Job Description

We are looking to recruit a Band 6 Specialist Practitioner to join our team. We welcome applications from motivated and enthusiastic individuals seeking a new challenge in an ever-evolving service. Whether you're transitioning from an inpatient setting to community care, or you're a Band 5 clinician ready to step into a specialist role, we would love to hear from you.



Our team offers an excellent developmental support package for those stepping up from Band 5 to Band 6. NWIS is a fantastic place to work, providing opportunities to develop both clinical and leadership skills--skills that may be harder to gain in other roles due to the fast-paced and high-acuity nature of our service.

NOTE:

This post is open to newly qualified social workers. In line with AWP Trust policy, all newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) will be recruited initially at Band 5 level, regardless of the advertised role banding. All NQSWs are expected to successfully complete their ASYE within two years of employment, unless there are exceptional circumstances--in which case it may be extended for a further two years.



If you have been appointed to an advertised Band 6 role, this will be an automatic progression following confirmation of your successful ASYE completion. If you have been appointed to a Band 5 post, you will then be eligible to apply for a subsequent Band 6 vacancy upon successful ASYE completion.



The Band 6 clinician will work shifts including evenings and weekends, but we are pleased to confirm that night shifts are no longer required. Our service now operates between 07:30 and 22:00, and we support flexible working arrangements, including the ability to request specific shifts. We welcome full-time and part-time applications and are happy to consider flexible working agreements.



The Band 6 will have a role leading the team.

Within this role they may:

Triage referrals to the service and make recommendations.

Complete holistic psychosocial assessments within the community.

Complete gatekeeping assessments to facilitate admission when home treatment is not felt to be a viable / safe option.

Attend Mental Health Act assessments on Bluebell Place of Safety, and formulate home treatment plans if home treatment is indicated.

Implement Risk Management and Care Plans for the effective home treatment of Service Users utilising least restrictive practice at every opportunity.

Support with medication management and concordance within community.

Provide telephone support to service users who ring in during times of crisis.

Provide supervision to Band 4 colleagues.



There will be a comprehensive induction to the role and a supported period of supernumerary to aid with transition.



Please see attached file for a full list of duties and responsibilities.



We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust); a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.



We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.



Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.



At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.



1. In a wide range of situations and locations to undertake the full range of activities required to deliver comprehensive mental health assessment, in an emergency for service users, who may be distressed and in crisis.



2. To be responsible for developing delivering and reviewing comprehensive and complex treatment programmes using appropriate frameworks in line with evidence- based practice, including strategies to manage risk for service users with complex needs and carers, bringing in other resources as required.



3. To act as care coordinator for service users as appropriate, also providing defined interventions to individuals on other workers caseloads.



4. To plan, deliver and evaluate defined, specialist therapeutic interventions as indicated in the assessment process, in line with personal recovery plans, including to service users who maybe on other caseloads. This might include:



a. Individual or group therapeutic intervention



b. psychological treatments such as CBT, DBT approaches, family interventions



c. Psychosocial interventions



d. Motivational and coping enhancement strategies



e. Medication management



f. Interventions under the Mental Health Act



5. To deliver a range of defined activities/interventions to improve the carer's ability to support the service user and to enable them in their relationship with the service user.



6. To develop and maintain good partnership working with other services throughout all treatment episodes, including regular liaison within Primary Health Care Team, inpatient and intensive services, day services, voluntary sector and with nominated carers/advocates.



7. In collaboration with service users and carers, to be responsible for facilitating the development of comprehensive crisis plans, rapid access plans, advance statements etc, involving other agencies such as primary care etc where appropriate.



8. To personally build and lead others to build, hope inspiring relationships with service users, which acknowledge the personal journey of each person, and focus on strengths and aspirations to allow the creation of meaningful personal recovery plans.



9. To be responsible for maintaining own workload, as well as planning the workload of others, on a day-to-day basis, ensuring that time is prioritised effectively, utilising electronic resources such as diaries/scheduling.



Please see attached file for a full list of duties and responsibilities.