Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity for a Psychology Graduate with an established clinical background, who has successfully completed a period of academic education and clinical supervision, to work in a combined role as Assistant Psychologist and Home Treatment Team Practitioner.



The post holder may be required to work across different Trust sites according to the needs of the Home Treatment Service Line.



Croydon Home Treatment Team provides crisis assessment and intensive treatment to patients, in their own home where possible as an alternative to psychiatric inpatient admission, or to facilitate earlier discharge if admission is required.



Home Treatment Practitioners are expected to work either the early or late shift which operates between the hours of 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.



The post holder will be working in a split role capacity as a Psychology Assistant (2 days a week) and as a Home Treatment Team practitioner (3 days a week).



The successful candidate will assess the needs of service users and plan and evaluate care using a collaborative approach with service users, their families and carers.



They will work alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure effective care delivery, including the use of evidenced based time-limited psychological interventions, risk assessments and management, and safe discharge processes. They will ensure the physical health care needs of service users are appropriately addressed and monitored.



The post holder will liaise effectively with other professionals and services to ensure good communication is maintained and care is transferred seamlessly.



This job description will be subject to regular review and adjustment.



This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the post and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the pay band. The post may change over time to reflect the developing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as the personal development of the post holder.

Some of the benefits of working for SLaM are highlighted here:

Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and

length of service.

Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing. Career development, we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people

management, collective leadership and other talent programmes

Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.

Other benefits include:

Counselling services Long service awards Cycle to work scheme Season ticket loan Childcare vouchers Staff restaurants

Clinical



Contribute to the ongoing assessment process, including risk, of service users in line with policy standards.

Assess capacity and provide safe treatment and care to those who may lack capacity.

Report on the patient's changing condition and response to therapeutic interventions and contribute to care plan changes as appropriate.

Operate within the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act and all relevant policy and legislation.

Escalate the needs of service users presenting with complex long-term conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma,)

Promote and deliver evidence-based care for service users with mental health conditions in their own homes.

Support service users to adopt recovery strategies that promote their wellbeing, healthy lifestyle, independence and self-care.

Actively promote health education that may include providing alternative materials to support service users and carers in making decisions regarding their care and treatment.

Provide relevant support to carers and families in relation to their rights as carers and their involvement in the care of the service user when they are under the care of the team.

Apply infection control measures within practice. according to local and national policies.

Adhere to lone working practices.

Effectively co-ordinate a shift.



Communication



Use good communication skills to provide accurate information to service users and their families and carers in a sensitive and professional manner which respects equality and diversity.

Act as an advocate for service users.

Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records of health assessment, implementation and evaluation of management and therapeutic interventions.

Effective liaison with all parts of the service including daily communication with those responsible for gatekeeping, bed management and accurate data collection.



Service development



Participate in service evaluations, benchmarking, research and audit activities, and to contribute to implementation of service modernisation and improvement projects.



Legal, professional and Educational



Maintain a safe environment for all staff and visitors, taking reasonable care to avoid injury. Co-operate with the Trust to meet statutory requirements.

Provide statements regarding untoward incidents, as requested by line manager.

Work in accordance with the professional Code of Conduct and Trust policy and ensure that standards of practice are upheld.

Receive regular clinical supervision

Maintain and develop own professional knowledge and competence by keeping informed of advances and research pertaining to mental health care.

Participate in clinical governance initiatives as agreed by the directorate clinical governance committee.