Forensic Community Mental Health Practitioner (East)

Transformationunitgm; London; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust is seeking dedicated Band 6 Mental Health Practitioners to join its Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service. You will manage a caseload of service users, facilitating care and ensuring their safety and well-being through comprehensive planning and clinical assessment. The position offers supportive training, considerable professional development opportunities, and a commitment to compassionate care.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Generous holiday entitlement (starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays)

Access to NHS discount schemes

Fully funded lifelong learning opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience of working alongside people with complex health issues.
• Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Work with service users under the care of the Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service.
• Develop care and recovery plans for individual service users.
• Monitor progress and adapt treatment plans as needed.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Risk assessment

Therapeutic relationships

Collaboration with teams

Care planning

Education

Registered Practitioner with current registration

Job description

Main area Band 6 Mental Health Nurse/OT or Social Worker Grade NHS AFC: Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Monday to Friday) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 354-FH-20533

Employer Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust Employer type NHS Site The Firs, Hellingly Town East Sussex Salary £37,338 - £44,962 Per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 03/07/2025 23:59

Forensic Community Mental Health Practitioner (East)

NHS AFC: Band 6

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for two experienced Mental Health Nurse s , Social Worker s/SALT/ Occupational Therapist s to play a key role in a new development within the Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service (FOLS).

We are currently seeking 2 x Mental Health Practitioners, to join our skilled multidisciplinary team. Y ou will use your skills and experience to carry a caseload of service users across the service who have been identified by the teams as having the potential to work towards community inclusion and recovery.

The FOLS team delivers specialist interventions and risk assessments and establishes safe onward care and treatment pathways for those leaving secure care into the community. The team also offers a Risk Advice Forum.

We have a positive supervision and appraisal culture, and value staff training and development. .

Main duties of the job

The role of the Mental Health Practitioner is to work in partnership with individual service users who are presenting with complex health presentations, whilst under the care of the Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service (FOLS).

The post holder will always work to promote the safety and well-being of service users, developing packages of care and recovery plans to enable the service user to lead a fulfilling life.

The post holder will assess, plan, implement care, and provide discharge planning, whilst working closely with carers, families and partner agencies to facilitate this.

The post holder will demonstrate an understanding of clinical interventions relevant to the service, including delivering specialist advice, consultation, education, training and implementing evidence-based practice.

They will also provide clinical supervision to junior staff and students.

Working for our organisation

About the Trust:

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people, and adults across Sussex. SPFT is rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by CQC. In our staff survey:

• 82% agree that care for patients is our top priority
• 70% highlight flexible working opportunities as key to satisfaction at work
• 79% report feeling able to make improvement to improve the work within their team
• 77% identify opportunities to show initiative in their roles

About Sussex:

• Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there's always new experiences to be enjoyed
• Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
• With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure

As a practitioner in our team we can offer you:
Access to numerous wellbeing and support programmes
Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development
Reimbursed parking
Access to a host of NHS discount schemes (including gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars)
A position within a trust rated as 'Outstanding' for caring and 'Good' overall by the CQC
Generous holiday entitlement (dependent on length of NHS service) starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays
NHS Pension contributions

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

· To be a core member of the team, using specialist health assessments.

· To provide a highly specialised range of clinical interventions relevant to the service and have knowledge of evidence-based models of practice.

· To deliver care under the Care Programme Approach (CPA), taking on the role of care co-ordinator/lead practitioner and working within the CPA policy delivering standards set out in the Trust CPA policy.

· To manage a caseload of service users with complex health needs.

· To work in partnership with the individual service user and their families and carers as

appropriate to ensure the delivery of the care plan, and to enable the development of a

plan to facilitate their safety, promote their well-being and support their independence

And inclusion in the community, by using recognised age-appropriate self-management

tools where applicable. This may include working closely with partner agencies such as

voluntary sector agencies, schools and colleges which may be able to more

appropriately help the service user complete these tools.

· To develop holistic care plans that meet the needs of the individual and their family/carers as appropriate and that are focused on strengths and are outcome based.

· To plan and implement service-user centred individual, family and group interventions, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.

· To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment to measure progress and ensure

effectiveness of intervention.

· To be aware of prescribed medication for each service user. Refer to medical and nursing professionals for advice/treatment as appropriate.

· To discuss with the service user and when appropriate, with their carers, their health

problems and how they see and understand them, facilitating a process of developing

their understanding and maintaining their hope for the future.

· To promote the empowerment of individual service users to manage their health as much as possible and use Self Directed Support / direct payments as indicated.

· To work with carers and family members, offering carers assessments and providing

support and information to them as indicated. Signposting to third sector agencies to

ensure they receive appropriate advice and support. Advising them about the triggers

around risk factors relating to the service user, within the boundaries of confidentiality.

· To assertively engage with service users, always striving to develop good therapeutic relationships.

· To monitor risk, progress and where necessary compliance including the service users

views to their care and treatment and when appropriate to work in partnership with the

service user's family and carers. To carry out assessments of client's work/educational /

vocational and housing needs/aspirations and ensure that these are met were

appropriate.

· To carry out carers assessments and implement a plan of care accordingly, where appropriate.

· To work closely and in partnership with colleagues in the team and other services within the Trust in a collaborative way, ensuring that decisions are made that ensure the best care for service users and that there is a seamless pathway.

· To know how to access appropriate services and develop effective networks and channels of communication.

· To keep abreast of local resources; third sector partners, primary care, housing, education, social care and other statutory organisations to ensure that the service user is able to navigate the full health and social care system.

· To establish robust communication networks with clients’ carers and other health workers and agencies.

· To attend meetings and case conferences as relevant to the job description and role.

· To promote awareness of the professional role within the team and across the service.

· To demonstrate effective communication skills with people in an age-appropriate way and those whose understanding may be impaired.

· Communicate effectively with junior staff on a timely basis ensuring systems exist so that

staff are informed.

· To apply highly specialist skills and knowledge to establish professional

competence and fitness to practice.

· To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and

external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.

Practice Development, including professional development of others

· Ensure best practice is promoted and disseminated appropriately.

· Support a team-based learning culture.

· Facilitate local multi-disciplinary learning groups and practice development initiatives.

· Contribute to the induction, training of students and other staff both within or external to

the Trust.

· Be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of students, on

· placement within the Trust, as appropriate.

· Act as a Practice Supervisor/Assessor/ Mentor/Preceptor with the relevant experience/training.

· To fully participate in the Trust’s performance review, appraisal and personal development planning process on a regular basis.

· To achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.

· Review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal in line with local guidelines.

· To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisal for junior staff.

· To assist in the selection of staff and participate in their induction as required.

· To provide effective leadership within the team, speciality groups and at professional networks.

· To represent the professional lead/senior manager at meetings as required.

Research and Development

· To undertake research and/or audit projects relevant to the service, disseminating

findings at local level.

· To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and

research projects.

· To participate in the operational planning, implementation of policy and service development within the team, leading on delegated projects.

· To participate in the delivery of the Trust strategy, and your professional strategy within Forensic Healthcare, and development plan and care group strategies.

· To use research in practice and developing research work from one's own practice.

· To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist reports relevant to the service.

· To keep accurate and timely electronic record of each contact, using Care Notes and other software programmes used by the Trust. Complete outcome measures as required.

· To adhere to the Code of Conduct, and Professional Standards and Ethics, for the post holder's profession and comply with local and national standards of practice.

· To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of service users and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

· To contribute in the Trust and professional clinical and social care governance

arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice

standards.

· To apply national guidelines/ legislation relating to health and social care in mental health service provision.

· To participate in clinical and social care governance care group forums as required.

· To ensure performance targets and standards are met.

· To complete clinical outcome measures as required e.g. HoNOS

· To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained within the clinical

setting.

· To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained amongst junior staff.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Practitioner with current registration (mental health/LD/Adult/Social Work/OT), appropriate to the job role
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge/Experience

• Significant post qualifying experience in the relevant care group
• Experience of working alongside people with psychosis and complex health and social care problems in the designated care group
• Experience of managing a caseload
• Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
• Experience of working consultatively with professionals
• Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments
• Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies
• Experience of working within the CPA process
• Understanding of clinical governance
• Previous experience of working in the community

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children’s social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.

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.

Name Mardel Peppos Job title Service Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0300 304 0248 Additional information

For any information or to arrange informal visits , please contact

Mardel Peppos - Service Manager

[e-mail]

Marisa Marrocco - Clinical Nurse Specialist

[e-mail]