Mental Health Practitioner

Following the highly successful development of a 24/7 mental health helpline, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is establishing a new direct access service to mental health services for the public via SCAS 111 & 999. We are establishing a 24/7 mental health service embedded within the SCAS call centre (based at Northern House, Bicester) which will serve as a central access point to mental health care for both Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

The work will involve mental health triage and brief assessment followed by either intervention to resolve the caller’s needs or onward referral and signposting to other mental health pathways.

You will also provide expert mental health advice to SCAS and TVP colleagues responding to 999 calls in the community, and similarly supporting clinical support staff within the 111 and 999 call-centre.

People who call 111 and 999 are of all ages and have a broad range of mental health presentations including common mental health conditions (e.g. anxiety, low mood, emotional distress) and acute/major mental illness conditions (e.g. psychosis, bipolar disorder, high risk suicidal behaviours).

The new service has a skill mix which will ensure callers can access the right level of advice and support for their condition and be connected to the best form of help, whether this is support with self-management, following existing care plans or onward referral to a mental health service (inc. 3rdsector partner services) for routine, urgent or emergency intervention.

In return, you will be provided with clinical and managerial supervision, preceptorship, and other training opportunities as identified in your PDR/appraisal.

Opportunities to experience working in other areas of mental health urgent care in either Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire will be made available as well as more formalised rotational opportunities.

We welcome flexible working requests. The shift pattern includes early, late, twilight, full night and long day shifts and therefore there is ample opportunity to find a working arrangement that will suit both you and the service. Full induction and training will be provided by both Oxford Health NHS FT and SCAS.

Band 5 clinicians will work under the supervision of Band 6 or Band 7 colleagues while on Duty and will work with service users whose level of presenting problem is commensurate with the skill and expertise that can be provided at Band 5 level. All Band 5 clinicians working in the team will be supported on a developmental pathway to Band 6.

Benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust include:

- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, with an increase to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Staff accommodation
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme

We are seeking motivated clinicians who will relish the opportunity to work in the dynamic setting of the 111 & 999 SCAS call centre.

As well as clinicians to work with both Oxford Health and SCAS to grow and develop the service into a first-class, clinically excellent, comprehensive mental health provision for the people of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

For many who use the service, this may be their first experience of accessing help for themselves with their mental health and so excellence in customer service and a central focus on getting it right the first time for each person will be crucial.

The role will also involve developing and implementing plans for people who make regular and repeated contact with emergency services.

Alongside this the service aims to reduce the number of people for whom an ambulance is dispatched and/or attend the Emergency Departments by connecting them to appropriate urgent and emergency mental health care pathways across both counties.

**Please note**:

- New starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
- Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
- Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.