Community Mental Health Practitioner

Main Responsibilities Foster recovery through empowerment of service users and carers by using a strengths-based approach involving the service user and carer in the planning of their care establishing and maintaining consistent supportive relationships, which encourage increased self-determination and responsibility for service users and their care. Offer a range of evidence-based interventions and risk management approaches enabling the service user and carers to reduce and manage symptoms and high-risk behaviour in episodes of relapse. Be proactive, innovative, and creative in delivering care, enabling the facilitation of service users recovery. Engage service users and carers in relapse prevention and risk management /contingency plans, providing interventions that maximize the service users ability to resolve relapse crisis and prevents admission to hospital.

Liaise with inpatient units to support discharge through appropriate pathways. Facilitate early discharge from both inpatients and the CRHT Team by providing regular, formal reviews. Deliver a flexible and responsive service through practice that is dictated by service users/carers needs. Work collaboratively and effectively with members of the multi-disciplinary team and in partnership with other agencies.

Deliver high quality care and provide solutions and signposting to service users with severe and enduring mental health problems to support correct pathway access. Provide care within the Strength Based Model of practice maintaining service users within their own environment in the community. Act as an educator for service users and carers. Advise on issues of mental health to generate a positive approach to health and strengthen the service users capacity to manage illness, symptoms, and relapse.

Respond swiftly to urgent referrals providing interventions to prevent admission or re-admission. Work closely with carers. Recognise racial, cultural, sexual preference and address health inequalities. Ensure that record keeping/documentation reflects needs.

Maximize the use of resources within the team and available in the community. To be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care, using evidence-based tools and models of care. Work within the MDT framework according to code of practice, for delivery of optimum care. Ensure that care plans are reviewed and updated to take into account of the most recent information regarding service users needs.

It should reflect the views of the service users and carers. Undertake risk assessment/management for service users on the caseload and disseminate the information to their team members and professionals involved. Ensure activity/contact is entered promptly on RiO, conforming to the organisations data quality requirements, in line with contract specification Trust and Social Care data quality requirement. Provide care plans in accordance with National Guidelines.Leadership To participate in the development of an effective team and the development of productive working relationships throughout the organisation.

To actively promote integrated health professional working internally and externally. To facilitate the development of a positive and supportive team culture by taking responsibility for dealing effectively with potential conflict. To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the organisation to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines. To participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda.

To advise, encourage and share knowledge utilizing the latest research and practice development, through literature and peer reviews. To challenge and raise concerns around poor or unprofessional practice. To participate in the induction of new members of staff as a mentor. To participate and review staff performance.

Act as a positive role model for colleagues.Clinical Skills Have a working knowledge of current appropriate legislations. Engage in regular clinical and professional supervision. Adhere to and work within the guidelines of the NMC/HCPC professional code of conduct. Maintain registration of care profession and membership relevant to professional area; duties in relation to the relevant professional qualification will be required eg: the administration of medicines as stated within agreed policies and procedures.

Act as a positive clinical role model for colleagues. Ensure that full regard is taken of the dignity, individuality and well-being of service users and carers. Ensure physical health checks are carried out in full with any relevant follow up arranged, as necessary Be accountable for own practice and take every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge and professional competence. Advocate and promote self-advocacy for service users/carers.

Communication Communicate effectively with other members of the MDT pertaining to assessments, care plans, risk factors, relapse sig