Senior Mental Health Practitioner

The Access Team is a busy and fast-paced service that provides a single point of entry and first level gate keeping into mental health services in Stockport. We screen and triage all referrals into the service. We undertake telephone triages, urgent and routine face to face assessments and onward referral to the most appropriate service, getting people the right care, at the right time and by the right service.

You will undertake comprehensive assessments of the health and social care needs of individuals who are referred to the service, in addition to comprehensive risk assessments. You will also coordinate assessment clinics and prioritise appointments. No one day is the same and you will need a flexible, creative and supportive approach within the team.

Following assessment you will be responsible for identifying appropriate management plans, follow up care, referrals and fast tracking of patients into specialist services.

As a senior mental health practitioner you will offer support and guidance to junior members of staff on the team.

The Team operates from Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm

The Access Team works closely with Healthy Minds, The Transition Team and other internal and external providers; such as the Stockport Prevention Alliance, Open Door and the Safe Haven.

Staff are expected to participate in the overall development of the service, ensuring that the principles of Clinical Governance underpin all developments.

It is expected that you will deliver care in accordance with all Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust policies and procedures, the Mental Health Act and community care legislation.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
- To participate in the duty worker rotation
- To participate in the triage process of new referrals to the service.
- To carry out thorough assessment of service users’ current mental health problems and individual needs, including a risk assessment.
- To develop individualised packages of care for service users with mental health problems, including signposting where necessary, within the stepped care model (NICE, 2003), Fair Access to Care Services and the Care Programme Approach.
- To identify the need for protection in line with safeguarding children and the Protection of Vulnerable Adult Policy and to comply with statutory obligations.
- To liaise and negotiate with other professions, statutory and independent agencies to ensure the best possible service is provided to service users and carers and to appropriately signpost to other agencies.
- To assist service users to effectively manage their emotional distress, using psychological evidence-based interventions.
- To promote medication concordance through medication follow-up, where appropriate.
- To evaluate systematically and record, outcomes of mental health interventions, adapting care on the basis of these evaluations.
- To provide education and appropriate self-help resources to patients specific to individual needs.
- To keep and store up to date written records and follow appropriate Pennine Care policies.
- To participate in audit of the primary care mental health service if requested.
- To provide supervision/mentorship to the junior primary care mental health workers and students.
- To utilise managerial and clinical supervision to ensure that care and treatment are tailored to service users, family and community needs; that learning needs are identified and acted upon to ensure professional and personal development.
- To work with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a culturally sensitive manner.
- To participate in improving access and liaison activities within the Stockport Community.
- To improve liaison with Stockport GP’s and other agencies.
- To attend and participate in regular departmental and governance meetings.
- To take a lead role in project and developmental work within the department.