Arms Practitioner

We have an interesting and exciting opportunity for a band 6 practitioner to join the ARMS team and to take a leading role in the delivery of a psychologically lead service to people identified as having an At Risk Mental State (ARMS), based in Dorset.

We are excited to be able to announce that with new mental health transformation funding we will be launching a service aimed at identifying and supporting individuals who are vulnerable to developing psychosis. The service will work alongside those at risk of developing psychosis to create opportunities to develop preventative strategies and support through partnership with local mental health, social care, primary care and third sector agencies. This is a newly commissioned service aiming to recruit supportive, highly skilled, and established professionals. The ARMS service will work closely with Dorset Early Intervention in Psychosis Service and develop and maintain links with other services in Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust and the wider community.

As a specialist mental health service for those with ARMS, the service will be based on NICE-recommended interventions. This will include referral screening, comprehensive assessment and psychological interventions for psychosis and/or co-existing mental health problems (e.g. depression, anxiety, emerging personality disorder, substance misuse).

Key responsibilities will include offering comprehensive psychological assessment, psychological interventions (with individual clients and their families / support networks), consultation to team colleagues, offering clinical supervision, pursuing audit and research opportunities to enhance the service, offering training for colleagues, undertaking a duty worker role and supporting the team in service development where appropriate. You would be expected to work positively and proactively with care coordinators, recovery workers and CBTp therapist within the team.

You will be skilled in working with recovery based and collaborative approaches to care planning, working flexibly and creatively with service users and families to achieve their individual goals. Delivery of a quality service within the ARMS Pathway is a chance to change service users’ lives, teaching them the skills to self-manage their difficult experiences and encouraging self-reliance and independence, as well as helping them rebuild their lives. You will be working with people who come with a variety of needs and at various stages of their conditions and recovery.

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.