Job Description

Are you looking for a new and challenging role? Do you have experience of working in Mental Health?



As part of our new Mental Health Strategy, EMAS have exciting opportunities for enthusiastic applicants to join our Clinical Assessment Team (CAT) working within a multi-disciplinary team based in our Emergency Operations Centres to deliver quality care to our patients and provide advice to the wider EMAS team.



We are looking for Registered Clinicians/Occupational Therapists /Social Workers with an extensive background in supporting Mental Health



Our Mental Health Strategy enables us to meet the objectives of the NHS Long Term Plan (2019) which identifies ambulance services as being integral in supporting people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. That is why we are recruiting more mental health staff into our emergency operation centres so that patients can be supported via 'hear and treat', appropriate pathways/appropriate signposting.



The CAT comprises paramedics, nurses, midwives, and mental health practitioners. Team members provide advice to patients and operational staff referring or signposting them to services and places where alternative, more appropriate care can be provided. This allows our ambulance crews and hospital colleagues to provide face-to-face care and treatment to those who are in most need.



Our Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) are based in Nottingham and Lincolnshire and on average receive one call every 34 seconds.

Main duties of the role include:

Provide urgent telephone triage assessment of patients.



Provide high quality and evidenced based clinical care to patients in Crisis by signposting to appropriate MH teams/pathways.



Ensure appropriate and accurate entry to records and documentation.



Provide a calm and confident resource to colleagues in stressful situations, providing leadership in mental health.



Exercise advanced skills in de-escalation of distress, and anger.



Demonstrate appropriate control and leadership in situations where people may be frightened, aggressive and/or violent.



Actively make your experience available as a resource for advice and support to other members of the team.



Liaise with other Healthcare Professionals, including Paramedics, Doctors, GP's, Nurses, Allied Healthcare Professionals and Social Care Professionals from Primary and Secondary care as well as third sector organisations.



To Support 999 Call Handlers in the assessment of emergency calls where required.



The post holder will report to the Clinical Assessment Team (CAT) Manager for Mental Health. They will be part of a wider Multi-Disciplinary Team across both CAT and the wider Emergency Operations Centre.

Main responsibilities:

Provide urgent telephone triage assessment of patients.



Provide high quality and evidenced based clinical care to patients in Crisis by signposting to appropriate MH teams/pathways.



Ensure appropriate and accurate entry to records and documentation.



Provide a calm and confident resource to colleagues in stressful situations, providing leadership in mental health.



Exercise advanced skills in de-escalation of distress, and anger.



Demonstrate appropriate control and leadership in situations where people may be frightened, aggressive and/or violent.



Actively make your experience available as a resource for advice and support to other members of the team.



Liaise with other Healthcare Professionals, including Paramedics, Doctors, GP's, Nurses, Allied Healthcare Professionals and Social Care Professionals from Primary and Secondary care as well as third sector organisations.



To Support 999 Call Handlers in the assessment of emergency calls where required.



Be aware of the importance of safeguarding and accurate / timely escalation within the East Midlands Ambulance Service.



The team will where appropriate, provide signposting and facilitate access to appropriate services in the community.



Provide a service, which is in line with Local Working Instructions, i.e. patient focused, accessible and responsive on a 24-hour basis.



Demonstrate respect for all team members, maximising potential through the diverse roles within the team.



Attend team meetings as required.



Maintain and develop expertise in the acute care of people with a serious mental health problem, including the management of people at risk of suicide.



Liaison with other teams and services to ensure that quality and timely services are delivered.



Provide profession-specific interventions relevant to the needs of service users.



Actively seek to improve own practice by seeking new and innovative ideas for the delivery of care and maintain CPD.



Actively address areas of concern and report any areas of concern to the clinical duty and operational managers



Maintain an up to date knowledge of other relevant Crisis and Emergency Services.



Participate in supervision, as per the Trust policy, on a regular and formal basis.



Manage time and resources effectively within available constraints .



Practice within NMC/HCPC/Trust/Professional bodies guidelines where appropriate.



Service Development and Improvement



To bring about a reduction in the numbers of calls and the duration of calls made by patients calling with Mental Health related needs. This will be achieved by:



Improving signposting to appropriate alternative care pathways.



The Mental Health Clinical Advisor will screen 999 calls and triage those that are from callers about mental health issues, to enable the best possible care outcomes for patients with mental health problems. They will make dynamic triage decisions and refer patients on to local MH services as appropriate.



Support management team and contribute to continuous improvements and development of services for Mental Health Clinical Advisors.



They will prioritise workload to ensure that all patients receive a timely intervention. This will be achieved by:



Providing expert mental health advice, including that relating to clinical risk, Mental Health Act or Mental Capacity Act.



Support the development of innovative ways of working within and across organisations to improve the delivery of care.