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 3,200 full and part-time practitioners care for our service users in hospitals, in the community and in their own homes, whilst an additional 900+ staff provide non-clinical support, including cleaning, 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

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JOB DESCRIPTION/PERSON SPECIFICATION

YOUR APPLICATION

**Job overview**:
We are pleased to offer this opportunity to join the Great Yarmouth and Waveney care group as an Assistant Practitioner in the Older People's Community Mental Health Team, based at Carlton Court Lowestoft.

The team are a dynamic and forward-thinking group who value the Assistant Practitioner role and will make sure there are good opportunities for the successful applicant to develop and enhance their clinical skills.

The team also respects and values the lives of the people we support and work with. We positively engage with a range of companion organisations to ensure the best support and treatment that can be given to our patients.

**Main duties of the job**:
The successful applicant will work one-to-one with patients and carers, in our community, Waveney & Lowestoft. You will manage your own caseload and be part of a small team of dedicated and passionate colleagues who are nurses, APs, Medics & AHMPs. You will have regular support and supervision from colleagues and will benefit from shadowing our other Assistant Practitioners during your induction. Our patients have complex physical and mental health concerns and require a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to care. and support.

If you feel this post will give you the opportunities you would like, please call for more information about the service.

This is a small and friendly team who cover the Lowestoft and Waveney areas, and although busy the work is rewarding

**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.

**Benefits**

Benefits included with this role are:

- NHS pension
- a comprehensive in house & external training programmes
- career progression
- starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
- staff physio service
- NHS discounts and many more.

**Detailed job description and main responsibilities**:
**Person specification**:
**Other**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Able to travel independently

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

- Understanding of Mental Health issues
- Risk Assessment

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

- Ability to communicate widely in a clear manner
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to self-manage time and meet agreed

**Experience**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Working with Service Users with mental health needs
- Working knowledge and understanding of The Care Programme Approach (CPA) process

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

- Care certificate or relevant equivalent
- Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/mental health or apprenticeship in H&SC/mental health L5
- EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES_
- Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief. _
- Additionally, people with disabilities that fall under the Two Ticks - Guaranteed Interview Scheme will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification). _
- DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK (formerly CRB) _
- Alternatively, if you have subscribed to the update service, we will be able to check your status once we have your authority to do so._
- The Trust has now introduced a DBS Update Service which is a contractual requirement. You need to subscribe when you have applied for your DBS clearance and there is a time limit to subscribe of 19 days after receipt of