Crisis Care Nurse

The Methodist Church in Britain; Hounslow; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

West London NHS Trust is seeking a Crisis Care Nurse to join the crisis assessment and treatment team. You will assess, coordinate and deliver urgent mental health care, including brief interventions and home treatment, with gatekeeping for inpatient wards and the community recovery house.

The role requires registration in mental health nursing or equivalent, post-registration development, and experience in acute or community crisis care.

Qualifications

• Post-registration professional development evidence.
• Registration with NMC/Social Work England/HCPC as applicable.
• Experience in acute mental health or community crisis care.
• Ability to work independently within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in risk management.

Responsibilities

• Assess, coordinate and deliver crisis mental health care for referred patients.
• Provide brief interventions and home treatment within a 12-week window.
• Maintain gatekeeping for inpatient wards and community recovery house in a 24/7 rota.
• Contribute to developing care pathways and plans for urgent and crisis care.
• Respond rapidly to crises via Single Point of Access and reduce A&E presentations.
• Liaise with carers and statutory and third sector services.
• Provide supervision to junior colleagues and offer clinical education.
• Maintain up-to-date medicines management and national/local guidance.
• Record assessments and report findings to relevant teams.
• Work under pressure and manage distressing situations with empathy.

Skills

English language proficiency

MS Office literacy

Telephone manner

Typing speed

Clinical supervision

Risk management awareness

Mental health law knowledge

Education

Health-related degree or equivalent

Post-registration professional development

Tools

RiO electronic patient record system

Job description

This Crisis Care Nurse post sits in the crisis assessment and treatment team at West London NHS Trust. The post holder assesses, coordinates and delivers urgent care, including brief interventions of up to 12 weeks, community crisis work, pathway planning and gatekeeping for inpatient wards and the recovery house, with home treatment as a key focus. Its 24/7 rota, supervision of junior colleagues and Single Point of Access links set it apart. Registration as a mental health nurse, social worker or occupational therapist decides fit.

What the job involves

• Assess, coordinate and deliver crisis mental health care for patients referred to the team, including pathway planning
• Provide brief interventions of up to 12 weeks and community crisis intervention, with an emphasis on home treatment
• Maintain gatekeeping for inpatient wards and the community recovery house within a 24/7 rota
• Contribute to developing services, care pathways and care plans for urgent and crisis care
• Work with the Single Point of Access to respond rapidly to crises and reduce unnecessary A&E presentations
• Liaise with carers and statutory, non-statutory, emergency and third sector services
• Deliver supervision to junior colleagues
• Give clinical advice and support, promote evidence-based practice, act as a role model and provide education and training
• Contribute to assessment of physiological and psychological functioning, and to planning, delivery and monitoring of interventions and treatments
• Undertake and record assessments following protocols, with individuals' consent and regard for their dignity, wishes and beliefs
• Report assessment findings to those who need them, and offer insight into service users' health, wellbeing and treatment needs
• Keep up to date with Trust medicines management policy and national and local guidance

What’s required

Qualifications

• Evidence of post-registration further development

Registration & licences

• Registration as a mental health nurse (NMC), social worker (Social Work England) or occupational therapist (HCPC)

Experience

• Post-qualification experience in acute mental health and/or community, crisis care or liaison psychiatry
• Relevant post-registration experience, working independently and within multidisciplinary teams
• Risk management experience and experience of receiving supervision

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of mental health law and of adult and child safeguarding
• High level written and spoken English, typing quickly and accurately, and MS Office literacy
• Excellent telephone manner

Checks & eligibility

• Full UK driving licence and willingness to drive pool cars

Other

• Able to work under pressure and manage potentially distressing situations
• Flexible, positive, empathetic, punctual with good attendance, and keen to learn and share learning
• Available for a shift rota covering 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Nice to have

• Degree in a health-related subject
• Qualification in psychosocial interventions in mental health, or a mentorship qualification
• KUF training
• Advanced assessment skills training
• Telephone triage experience in a Single Point of Access service
• Psychiatric liaison or crisis team experience
• Experience supervising staff and mentoring students
• Knowledge of the RiO record system and ability to speak a second language