Assistant Practitioner

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

At any one time, around 23,000 people in Norfolk and Suffolk are receiving care and attention from the Trust. We believe in whole life care - seeing people in the context of their whole lives, understanding the importance of good physical health, friends, family, spirituality, culture, home, work, education and a sense of purpose and achievement to experience good mental health.

Nearly 3,800 full and part-time practitioners care for our service users in hospitals, in the community and in their own homes, whilst an additional 1,400+ staff provide non-clinical support, including cleaning, catering, delivering supplies, ward administration, information technology, human resources and financial services.

We are committed to delivering quality driven mental health services. Every individual makes a valuable contribution. We are proud of our staff who have been commended for the care they provide. Do you value working positively, respectfully and together? If so, we’d love you to join us

JOB DESCRIPTION/PERSON SPECIFICATION

YOUR APPLICATION

**Job overview**:
The Intensive Older Peoples Service is looking to recruit a full time Band 4 Assistant Practitioner.

The IOPS team provide community support for those with Dementia or those over 75 with a functional mental health need. We work with service users who are experiencing an acute episode, offering intensive support in order to avoid hospital admission. We work closely with families and care providers to ensure a holistic approach to care is offered.

This is a full time post consisting of 37.5 hours per week, we work long days (07.50hrs - 21.00hrs) over a 7 day period.

You must be innovative, flexible with good communication skills, and committed to providing a quality service to our service users and their carers/family.

Experience of working with older people is not essential however an interest in providing a high quality service for this client group is.

We are looking for someone who wants to grow and develop their knowledge and skills by working closely with colleagues, sharing experience and knowledge, being a reflective practitioner who continues to learn from the team and each other.

**Main duties of the job**:
To assist with triage of referrals into the team, assessing suitability for service and providing signposting and advice for those not meeting the criteria of the team.

Participating in the assessment, planning and delivery of care in conjunction with service user, family and care providers. Creating and reviewing safety plans. Reviewing care and treatment plans and using CPA documentation to clearly evidence this.

Delivery of individualised care and treatment plans in community and care settings. Liaison with NCC and GP services.

Identifying and reporting safeguarding concerns in line with trust policy.

Monitoring of physical health including completion of physical health observations.

Ensuring timely discharge from service when acute episode concluded.

**Working for our organisation**:
Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing their experiences and learning from each other.

**Detailed job description and main responsibilities**:
To assist with triage of referrals into the team, assessing suitability for service and providing signposting and advice for those not meeting the criteria of the team.

Participating in the assessment, planning and delivery of care in conjunction with service user, family and care providers. Creating and reviewing safety plans. Reviewing care and treatment plans and using CPA documentation to clearly evidence this.

Delivery of individualised care and treatment plans in community and care settings. Liaison with NCC and GP services.

Identifying and reporting safeguarding concerns in line with trust policy.

Monitoring of physical health including completion of physical health observations.

Ensuring timely discharge from service when acute episode concluded

**Person specification**:
**Experience**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Working with Service Users with mental health needs
- Working within Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
- Working knowledge and understanding of CPA process.

**Qualifications**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/mental health or apprenticeship in H&SC/mental health L5

**Skills**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Ability to problem solve
- Satisfactory verbal and written English language skills
- Approachable, tactful and diplomatic

**Knowledge**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Risk Assessment
- Understanding of Mental Health issues
- CPA

**Other**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Able to travel independently
- EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES_Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality