The role

As a Lead Practitioner, you’ll provide experienced clinical input across the team, supporting people with complex needs and helping the service respond effectively when urgent or crisis situations arise.

You’ll:

• Undertake urgent and priority mental health assessments, including comprehensive risk assessment
• Make and coordinate clinical decisions during crisis situations
• Help maintain patient safety and recognise and respond appropriately to potential harm, abuse or neglect
• Provide clinical advice on complex issues to colleagues and professionals from other disciplines
• Take responsibility for people requiring an urgent response when their usual Care Coordinator or Lead Professional is unavailable
• Support the delivery of Intensive Home-Based Treatment where required
• Liaise with partner services including the Police and A&E
• Support colleagues to deliver interventions in accordance with agreed care plans
• Contribute to specialist assessments relating to the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and adult safeguarding
• Maintain clear verbal and written communication regarding patient presentation and care
• Contribute to quality standards and a consistent approach to care across the team
• Maintain high professional and clinical standards at all times

What we’re looking for

You’ll be someone who:

• Is confident working with people experiencing complex mental health difficulties
• Can remain calm and make sound clinical decisions in urgent and crisis situations
• Has excellent communication skills and can work effectively with service users, carers and a wide range of partner organisations
• Is comfortable working autonomously while being a collaborative member of a multidisciplinary team
• Has strong assessment, risk management and clinical intervention skills
• Can provide guidance and support to colleagues
• Brings an inclusive, positive and person-centred approach to their work
• Understands safeguarding, clinical governance and the legal frameworks relevant to community mental health practice
• Is committed to maintaining high standards of safe, compassionate care

Working in Horsham

You’ll join a supportive multidisciplinary team working with people experiencing a range of mental health difficulties across the Horsham locality.

The role involves working closely with service users, carers, primary care, third-sector organisations and other statutory and non-statutory agencies, with Lead Practitioners playing an important role in maintaining continuity of care and responding when people’s needs become more urgent.

Because the role involves community working across the locality, you’ll need to be able to travel independently and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.

Developing your career in community mental health

Community mental health services are continuing to develop towards a more integrated model of care, with closer working between mental health services, primary care and third-sector partners.

You’ll be supported through regular supervision, reflective practice, mentoring, appraisal and training, with staff wellbeing prioritised alongside your professional development.

The team is also keen to hear from Band 5 or newly qualified nurses with previous mental health experience who are interested in developing towards a community mental health nursing role and would like to discuss potential development opportunities.