Dementia Practitioner

TheIntensive Dementia Support Service(IDSS) wewould like to invite you to join our innovative team inYeovil if you are a registered
- Mental Health Nurse (RMN)
- Occupational Therapist
- Social Worker

We're looking for someone with experience of working in the community who has an understanding ofOlder Persons Mental Health Care.

We are acountywide crisis servicefor people with dementia, cognitive impairment who are exhibiting a significant level of behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia. We have 2 team bases, one in Yeovil (East) and one in Taunton ( West).

The team in the East covers Yeovil, Chard, Crewkerne, Wincanton, Glastonbury, Wells, Frome and surrounding villages.

The aim of the team is to be reactive and responsive to treat individuals at times of crisis working closely with ourCommunity Mental Health Teamsaiming to prevent hospital admission and facilitate timely supported discharges from the ward

**The service provides**:

- Behavioural support planning, including role modelling of care delivery.
- Review of medication and monitoring of medication changes made by the team's consultant.
- Interventions to reduce challenging behaviours (distraction techniques, assessment for pain, physical ill health)
- Referrals and liaison with physical health services both primary and intermediate care
- Educating and supporting services with individualised activity programmes, and the promotion of personalised care.
- Signposting to other services

You'll take on a clinical leadership role within the team overseeing the team caseload, directing and guiding colleagues to ensure patients needs are addressed and met.

You'll take on a duty worker role so your previous experience in risk assessment and the ability to implement risk management plans will be vital to be able to react to the changing needs of your patients.

As well as taking pride in caring for our patients, we also prioritise taking care of our employees You will be part of a compassionate and friendly team who understand the challenges that arise when working and the importance of supporting one another through these.
- Are you committed to going the extra mile to enhance patient care?
- Are you comfortable being part of an open and hardworking culture?
- Are you ambitious and driven to expand your clinical skills?

If you answered yes to these questions then we would love to hear from you

Full time and Part time hours available

Somerset NHS Foundation Trustendeavours to provide development opportunities for those looking to develop a career in the NHS, in both clinical and non-clinical roles.

At our Trustwe value outstanding care, listening and leading and working together and always endeavour to put these at the heart of our service.

We have six active and impactful colleague networks. These networks provide a safe space for colleagues to share their experiences and learn from one another, but also influence change across our trust:

- Multicultural Network
- Women’s Network
- Armed Forces’ Network
- LGBTQ+ Network
- Lived Experience Network, for colleagues living with disabilities
- Autistic Colleague Network

As an organisation,the NHS offers a wide range of health benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our blue light card and NHS exclusive discounts.

The benefits of working in Somersetinclude the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone’s throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone

You will frequently take charge of a shift to be responsible and professionally accountable for a caseload within the community working with people with severe organic mental illness who have multiple and complex needs.

This entails taking on a duty worker role, receiving and triaging new referrals and planning /co-ordinating other staff's time to meet patient need.

Please see job description for full responsibilities.