Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job Summary

37.5 hours per week.

Are you ready for a role that genuinely stretches your clinical expertise while giving you the space to shape how community mental health services evolve? We are looking for an experienced, forward thinking practitioner to join us. Working across three of our specialist teams: the Specialist Outreach Recovery Team (SORT), Insight (First Episode Psychosis), and Community Mental Health Services. You will work with people with complex mental health needs;

you will need excellent clinical skills. You will be able to assertively support discharges, transition across teams, and work with a caseload. You will work closely with family and carers, providing both direct support and working with staff to ensure safe and effective care. You will support the Specialist Mental Health Practitioner to deliver excellent care across the services.

This is an opportunity to step into a position where your clinical leadership, creativity and professional judgement will directly influence the quality of care we deliver across the city.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

• The post holder will be expected to be able to make clear clinical decisions based on the analysis of often complex presenting difficulties; this can include being the decision maker in terms of the onward care plan for patients experiencing crisis mental health needs.
• Receive and triage referrals for the teams.
• Undertake holistic and comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessment of patients referred to the service.
• Utilise a range of highly specialised clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical/home setting in which they are seen.
• Match patient need with available skills and resources.
• Work closely with peer support workers and volunteers to enhance patient experience.
• Provide a consultation-liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams referring to the teams, including specialist advice on care, treatment and patient management issues.
• Be part of a multi-disciplinary team approach responding to individuals requiring a same day response or signposting due to a mental health crisis.
• Provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers; provide telephone-based support to help contain a crisis and avoid further escalation of an issue.
• Offer urgent mental health assessments and appointments in the location most convenient/appropriate for the patient (e.g., home, GP surgery, or Emergency Department).
• Provide MH assessments to patients deemed at risk of inpatient psychiatric admission, presenting with acute mental health disturbance of a functional nature.
• Identify the most appropriate intervention required for the patient, with emphasis on positive risk management, and refer as necessary.
• Prepare high quality assessment reports/letters following assessments and monitor junior staff reports to ensure standards are met.
• Maintain high standards of integrity when communicating with patients and others.
• Demonstrate ability to use IT systems effectively including email and clinical systems used by the team.
• Possess a good working knowledge of mental health legislation (Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) and use this in advising and planning care, independently or with other professionals.
• Provide nursing care and other interventions in settings that meet patient needs.
• Make emergency judgments and clinical decisions; maintain high standards of clinical care for patients.
• Formulate care plans, implement and evaluate them with patients and carers, ensuring informed consent is obtained.
• Demonstrate safe clinical skills when providing care for patients receiving specialist treatments (e.g., commencement of Clozaril in the community or support through ECT).
• Work within professional registration (NMC, HCPC, BCAP) only.

Livewell…