Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

• To undertake holistic assessments of service users with mental health issues.
• To promote the work of the Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH).
• To maintain up-to-date clinical records and documentation in line with agreed local policies and procedures, NMC guidelines and CNWL policy.
• To respond to duty referrals on a daily basis and ability to prioritise urgent referrals
• To ensure that own professional practice and clinical knowledge is maintained at all times in accordance with NMC guidelines and CNWL policies and procedures
• To work in partnership with the primary care team, statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that the appropriate care needs are met.
• To maintain patient safety, in collaboration with patients, carers and other team members
• Responsible for recognising the potential for or signs of patient harm, abuse or neglect and taking all reasonable steps to protect the patient.
• Provides clinical advice on complex issues to other members of the clinical team and staff from other disciplines.
• Undertakes urgent and priority assessments, including comprehensive risk assessments
• Responsible for decision making and coordination in a crisis situation.
• Support service users’ short term who present to the team when their Care Coordinator / Lead Professional is absent from work and the person requires an urgent response.
• To liaise with other services i.e. Police, A & E, Single Point of Access.
• Responsible for participating in the setting of quality standards and offering a consistent approach to people open within the team.
• Maintain an effective reporting standard, verbally and in writing on patient conditions.
• Support members of the team with other specialist assessments, as required for example, application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005; Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, s42 Care Act regarding Safeguarding Adults and Making Safeguarding Personal.
• To maintain professional standards of care at all time
• To supervise junior staff members and to support students on placement
• Undertake and maintain all essential training to role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Professional Qualification at degree level or higher in the relevant field
• Professionals Registered (NMC, OT or SW) and evidence of Post Qualification Continued Professional Development

Desirable criteria

• Master Level Degree or other specialist Qualification relevant to the post

Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to participate in the work of the M.D.T. and contribute to the work of the team
• To demonstrate knowledge of a range of therapeutic assessment and interventions available to reduce distress for individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis (risk assessment, MSE, capacity assessment, Full needs assessments)
• Ability to teach and supervise qualified and unqualified staff
• To demonstrate their understanding of legislation
• Ability to assess and support individuals experiencing acute mental illness distress and crisis
• Ability to determine priorities against conflicting demands
• Ability to reflect on practice and interpersonal relationships
• Verbal, non-verbal communication skills and telephone skills.
• Skills in a range of therapeutic interventions
• Skills in psycho-social treatment options
• Demonstrate clinical leadership
• Negotiating skills

Desirable criteria

• Experience of supervising and managing staff junior staff
• Management and organisation skills
• Experience in undertaking quality improvement projects and auditing

Experience

Essential criteria

• Post registration experience, and some experience working in community mental health settings
• Experience of working alongside people with complex health problems in the designated care group
• Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
• Experience of working consultatively with professionals
• Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments, care plan and mental state examinations
• Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies
• Understanding of clinical governance
• Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions
• Previous experience of working in the community
• Ability to work independently

KNOWLEDGE/ UNDERSTANDING

Essential criteria

• Mental Health and legislation
• Needs of client group and their carers
• Evidence based practice
• Clinical governance
• The principles of whole team approach
• Understanding of CMHT practices

Desirable criteria

• Standard Setting and Audit
• Evidence based service development

Other

Essential criteria

• Potential to embrace new concepts
• Courteous and respectful of the client group
• Assertive independent, flexible and self aware