Assistant Practitioner

North London Nhs Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

North London NHS Foundation Trust supports a Community Mental Health approach focused on recovery, social inclusion, and holistic care. The post holder will participate in assessment, care delivery, and direct service user support within a multi-disciplinary team.

The role emphasises group activities, care planning, and engagement of service users, with supervision and flexible location requirements across North London boroughs.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Mental Health Practice or NVQ 3 with post-qualification study
• Experience planning and facilitating groups for mental health service users
• Experience or willingness to undertake training in de-escalation and safe handling

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to an allocated group of service users under supervision
• Assist in planning, coordinating and delivering care as part of the multi-disciplinary team
• Maintain timely and accurate patient records under supervision and in line with policy

Skills

Group facilitation

De-escalation training

Education

Diploma in Mental Health Practice

NVQ level 3 in Mental Health

Degree in Psychology or related field

Job description

Job summary

North London Foundation Trust Community Mental Health Core Teams provide a holistic, recovery oriented, biopsychosocial approach, supporting people with mental illnesses, in partnership with primary care, other community NHS providers and the voluntary sector. Building support systems that reach the whole mental health population with a focus on prevention and sustained recovery delivered by multi-agency collaboration. Each population unit is based on the footprint of Primary Care Networks, bringing together NHS, voluntary sector, peer support and community organisations. These relationships will be central to the community mental health model. The post holder, reporting to a senior clinician or their nominated deputy, is responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of assessment, care, or care services to service users as part of a multi-disciplinary team. They will carry out a range of practical tasks, including direct service user care, identified as part of the service users' care plan or care pathways. The focus of the role will be that of supporting 'social inclusion', recovery and service user engagement. The post holder will provide direct support to an allocated group of service users as allocated and delegated by the pathway lead or a more senior member of staff. They may, under supervision, take on a key worker role or specified elements of this role for a designated group of service users.

Main duties of the job

• To be aware of and assist in meeting the psychological, social, physical, recreational, and spiritual needs of all service users. To recognise and value service users as individuals, recognising the importance of always maintaining the service user's dignity. To ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity that is supportive of service users and their carers.
• Actively participate in the holistic person-centred support of service users.
• To maintain timely and accurate patient written/electronic records under supervision and in line with Trust and service line policy and procedure.
• To ensure that care is delivered using the recovery approach.
• Using DIALOG+ to coproduce and review allocated service users' health and social care needs.
• To support with the planning and delivery of group activity for service users, including psychosocial and therapeutic support
• To support with the planning and delivery of psycho-social group activities as directed by your supervisor

About us

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy:

• We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
• With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
• We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
• We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.

Why NLFT?

• We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
• We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
• NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
• Excellent internal staff network

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will provide direct support to an allocated group of service users as allocated and delegated by the pathway lead or a more senior member of staff. They may, under supervision, take on a key worker role or specified elements of this role for a designated group of service users. The job description is written as an indication of the nature and scope of duties and responsibilities. Additional competencies may be required to fulfil the needs of specific areas and client groups. It is not intended as a fully descriptive list and does not include specific skills or therapeutic interventions that may be required of the specialist service area. The job holder will be expected to carry out other duties assigned by the team, which are appropriate to the grade.

Person Specification

Essential & Desirable Criteria

Essential

• Diploma in Mental Health Practice OR NVQ level 3 in Mental Health with post qualification evidences of further study / additional training to diploma level OR NVQ 4 in Mental Health OR Degree level qualification in relevant subject e.g. Psychology OR Evidence of equivalent.
• Skills in planning and facilitating groups for mental health service users.

Desirable

• Experience of mental health problems as a service user or carer
• Experience of training others Evidence of having used your specific technical skill in a variety of therapeutic settings

Essential

Essential

• Minimum of one year experience working in a mental health setting. To have experience of, or be willing to undertake, training in de-escalation, breakaway and control and restraint techniques as appropriate to the service environment

Desirable

• Formal technical qualification above basic level (i.e. City and Guilds final certificate, NVQ level 3) or equivalent plus knowledge and skills acquired through experience e.g. IT or gardening to diploma equivalent level.

Essential & Desirable

Essential

• Demonstrate a sound understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems Previous experience of working in a Health or Social Care setting in a paid or voluntary position

Desirable

• Ability to teach and adapt activities for people with a range of physical conditions and cognitive abilities Demonstrate an understanding of the sections of the Mental Health Act and its use in practiceExperience of mental health problems as a service user or carer Experience of training others Evidence of having used your specific technical skill in a variety of therapeutic settings

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.