Mental Health Practitioner

We have an exciting opportunity for Band 5 mental health professionals to work as an integrated part of the crisis care pathway. Predominantly based in the Acute Liaison services at Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital, with the ability to travel countywide when required, providing frontline assessment and support to service users in ED and the wider hospital wards. This role also incorporates the wider functions of the Crisis Pathway that include the countywide Mental Health Hub, Crisis cafes in partnerships with local 3rd sector providers, Police Street triage options, the Crisis Houses and Police Custody Healthcare. Successful applicants would be willing to work across a range of these services, providing specialist mental health assessment and liaison to those in crisis. Services aim to reduce mental health attendance at ED across the county, offer genuine opportunities for service users to self-refer at the point of crisis and provide partner organisations with proactive support and alternate pathways for service users who they come into contact with. The pathway has a strong emphasis on service user collaboration.

1. To undertake specialist assessment alongside band 6 colleagues, care planning, implementation and review of service to people referred to the team both individually and with colleagues from other disciplines according to crisis pathway operational polices.
2. To deliver a range of treatment programmes and/or interventions to support recovery, to include clinical duties and interventions across the crisis pathway.
3. To provide structured therapeutic interventions with potentially complex clients in one-to-one sessions.
4. To participate in multi-disciplinary team working to ensure service user’s needs are met
5. Promote choice, well-being and the protection of all service users and maintain positive promotion of the specialist community mental health teams and mental health.
6. To use effective judgement and interventions in emergency clinical situations.
7. To liaise with other professionals and agencies in the planning and delivery of care programmes for service users ensuring that a quality service is provided within the locality.
8. To promote peoples equality, diversity and rights in-line with Trust Equality and Diversity Policy.
9. To develop and maintain productive working relationships with your team, managers and other colleagues
10. To take personal responsibility to keep your knowledge up to date and to reflect on and evaluate your own values in the development of your practice.

NHFT is committed to building a diverse workforce, ensuring staff are treated fairly at work and ensuring all staff have the learning and development they need on equality in order to undertake their job role.

1. To record accurate records and statistics, both written and electronic in-line with relevant professional standards and Trust Policy.
2. To participate within clinical or managerial meetings and team briefing as required
3. To undertake the assessor/mentor role with students on placement within the service and assist with the teaching of students or junior staff
4. To be responsible for and be able to effectively manage own day-to-day workload including travel, utilising job planning format.
5. To prepare for and participate in regular supervision meetings and seek additional supervision as appropriate
6. To participate in IPDR sessions and undertake identified training/development requirements, in-line with Trust Policy
7. The willingness to engage in continuous professional development
8. Organise and provide relevant practical and theoretical teaching sessions for students, staff and other agencies, users/carers as required
9. To participate in audits carried out within the service to enable service improvement/development
10. To work flexibly across the county of Northamptonshire, this may include weekend, evening and nightshift work.
11. To provide such other services as may be required from time to time in relation to the post.
Clinical1. To work within the referral and assessment protocols within the ALMHS service and wider pathway, to address the mental health needs highlighted by the relevant agencies.
2. To initiate a comprehensive risk assessment process, highlighting risks to self and others, with consideration given to continuity of care following discharge from hospital.
3. To formulate detailed care plans/packages of care for individuals whilst in hospital, remaining mindful of their discharge, to ensure that mental health care provision is seamless and inclusive of mental health needs across the spectrum of primary and secondary care.
4. To assist in the appropriate use of the Mental Health Act with individuals requiring transfer to a psychiatric hospital setting.
5. To involve patients throughout the assessment and treatment processes, ensuring that care packages are tailored to meet individual needs.
6. To work within protocols for joint working wit