Community Mental Health Practitioner - Canterbury

NHS; England; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking Community Mental Health Practitioners for a new model of care. The role involves providing person-centred interventions, fostering recovery, and collaborating with diverse teams to support service users with complex mental health needs. Applicants must be a Registered Mental Health Nurse or Occupational Therapist with a minimum of 2 years' experience. Full-time, part-time, and flexible working options are available.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years post-qualification experience.
• Experience working in a community team.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based interventions to promote recovery.
• Work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Support service users' self-determination and responsibility.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Empathy

Team collaboration

Crisis management

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered Occupational Therapist

MELPS (Mentoring and Enabling in a clinical setting)

Job description

Overview

Invicta Health in partnership with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) are seeking to recruit Community Mental Health Practitioners to be part of Mental Health Together.

What is Mental Health Together? In Kent and Medway, the community mental health transformation model has created a new service called Mental Health Together. It is a multi-agency offer, which means bringing all the services and agencies that support people with varying mental health needs much closer together. This ensures that people get the right care, without having to navigate service boundaries and without repeatedly telling their story. Mental Health Together will add new roles as part of a joined-up model of care which bridges the gap between Primary Care (GPs) and Community Mental Health (KMPT). It will treat people with complex mental health needs by providing person-centred, holistic care, removing barriers to access, involving service users and carers as equal partners, building in involvement and co-production at all levels of service design and delivery, and delivering needs-led and personalised trauma-informed care.

Salary: £37,338 to £44,962 a year. Location options include Thanet, South Kent Coast and Dartford areas. This post is permanent and offers full-time, part-time or flexible working arrangements.

Main duties

The Registered Mental Health Nurse / Occupational Therapist will be expected to deliver stepped care by providing a range of evidence-based interventions which promote recovery, social inclusion and normalization for service users who suffer from mental health problems. They will work in partnership with the MDT, CRHT, Acute Inpatient Services, other community teams, Primary Care and the Voluntary Sector to provide support and treatment to service users and facilitate the safe management of their needs within a range of community settings. The aim is to promote mental and physical health and prevent ill health by treating mental health problems effectively through evidence-based interventions that build on strengths, support choice and are underpinned by a single care plan within a model of care based on inclusivity, particularly for those with co-existing needs who experience marginalisation.

They will be a Registered Mental Health Nurse or Occupational Therapist responsible for patients allocated to them and will be involved in assessment, management planning and delivering care. The post will support peers and team leaders and be an effective team member whilst working on their own initiative. They will supervise Band 5 Nurses/OTs and pre-registered students and hold a mentoring qualification. A commitment to collaborative working and actively supporting and liaising with other health and social professionals is required.

Responsibilities

• Foster recovery through empowerment of service users and carers by using a strengths-based approach involving the service user and carer in the planning of their care with consistent supportive relationships that encourage increased self-determination and responsibility for their care.
• Offer a range of evidence-based interventions and risk management approaches enabling the service user and carers to reduce and manage symptoms and high-risk behaviour in relapse.
• Be proactive, innovative, and creative in delivering care, enabling the facilitation of service users’ recovery.
• Engage service users and carers in relapse prevention and risk management/contingency plans, providing interventions that maximize the service user’s ability to resolve relapse crises and prevent admission to hospital.
• Liaise with inpatient units to support discharge through appropriate pathways.
• Facilitate early discharge from both inpatients and the CRHT Team by providing regular, formal reviews.
• Deliver a flexible and responsive service through practice dictated by service users’ and carers’ needs.
• Work collaboratively and effectively with the MDT and in partnership with other agencies.
• Deliver high quality care and provide solutions and signposting to service users with severe and enduring mental health problems to support correct pathway access.
• Provide care within the Strength-Based Model of practice, maintaining service users within their own environment in the community.
• Act as an educator for service users and carers. Advise on issues of mental health to generate a positive approach to health and strengthen the service user’s capacity to manage illness, symptoms, and relapse.
• Respond swiftly to urgent referrals, providing interventions to prevent admission or re-admission.
• Work closely with carers and address health inequalities related to race, culture and sexual orientation.

Leadership

• Participate in the development of an effective team and productive working relationships throughout the organisation.
• Promote integrated health professional working internally and externally.
• Foster a positive and supportive team culture, handling potential conflict effectively.
• Engage with working parties and groups to improve service delivery, protocols and guidelines.
• Participate in the audit process and clinical governance agenda.
• Share knowledge through literature and practice development, and mentor new staff as required.
• Participate in staff performance reviews and model positive behaviour for colleagues.

Clinical Skills

• Know current relevant legislation; engage in regular clinical and professional supervision.
• Adhere to the NMC/HCPC professional codes of conduct and maintain registration relevant to the professional area.
• Act as a positive clinical role model while ensuring dignity and well-being of service users and carers.
• Ensure timely health checks and follow-up as necessary; sustain and improve knowledge and competence.
• Acknowledge and promote self-advocacy for service users and carers.

Communication

• Communicate effectively with MDT members regarding assessments, care plans, risk factors and signs of deterioration.
• Handle sensitive information professionally and communicate with clearly identified persons.
• Respond to emergencies in a clear, supportive and respectful manner.

Training

• Act as a mentor to students, facilitating their development and promoting high standards of nursing care.
• Support students to achieve learning needs and pursue ongoing professional development.
• Participate in mandatory training planning and annual appraisals with development plans tied to local health needs and organisational strategy.
• Support new staff integration and respond to changes in policies and guidelines.

Experience and Qualifications

Experience: Essential – Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience. Previous experience of working in a community team.

Qualifications: Essential – Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered Occupational Therapist (diploma or degree). MELPS (Mentoring and Enabling in a clinical setting).

Other requirements

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer

Invicta Health CIC, Laurel House, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3HH. Website: https://invictahealth.co.uk/