Community Mental Health Lead Practitioner

Sussex Partnership Nhs Foundation Trust; Worthing; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Worthing is searching for an experienced Mental Health Social Worker to join their community rehabilitation service. The role involves supporting patients with severe mental health issues, particularly those experiencing psychosis, in a supportive multi-disciplinary environment. Excellent communication skills and an ability to travel independently are essential. The organization promotes flexible working to support work-life balance and values ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting patients with psychosis (lived experience encouraged).
• Good communication skills with all stakeholders.
• Ability to travel independently across the locality and a suitable vehicle for business purposes.
• Experience with duty work is an advantage.
• Completion of relevant safeguarding training required.

Responsibilities

• Maintain patient safety in collaboration with patients, carers, and team members.
• Hold a caseload for which you will be the lead practitioner and responsible for care delivery.
• Recognize signs of patient harm and take steps to protect the patient.
• Provide clinical advice on complex issues to the clinical team.
• Undertake urgent assessments with risk evaluations.
• Be responsible for decision making and coordination in crisis situations.
• Manage complex patients when their lead practitioner is absent.
• Liaise with other necessary services as required.
• Participate in setting quality standards for team services.
• Support the team in delivering interventions according to care plans.
• Maintain effective written and verbal communication strategies.

Skills

Good communication skills

Ability to travel independently

Experience supporting patients with psychosis

Job description

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part‑time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

The AAW Community Rehabilitation Service are looking for an experienced Mental Health Social Worker who has a keen interest in working in a supportive multi‑disciplinary setting with patients experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties, with a particular interest in psychosis and rehabilitation.

The usual hours of work are Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.

Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.

You will be joining a warm, friendly, highly supportive team of dedicated colleagues who work together to offer the best possible service to the people we see.

Excellent communication skills are needed in the role in regard to communicating with all stakeholders including patients, carers, third‑sector providers, internal and external agencies and services.

Ideally, we would prefer someone who has experience of supporting patients with psychosis (and we positively encourage applicants with lived experience). An inclusive and positive attitude is essential. If your current role includes duty work, that will be an advantage in your application. We always provide a robust induction and the wellbeing of our team is always thought about. Supervision, appraisal and training are all highly valued and prioritised.

Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.

SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.

Please contact [email protected] if you want to know more about the role.

Responsibilities

• To maintain patient safety, in collaboration with patients, carers and other team members
• To hold a caseload of patients for whom you will be lead practitioner and be responsible for delivering their care, and monitoring and assessing their mental health
• Recognise the potential for or signs of patient harm, abuse or neglect and take all reasonable steps to protect the patient
• Provide clinical advice on complex issues to other members of the clinical team and staff from other disciplines
• Undertake urgent and priority assessments with risk assessments
• Be responsible for decision making and coordination in a crisis situation
• Take responsibility for the management of complex patients who present to the team when their lead practitioner is absent from work and the patient requires an urgent response
• Liaise with other services (e.g. Police, A & E) as required
• Participate in the setting of quality standards and offer a consistent approach to people within the team
• Support the team to deliver a range of interventions in accordance with the agreed plan of care
• Maintain effective communication strategies, both written and verbal, to ensure high standards of care for patients are met
• Support members of the team with other specialist assessments, as required (e.g. application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005; knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, s42 Care Act regarding safeguarding adults)

Qualifications & Conditions

• Experience supporting patients with psychosis (lived experience encouraged)
• Good communication skills with all stakeholders
• Ability to travel independently across the locality and a suitable vehicle for business purposes
• Experience with duty work is an advantage
• Completion of relevant safeguarding training required