First Contact Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

The clinician is defined as a qualified, appropriately registered Health Care Practitioner. You will be a skilled Health Care Practitioner as defined above, with a relevant healthcare qualification and current registration.

Working within your professional boundaries, you will work autonomously, without immediate support and supervision, enabled by collaborative and supportive working relationships.

You will deliver safe, effective clinical decision-making and expert quality care, including assessment, diagnosis, clinical management and evaluation.

You will have the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver high quality holistic care and treatment.

You must work at all times within your own competence and professional Code of conduct of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Main duties of the job

Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a psychological perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly. Liaise with practice clinicians, secondary care, social workers and voluntary sector staff, and making best use of third sector and other community opportunities for promotion of patient wellbeing and maintenance of mental health. Manage patient risk effectively and safely Provide safe, evidence-based and individualised patient care. Refer patients directly to other services/agencies as appropriate Provide information and advice on prescribed and over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions. Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care. Improve clinical outcomes for patients by enabling them to function independently by increasing their choice to remain in their own home / community and reduce the need for inappropriate hospital admission. Establishing effective working relationships with patients, their families and carers including education and promoting individual rights Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy living and to apply principles of self-care.

About us

Nimbuscare is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to be a collaborative and agile provider that cares for its people and patients. Nimbuscare is based in York and is owned by all the practices in the city, however we deliver services over a wider footprint.

Who are we

We deliver Urgent Care services in collaboration with the hospital and GP practices in York, Scarborough, Whitby, Malton and Selby. We also provide community-based frailty care, which focuses on treating people in the community where we can. We also aim to shift services into the community where possible, for example our community diagnostic centres run in partnership with the Acute Trust.

We are committed to contributing towards a better NHS based on equity, fairness, innovation, collaboration and quality.

We are part of the system, and we are here to stay.

Nimbuscare is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this job are guaranteed an interview.

Please note Nimbuscare does not hold a license to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas

Job description

Job responsibilities

The clinician is defined as a qualified, appropriately registered Health Care Practitioner. You will be a skilled Health Care Practitioner as defined above, with a relevant healthcare qualification and current registration.

Working within your professional boundaries, you will work autonomously, without immediate support and supervision, enabled by collaborative and supportive working relationships.

You will deliver safe, effective clinical decision-making and expert quality care, including assessment, diagnosis, clinical management and evaluation.

You will have the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver high quality holistic care and treatment.

You must work at all times within your own competence and professional Code of conduct of the Nursing and Midwifery Council NMC, Health & Care Professions Council HCPC.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all of the items in the following list. Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the Medical Director or Board of Directors, dependent on current and evolving workload

Clinical responsibilities

Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment or interventions and care for patients Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a psychological perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly. The role will involve liaison with practice clinicians, as well as liaison with secondary care, social workers and voluntary sector staff, where appropriate, and making best use of third sector and other community opportunities for promotion of patient wellbeing and maintenance of mental health. Demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process. Manage patient risk effectively and safely, including high levels of complexity and uncertainty. Support the local implementation of national and local policy that impacts upon the health and wellbeing of patients such as the NHS England framework for community mental health. Utilise other clinical staff appropriately to ensure safe and effective patient care, demonstrating awareness of your own limitations. Provide safe, evidence-based and individualised patient care. Refer patients directly to other services or agencies as appropriate, utilising local guidelines and in a timely manner. Provide information and advice on prescribed and over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions. Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care. Improve clinical outcomes for patients by enabling them to function independently by increasing their choice to remain in their own home or community and reduce the need for or prevent inappropriate hospital admission. Establishing effective working relationships with patients, their families and carers including education and promoting individual rights, recognising and respecting their contributions to care planning, placing patient in the centre of their care. Referral on to the appropriate support, ie medical, mental health, physical health, third sector, well-being or social prescribing. Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy living and to apply principles of self-care.

Other responsibilities

Recognise and work within own competence and in accordance with the professional Code of conduct of the NMC or HCPC. Maintain accurate and complete documentation and records utilising IT as appropriate. Follow agreed protocols, referring to GPs as appropriate Follow local and national Infection Control guidelines. Assist with the maintenance of equipment and report defective equipment. Take responsibility that any equipment either clinical or otherwise, used when working, is taken due care of and locked away at the end of every working session.

Safeguarding

Everyone within Nimbuscare has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults-at-risk, children and young people and for ensuring that they are protected from harm.

Be fully aware of and understand your duties and responsibilities arising from the Childrens Act 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, in relation to child protection and safeguarding children and young people

Be fully aware of and understand your duties and responsibilities arising from the DOH Policy No Secrets 2000, and the principles of safeguarding as they apply to Adults-at-risk in relation to your work.

Recognise the types and signs of abuse and neglect.

Ensure the Nimbuscare Safeguarding Lead is alerted to, and kept fully informed of, any concerns you may have in relation to safeguarding adults, children and young people.

Adhere to Nimbuscare and local Child Protection and Safeguarding Adult policies and procedures.

Learning and development

You will participate in any training programme implemented by Nimbuscare as part of this employment, such training to include

Participation in individual performance reviews, including maintaining a record of own personal and or professional development. Working in conjunction with senior management, assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate. Develop and utilise a written Personal Development Plan. Make effective use of learning opportunities within and outside the workplace, evaluating their effectiveness and feeding back relevant information. Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments. Undertake mandatory and statutory training as required.

Team working

Understand own role and scope in the organisation and identify how this may develop over time. Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working. Accept delegation from senior staff, prioritise own workload and ensure effective time management strategies are embedded in own practice. Participate in team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care. Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance. Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence of those taking on delegated duties.

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, customers entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately. In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, you may have access to confidential information relating to customers and their carers, Nimbuscare staff and other healthcare workers. You may also have access to information relating to Nimbuscare as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential. Information relating to customers, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of Nimbuscare may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with Nimbuscare policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Be aware of your responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulations GDPR.

Health & Safety:

You will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Nimbuscare Health and Safety Policy, to include:

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to guidelines Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks. Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills. Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards. Reporting potential risks identified.

Equality and Diversity

You will support the equality, diversity and rights of customers, carers and colleagues, to include

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Nimbuscare procedures and policies, and current legislation. Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of customers, carers and colleagues. Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Quality

You will strive to maintain quality within Nimbuscare, and will

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk. Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions Effectively manage own time, workload and resources. Work within own limitations and experience. Be aware of and co-operate with audit. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs. Portray a professional image at all times.

Communication

You should recognise the importance of effective communication and will strive to

Communicate effectively with other team members,customers and carers. Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

IT Skills (MS office / Systmone / EMIS) Highly developed clinical reasoning skills Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ability to demonstrate problem solving with effective decision-making skills, supported by a best practice approach. Able to work autonomously and as part of a team.

Desirable

Evidence of Statutory and Mandatory Training

Personal Attributes

Essential

The ability to prioritise effectively Able to work under pressure Flexible Self-motivated Ability to use own initiative

Qualifications

Essential

Degree in Mental Health and Social Care or equivalent Current Professional Registration (NMC / HCPC ) Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

Prescribing Qualification

Experience

Essential

Experience of Triage / Telephone Assessment Minimum 1 years' experience post registration of working with adults with mental health needs in Primary Care Sound knowledge of the national agenda for mental health Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act. Sound knowledge of community care issues, local health and social structures, functions and boundaries.

Desirable

Experience of Multidisciplinary working

Physical Skills

Essential

VDU use Own transport

---