Dual Diagnosis Urgent Care Practitioner Mhlt

Are you looking for a role which brings a real challenge every day?

Hello, I'm Sarah and I am looking for Urgent Care Practitioners to join the Mental Health Liaison team who can bring knowledge and expertise to this dynamic area of mental health service provision. We are specifically looking for practitioners who are experienced in carrying out specialist assessments and offering treatment interventions to people presenting with co-existing mental health and substance misuse issues.

You will be working at the interface between physical and psychological health and bring your knowledge and expertise to your general hospital colleagues. You will undertake specialist and timely mental health assessments and treatment for patients attending the General Hospital. We support patients with a wide range of problems, including self-harm, adjustment to illness and physical and psychological co-morbidities. As there is no entrance requirement for A&E and people’s perceptions of what constitutes a mental health emergency or crisis can vary, our team are referred people with all sorts of problems, including those people presenting to mental health services for the very first time,

I am looking for practitioners who are confident in the management of common mental health problems and who can bring their knowledge to their general hospital colleagues both informally and by undertaking teaching sessions.

The post holder will ensure that high standards of assessment and treatment are provided to people with dual diagnosis issues, based on the best available evidence. You will maintain strong links with local substance misuse services and make onward referrals as required.

This is a challenging but rewarding role, offering an exciting opportunity to nurses, occupational therapists or social workers who have strong assessment and therapeutic skills. You will need the ability to work autonomously whilst still contributing to the team as a whole. If you enjoy the challenge and stimulus of working under pressure and are able to remain calm in quickly changing circumstances, you will be well suited to this role.

As our Coastal Urgent Care Pathway moves towards CORE 24 standards, the post-holder will work flexible hours to support delivery of 24/7 services.

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.

**Working in Sussex**:

- Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns
- Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
- With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure

We’d love you to join our organisation that is rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the CQC. Our staff agree, in our recent staff survey 82% told us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.

**Key staff survey results include**:

- 70% highlighting flexible working opportunities as a key point for satisfaction at work
- 79% reporting feeling able to make suggestions to improve the work within their team
- 77% identifying the opportunities to show initiative in their roles

This role will support the work of and across Urgent Care Teams (Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team and The Haven) and as such the post holder will be expected to work across these teams as required. Our three services are integral to our Urgent Care Pathway and ensure people presenting to acute mental health services receive a compassionate, person
- centred assessment and timely care plan whether this occurs in an acute setting such as The Haven; the General Hospital or in their home.

This new flexible way of working provides the successful applicant the opportunity to gain experience and demonstrate good quality care across the range of urgent care services.

You will need excellent communication skills and be able to foster excellent relationships with patients, carers, general hospital colleagues and other parts of the health and social care system.

Previous experience of working in acute services, home treatment teams or Liaison Psychiatry is desirable, although not essential. We offer excellent staff support through clinical supervision and teamwork.

If you are reading this and thinking this is the ideal job opportunity for you and you would like more information, please do contact me on the number below. I would welcome interested applicants for an informal visit and conversation about the role.