Job Description

Mental Health Practitioner (East)



An exciting opportunity has arisen for two experienced Mental Health Nurse s , Social Worker s/SALT/ Occupational Therapist s to play a key role in a new development within the Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service (FOLS).



We are currently seeking 2 x Mental Health Practitioners, to join our skilled multidisciplinary team. You will use your skills and experience to carry a caseload of service users across the service who have been identified by the teams as having the potential to work towards community inclusion and recovery.



The FOLS team delivers specialist interventions and risk assessments and establishes safe onward care and treatment pathways for those leaving secure care into the community. The team also offers a Risk Advice Forum.



We have a positive supervision and appraisal culture, and value staff training and development.



The role of the Mental Health Practitioner is to work in partnership with individual service users who are presenting with complex health presentations, whilst under the care of the Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service (FOLS).



The post holder will always work to promote the safety and well-being of service users, developing packages of care and recovery plans to enable the service user to lead a fulfilling life.



The post holder will assess, plan, implement care, and provide discharge planning, whilst working closely with carers, families and partner agencies to facilitate this.



The post holder will demonstrate an understanding of clinical interventions relevant to the service, including delivering specialist advice, consultation, education, training and implementing evidence-based practice.



They will also provide clinical supervision to junior staff and students.

About the Trust:

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people, and adults across Sussex. SPFT is rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by CQC. In our staff survey:



82% agree that care for patients is our top priority



70% highlight flexible working opportunities as key to satisfaction at work



79% report feeling able to make improvement to improve the work within their team



77% identify opportunities to show initiative in their roles

About Sussex:

Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there's always new experiences to be enjoyed



Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London



With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure

As a practitioner in our team we can offer you:

Access to numerous wellbeing and support programmes

Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development

Reimbursed parking

Access to a host of NHS discount schemes (including gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars)

A position within a trust rated as 'Outstanding' for caring and 'Good' overall by the CQC

Generous holiday entitlement (dependent on length of NHS service) starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays

NHS Pension contributions

linical Practice, including professional development:

To be a core member of the team, using specialist health assessments. To provide a highly specialised range of clinical interventions relevant to the service and have knowledge of evidence-based models of practice. To deliver care under the Care Programme Approach (CPA), taking on the role of care co-ordinator/lead practitioner and working within the CPA policy delivering standards set out in the Trust CPA policy. To manage a caseload of service users with complex health needs. To work in partnership with the individual service user and their families and carers as

appropriate to ensure the delivery of the care plan, and to enable the development of a



plan to facilitate their safety, promote their well-being and support their independence



And inclusion in the community, by using recognised age-appropriate self-management



tools where applicable. This may include working closely with partner agencies such as



voluntary sector agencies, schools and colleges which may be able to more



appropriately help the service user complete these tools.



To develop holistic care plans that meet the needs of the individual and their family/carers as appropriate and that are focused on strengths and are outcome based. To plan and implement service-user centred individual, family and group interventions, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals. To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment to measure progress and ensure

effectiveness of intervention.



To be aware of prescribed medication for each service user. Refer to medical and nursing professionals for advice/treatment as appropriate. To discuss with the service user and when appropriate, with their carers, their health

problems and how they see and understand them, facilitating a process of developing



their understanding and maintaining their hope for the future.



To promote the empowerment of individual service users to manage their health as much as possible and use Self Directed Support / direct payments as indicated. To work with carers and family members, offering carers assessments and providing

support and information to them as indicated. Signposting to third sector agencies to



ensure they receive appropriate advice and support. Advising them about the triggers



around risk factors relating to the service user, within the boundaries of confidentiality.



To assertively engage with service users, always striving to develop good therapeutic relationships. To monitor risk, progress and where necessary compliance including the service users

views to their care and treatment and when appropriate to work in partnership with the



service user's family and carers. To carry out assessments of client's work/educational /



vocational and housing needs/aspirations and ensure that these are met were



appropriate.



To carry out carers assessments and implement a plan of care accordingly, where appropriate. To work closely and in partnership with colleagues in the team and other services within the Trust in a collaborative way, ensuring that decisions are made that ensure the best care for service users and that there is a seamless pathway. To know how to access appropriate services and develop effective networks and channels of communication. To keep abreast of local resources; third sector partners, primary care, housing, education, social care and other statutory organisations to ensure that the service user is able to navigate the full health and social care system. To establish robust communication networks with clients' carers and other health workers and agencies. To attend meetings and case conferences as relevant to the job description and role. To promote awareness of the professional role within the team and across the service. To demonstrate effective communication skills with people in an age-appropriate way and those whose understanding may be impaired. Communicate effectively with junior staff on a timely basis ensuring systems exist so that

staff are informed.



To apply highly specialist skills and knowledge to establish professional

competence and fitness to practice.



To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and

external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.



Practice Development, including professional development of others



Ensure best practice is promoted and disseminated appropriately. Support a team-based learning culture. Facilitate local multi-disciplinary learning groups and practice development initiatives. Contribute to the induction, training of students and other staff both within or external to

the Trust.



Be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of students, on placement within the Trust, as appropriate. Act as a Practice Supervisor/Assessor/ Mentor/Preceptor with the relevant experience/training. To fully participate in the Trust's performance review, appraisal and personal development planning process on a regular basis. To achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales. Review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal in line with local guidelines. To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisal for junior staff. To assist in the selection of staff and participate in their induction as required. To provide effective leadership within the team, speciality groups and at professional networks. To represent the professional lead/senior manager at meetings as required.

Research and Development



To undertake research and/or audit projects relevant to the service, disseminating

findings at local level.



To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and

research projects.



To participate in the operational planning, implementation of policy and service development within the team, leading on delegated projects. To participate in the delivery of the Trust strategy, and your professional strategy within Forensic Healthcare, and development plan and care group strategies. To use research in practice and developing research work from one's own practice.

Governance - including quality, standards, documentation & ethics



To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist reports relevant to the service. To keep accurate and timely electronic record of each contact, using Care Notes and other software programmes used by the Trust. Complete outcome measures as required. To adhere to the Code of Conduct, and Professional Standards and Ethics, for the post holder's profession and comply with local and national standards of practice. To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of service users and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs. To contribute in the Trust and professional clinical and social care governance

arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice



standards.



To apply national guidelines/ legislation relating to health and social care in mental health service provision. To participate in clinical and social care governance care group forums as required. To ensure performance targets and standards are met. To complete clinical outcome measures as required e.g. HoNOS To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained within the clinical

setting.



* To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained amongst junior staff.