Community Mental Health Practitioner

Up to 37.5 hours per week but part time hours also available. Plymouth Home Treatment team are seeking a registered mental health practitioner.

We will particularly welcome applications from people with older adult experience (including dementia), acute mental health experience, or from other health sectors where transferable skills can be demonstrated.

The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team taking referrals, conducting biopsychosocial assessments and providing treatment interventions for patients 18 and over who are experiencing mental health crisis. This includes managing and administering medication and ensuring physical checks are routinely conducted. Good risk assessment and formulation are both vital. Some autonomous working may be required at times. High quality communication skills are essential. Home Treatment has been established in Plymouth for over 20 years and is a 24/7 service. The purpose is both to prevent unnecessary admissions and facilitate early or prompt discharges from Livewell's inpatient functional wards.

We are now looking to recruit an exceptional mental health practitioner (from any eligible professional background) to join our growing team. We are very interested in hearing from you if you have a commitment to supporting people to remain at home during their illness along with a positive can-do attitude.

Main duties of the job

• Typically 3 twelve hour shifts per week with an occasional shorter shift to make up hours. However different/part time working patterns and flexi-working arrangements are available. Please contact us and chat about it.
• To receive and triage referrals for those presenting in a mental health crisis
• To be part of a multi-disciplinary team approach responding to individuals requiring a same day response or signposting due to a mental health crisis
• To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers and patients and carers
• To provide skilled telephone-based support to help contain a crisis and avoid further escalation of an issue
• To offer an urgent mental health assessment in a location most convenient/appropriate for the patient; this may be in their home, GP surgery or Emergency Department.
• Identify the most appropriate intervention required for patient, with an emphasis on positive risk management, and refer as necessary.
• This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
• Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
• All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will be expected to be able to make clear clinical decisions based on the analysis of often complex presenting difficulties; this can include being the decision maker in terms of the onward care plan for patients experiencing crisis mental health needs.

To receive and triage referrals for the Home Treatment Team.

Undertake holistic and comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessment of patients referred to the service.

Utilise a range of highly specialised clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical/ home setting in which they are seen

Ability to match patient need with available skills and resources.

Work closely with peer support workers and volunteers to enhance patient experience.

Provide a consultation-liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams referring to the home treatment team. This will include giving specialist advice on care, treatment and patients management issues.

To be part of a multi-disciplinary team approach responding to individuals requiring a same day response or signposting due to a mental health crisis

To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers.

To provide skilled telephone-based support to help contain a crisis and avoid further escalation of an issue

To offer an urgent mental health assessment in a location most convenient/appropriate for the patient; this may be in their home, GP surgery or Emergency Department.

To provide MH assessment to patients deemed to be at risk of inpatient psychiatric admission, presenting with acute mental health disturbance of a functional nature.

Identify the most appropriate intervention required for patient, with an emphasis on positive risk management, and refer, as necessary.

Following assessments provide high quality assessment reports/letters to the relevant professionals. Monitor reports by junior staff to ensure they are of the same standards.

Maintain high standards of integrity when communicating with patients and others.

Demonstrate ability to use IT systems effectively including email and clinical systems used by the team.

Possess a good working knowledge of mental health legislation including Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards and use this in relation to advising and planning care, independently or with other professionals.

The post holder will provide nursing care and other interventions in the setting most appropriate to meet the patients needs.

Emergency judgments and clinical decision-making.

Maintain high standards of clinical care to patients.

Formulate care plans, implement, and evaluate them alongside patients and carers ensuring informed consent is obtained.

Demonstrates safe clinical skills when providing care for patients receiving specialist treatments e.g., commencement of Clozaril in the community or supporting a patient through ECT treatment.

To work within their professional registration NMC, HCPC only.

For full details please see the enclosed

Person Specification Additional requirements and attributes

• To participate in on- call structure. Ability to work flexible hours.
• Able to work alone and unsupervised following induction period
• Reflective, curious and creative in approach to patient care
• Responsible and self-motivated, tact, diplomacy and self-confident.
• Able to manage difficult and distressing situations effectively.
• Flexible and adaptable, ability to learn new skills and develop role.
• Display values of being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. commitment to the aims and values of the NHS combined with high personal integrity.
• Committed to developing and improving mental health services.
• Driver license suitable for use in the United kingdom

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

• Evidence of post registration development.
• Clinical Risk Assessment.
• Safeguarding Adults and Children
• Clinical Governance
• Care program approach & person-centered framework
• Psychological models of care and treatment
• Sound working knowledge of Mental Health Act (1983), Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (2005).
• Understanding of National guidelines and initiatives related to provision of mental health services
• Understanding of the provision of mental health care and recovery services in the community.
• Specialist knowledge of mental disorders and their impact on physical health.
• Solution focused therapy skills.
• Physical healthcare skills.
• Motivational interviewing skills.
• Microsoft Outlook.
• Culturally competent assessment and intervention skills
• SystmOne, Care First or other electronic records system also eCPA

Specific Skills

• Ability to prioritise workload
• Risk assessment and formulation skills, including safety planning.
• Robust and positive approach towards risk assessment
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to prioritise and reprioritise work to meet clinical demand.
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