Mental Health Practitioner

Mental Health Practitioner (Band 6)

Based at Baghill House Health & Wellbeing Centre, Pontefract, this Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner will work within the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) in a fast paced, trauma informed environment.

Main duties of the job

Deliver evidence based interventions focused on recovery and inclusion, including Structured Clinical Management (SCM) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills, on both a group and individual basis. Provide care planning, positive risk management, and maintain accurate paperwork while participating in the team duty rota. Offer regular clinical support and supervision to ensure high standards of care.

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas:

• Manage own caseload in line with C.P.A. procedures and risk management protocols.
• Provide leadership to the Core Team in psycho social interventions for people and carers.
• Supervise and support other team members.
• Participate in service development and clinical governance structures.

Professional work:

• Assess needs and identify problems relevant to the care of people referred.
• Co plan and implement care programmes with the person and carers.
• Review effectiveness of care and initiate necessary actions.
• Advise and support the person and carers to promote health and well being.
• Recognise situations detrimental to health and initiate action.
• Maintain communication with all agencies involved in the person's care.
• Act as a member of a multi disciplinary team and manage enquiries and referrals for the CMHT.
• Maintain professional registration and demonstrate commitment to statutory codes of practice and CPD requirements.
• Act up in the absence of the team leader.

Administrative duties:

• Maintain accurate patient care records in accordance with professional codes of conduct.
• Participate in unit level policy formulation.
• Keep accurate mileage records.
• Manage caseload with due economy of cost and time.
• Schedule and order stock within budgetary constraints.
• Produce monthly statistics in line with trust directives.
• Keep the Management Team and colleagues informed of relevant developments.

Person Specification Personal Attributes

• Excellent time management.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Reliability, enthusiasm, motivation, and resourcefulness.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including extended hours.
• Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day (reasonable adjustments will be considered for those unable to drive).
• Professional attitude.

Training

• Assessment and care planning skills.
• Risk assessment and risk management.
• Relevant post registration qualifications and / or training.

Experience

• Significant experience in a mental health setting.
• Demonstrated skills in assessing and managing people with mental health problems.
• Experience of supporting, mentoring, and supervising colleagues or trainees.
• Knowledge and evidence of using IT systems.
• Experience of assessing and managing risk in a variety of settings.
• Proven ability to assess needs and strengths of people and carers.
• Experience of delivering therapeutic techniques.
• Experience working within an integrated multi disciplinary environment.
• Ability to support colleagues with caseload prioritisation during high clinical demand.
• Experience promoting and developing links with other professionals.
• Evidence of national guidance knowledge (e.g. NICE, CQC, CQUIN).
• Experience working holistically with adults, addressing co existing mental and physical health needs.

Qualifications

• RMN: Current NMC registration.
• Social Worker/Occupational Therapist: Current Social Work England / HCPC registration.
• Experience of mentoring and supporting learners.
• Practice Education / Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate.

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Working knowledge of recent government legislation (Mental Health Act, Health & Safety, Care Programme Approach, Care Act, Safeguarding).
• Ability to work within Principles of Clinical Governance.
• Proven partnership working with service users and carers.
• Awareness of equality and diversity and ability to incorporate it into care planning.
• Ability to act up in the absence of the team leader.
• Knowledge of audit processes.
• Experience of carer services and issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Specialist knowledge in dual diagnosis, peri natal mental health, psychosis, personality disorder, etc.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. Satisfactory sickness record over the previous two years.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups - we value diversity and want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve.