional standards and guidelines. It is your responsibility to read and familiarise yourself with all policies relevant to your job role. These are grouped into two sections, HR and Clinical and can be found on the Trust intranet site or via your line manager. You will also be required to comply with any training needs that arise from reviews or variations of policies and procedures.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is part of everyday practice and all Trust employees are required to work in accordance with policies, procedures and professional codes to safeguard people who use our service, their children, families and carers from abuse. Staff must be aware of any children that live with, or have contact with, the person in their care, promoting the Child's welfare and ensuring their needs have been taken into account as part of the overall assessment and practice process, engaging other agencies as appropriate. All staff should have the knowledge and skills to work in such a way as to reduce the likelihood of abuse, be alert to, and take appropriate action in relation to, safeguarding issues. Where staff are unsure what appropriate action to take, they should always escalate.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• An appropriate up to date professional mental health qualification eg RMN, OT or Social Worker of the appropriate professional body register and hold current registration with no restrictions.
• Training to level 2 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
• Post registration training in relevant field.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.

Communication Skills

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.

Clinical skills and communication

• Good clinical assessment skills.
• Ability to manage change in a positive manner.
• Able to work 24 hour shift patterns including nights in line with service requirements.

Experience

• Completion of post qualification preceptorship.
• Evidence of post preceptorship experience in mental health setting.
• Managing a caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
• Demonstrates sound theoretical knowledge of mental health practice.
• Working within a community setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
• Demonstrates experience of, and relevant professional practice qualification in mentoring/assessing students and learners.

Planning & Organisation

• Able to prioritise work to reflect changing needs.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to manage own time.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Ability to work to deadlines.

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.