CEN Practitioner

West London; Southall; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

West London NHS Trust is seeking a Band 6 Practitioner to join the Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) Service, covering Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham. You will manage a caseload, provide specialist care, and work within a multidisciplinary team to deliver evidence-informed interventions.

The role requires experience with adults with complex emotional needs in community settings and may involve SCM/MBT/DBT pathways. Training and development are encouraged.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree/ diploma level with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience.
• Core Mental Health Profession registered with an appropriate professional body (e.g., NMC, UKCP, HCPC or Social Work England)
• Clinical/post graduate management qualification or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level
• Qualification or equivalent experience in SCM, MBT practitioner level or DBT accreditation or a willingness to train.

Responsibilities

• Screen and assess referrals, undertake comprehensive assessments and formulations, develop care plans and provide therapeutic interventions, while holding a caseload of clients.
• Work with and build effective partnerships with other teams and services, contributing to joined-up care and effective pathways for people with Complex Emotional Needs.
• Contribute to compassionate, person-centred and clinically effective service development, supporting service objectives, quality improvement and new ways of working.

Skills

Risk assessment

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Clinical decision-making

Staff development

Education

Degree or Diploma (Social Work/Nursing/Occupational Therapy)

Professional registration (NMC/HCPC/UKCP/SWE)

Postgraduate management qualification

SCM/MBT/DBT accreditation or willingness to train

Job description

West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Practitioner to join the Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) Service, covering Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham.

The CEN Service is a specialist Tier 3 community service supporting adults experiencing complex emotional needs, including emotional instability, relationship difficulties and difficulties managing distress.

The role is open to professionals from Social Work, Nursing and Occupational Therapy backgrounds. Applicants should have significant experience working with adults with complex emotional needs in community settings, including experience of managing a caseload and working within a multidisciplinary team. Experience or training in Structured Clinical Management (SCM), DBT, MBT or other relevant therapeutic approaches would be desirable.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of specialist, relational and evidence-informed care.

Main duties of the job

The role will focus on clinical practice, working closely with the Band 7 Senior Practitioner and Team Manager to support the effective running and development of the CEN Service. You will screen and assess referrals, liaise with referrers, undertake comprehensive assessments and formulations, develop care plans and provide therapeutic interventions, while holding a caseload of clients.

You will work with and build effective partnerships with other teams and services, contributing to joined-up care and effective pathways for people with Complex Emotional Needs.

You will also contribute to compassionate, person-centred and clinically effective service development, supporting service objectives, quality improvement and new ways of working

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree/ diploma level with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience.
• Core Mental Health Profession registered with an appropriate professional body (e.g., NMC, UKCP, HCPC or Social Work England)
• Clinical/post graduate management qualification or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level
• Qualification or equivalent experience in SCM, MBT practitioner level or DBT accreditation or a willingness to train.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of working with adults with mental health problems in a variety of community settings
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working
• Experience of working with clients with a diagnosis of personality disorder
• Experience and skills in risk assessment and management
• Experience of inter-agency working
• Experience of the use of a variety of therapeutic tools
• Measurable track record in involving and motivating staff to improve performance.

Knowledge/skills

• Good knowledge of Risk Assessment procedures and skills to make significant clinical decisions based on this knowledge.
• Ability to undertake complex assessments and develop comprehensive clinical formulations.
• Ability to reflect on personal experience. Demonstrates capacity and willingness to use clinical supervision.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice, clinical governance and related knowledge for research and audit.
• Good knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to relevant fields.

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to West London NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, you will be required to undergo a pre-employment checks which can take between 4-8 weeks . After which your information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR ).

Please ensure you include email addresses for your referees which MUST be at supervisory or managerial capacity covering the last 3 years of employment to date to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

West London NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We encourage the thoughtful use of technology as a demonstration of strong time management and a commitment to innovation. However, we encourage applicants to personalise their recruitment application to showcase their unique skills and experiences.

While AI-generated content can be a helpful tool, relying solely on generic responses instead of highlighting your own strengths and achievements may impact the success of your application. The success of an application will always be assessed against the essential and desirable criteria for the role, so it is important to ensure that your application and any supporting information clearly demonstrate how you meet these requirements.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

At West London NHS Trust, we want you to support you to build a career you can be proud of and this starts before your first day with us. Our people live our values every day as they deliver, manage and work to improve our services to patients, carers, families and other professionals.

We’re committed to making our recruitment process clear and efficient. It’s in everyone’s interest that we get the very best people on board as soon as we can.