Community Mental Health Nurse

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for the post of Community Mental Health Nurse is now available within Mental Health Services in North Hertfordshire / Stevenage.

In accordance with the systems, policies, standards and procedures agreed by the Trust you will be responsible for the delivery of care to an allocated caseload: including implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Care Plans, administering and/or supervision of administration of prescribed medication and liaising with other professionals including GPs and external agencies. You will also ensure full compliance with aftercare issues such as Social Care requirements.

The postholder will be required to be compliant with the Mental Health Act, Code Of Practice and other relevant legislation.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

We can offer you a competitive salary, staff benefits package, excellent career development and training that comes from working for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT. We are on a "Good to Great" journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and ultimately deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will be responsible for the clinical and operational day to day service delivery ensuring that an individualised comprehensive assessment and Care Management service is effectively delivered.

Responsibilities include the clinical and operational supervision of junior nursing staff and students as delegated by the team manager.

To be accountable for delivering a quality services that is effective and efficient in line with the organisations objectives and performance indicators.

To contribute to strategic service development working collaboratively with other agencies.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout.

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Then please to read on...

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

The post-holder will be responsible for the clinical and operational day to day service delivery ensuring that an individualised comprehensive assessment and Care Management service is effectively delivered.

Responsibilities include the clinical and operational supervision of junior nursing staff and students as delegated by the team manager.

To be accountable for delivering a quality services that is effective and efficient in line with the organisations objectives and performance indicators

To contribute to strategic service development working collaboratively with other agencies.

All staff should comply with the Trusts Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

Key Relationships

To support the Team Leader in establishing and maintaining effective inter-team and inter agency communication

To provide effective liaison/communication throughout the care pathway to service users, their carers and others, responding sensitively to all needs especially in highly emotive settings

To maintain effective joint working with others, developing positive working relationships and clear communications with MDT and other professionals

Ensure that all relevant information regarding service users care in particular issues of concern re practice and workload are communicated as necessary to the line manager

To liaise with other professionals in relation to service user care, actively participating in care planning and review meetings and attending case conferences required

Analytical and Judgemental

The post holder will be able to undertake assessment of need of service users who meets the service eligibility criteria, and their family. To formulate a care plan and risk assessment, review its effectiveness and re-plan using evidence based interventions to best effect in partnership with the service user.

The post holder will be expected to identify and respond to acute presentations in order to manage risk and promote the safety and well being of the service user.

Utilise clinical judgement to evaluate service users physical and psychological responses to treatment.

To initiate, plan and deliver effective risk management systems within the clinical area

To ensure a consistent and timely response to safeguarding cases in line with departmental procedures

To provide a responsive effective service to individuals in crisis

Planning and Organisation

To plan, organise and prioritise resources and tasks on a daily basis to meet service and organisational needs

To take a leading role in the day to day management of the service supporting the Team Leader, including recruitment retention, rostering and attendance management as required.

To work in conjunction with and alongside colleagues and partners within the organisation.

To plan and deliver treatment interventions in line with Best Practice and local and National Guidelines

To act as a Care Coordinator ensuring high quality care delivery at all times

To take a leading role in designated projects/service development as allocated

To support the line manager/service line lead in the effective and timely management of complaints and serious untoward incidents

To identify the training needs of junior staff highlighting this to the Team Leader

To plan, develop and deliver training to others as needed

Physical & Emotional Working Conditions and Environment

Document service user care by recording information on electronic care record, demonstrating keyboard skills.

To have the ability to sit with service users for extended periods of time, often within pressurised circumstances and to sustain frequent, intense concentration.

To be adaptable to the physical environment, particularly when meeting service users in their homes, continually being aware of Trust Health & Safety Policies within this context.

Ability to cope with the physical demands of frequent travel across the Trust.

To drive own vehicle between bases

The post holder may be involved in physical procedures including administration of oral and injectable medications, the storage and transportation of them, and the monitoring of peoples physical responses to medications, such as blood pressure, glucose and weight monitoring.

The post holder will be expected to drive between appointments across a wide geographical area in order to manage numerous visits each day, across the west and south of the county and occasionally further.

The post holder will be expected to share office space in a hot desk arrangement and work in an open plan environment. Visits to service users occur mainly within their own homes and can therefore include exposure to a range of environments.

Work frequently in distressing, challenging and emotionally demanding situations requiring mental effort to undertake duties effectively.

The post holder may be exposed to unpleasant and distressing working conditions; some service users may exhibit aggressive and abusive behaviour.

Mental Effort

Service User Care

To carry a clinical caseload and act as a CPA Care Coordinator, adhering to the CPA policy and fulfilling the named nurse role.

To undertake comprehensive health needs and risk assessments (including capacity assessments) and develop a care plan (Health Action Plan) in accordance with identified needs establishing specialist course of responsibilities/actions based on Recovery Principles.

To carry out joint assessment with other MDT as required.

To be aware of and comply with the relevant mental health and work related legislation and policy at all times.

To provide relevant up to date evidence based information about treatment/intervention that enables service users to make informed choices about their care.

To deliver evidence based care in a timely manner.

To make reactive recommendations as necessary when working alone in the community.

To undertake health promotion activities with individuals and groups.

To promote physical health and well being by providing health checks/screen and monitoring.

Where necessary to administer prescribed medication or to supervise its administration and assess the service user for desired and non- desired effects.

To maintain robust clinical records and prepare reports as required

To provide and facilitate specialist help and advice to other professionals agencies and carers

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

Managers have a duty to promote and support staffs personal health and wellbeing at all times, this includes both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Managers have a responsibility to support staff by directing employees to services that are available to everyone to help in managing health and wellbeing.

They should be open and approachable as well as proactive in discussing and agreeing a process to monitor an employees mental and physical health.

Human Resources

To provide effective professional supervision/mentorship of junior staff and students assessing proficiencies of practice as required

To be a sign off mentor for students and provide a conducive learning environment

To maintain ones own Professional Registration and development

To actively participate in and seek clinical and professional supervision and appraisal in line with organisational policy

Financial Responsibility

To ensure effective and economic use of resources available

To comply with the relevant Trust and service financial policies and procedures

Service Development and Improvement

To remain up to date concerning relevant clinical, social and legal issues.

To be aware of relevant research findings and assist the Team Leader in the development of the team, incorporating evidence based practice.

To adhere to quality initiatives compatible with national targets and local standards applicable to practice.

To be involved in the development and use of quality assurance systems contributing to and participating in audits/outcomes, evaluation and lesson learning.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

RMN or Dip/Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing ENB 998 / Preceptorship and Mentorship

Desirable

ENB812/Bsc in Specialist Community Nursing Practice (Mental Health) Psychosocial interventions

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in a range of settings relevant to the post At least 2 years of post-registration experience with at least one year at Band 5 Experience of working in an acute mental health inpatient/day care services Experience of working in situations or crisis and emotionally demanding environments Experience and knowledge of safeguarding process Experience of teaching and training Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-ethnic community Experience of delivering evidence based care

Desirable

Experience of working with acute mental health problems in a community setting

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