Mental Health And Wellbeing Practitioner

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board; Pontypool; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is developing a brand-new Mental Health & Wellbeing service. Successful candidates will undergo daytime training, then work a 24/7 shift pattern. Experience in mental health support, whether face-to-face or remote, is welcomed, with competence assessed via telephone call scenarios.

Welsh or English speakers are encouraged to apply; Welsh language skills are desirable. The board offers extensive training and a patient-centered, inclusive work environment.

Qualifications

• Education at degree level or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in a relevant field.
• Awareness of social determinants affecting mental health and wellbeing.
• Understanding of common mental health and neurodevelopment conditions.
• Awareness of barriers faced by people with mental health issues.
• Understanding NHS policies, procedures and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health or wellbeing support to people calling the service, including triage and risk assessments.
• Offer emotional support via phone/video and guide self-management of distress.
• Recognise when additional support beyond telephone delivery is required.
• Work with people from diverse backgrounds with culturally competent practice and equality considerations.
• Engage in regular reviews, questionnaires and supervision; adapt accordingly.

Skills

Strong communication

Excellent telephone skills

IT proficiency

Ability to work without supervision

Analytical and judgement skills

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Evidence of CPD

Job description

Job summary

We currently have an amazing opportunity for anyone experienced in providing support to people who experience mental health issues or emotional distress to get involved in the development of a brand-new service. At the start of employment, successful candidates will be required to complete a comprehensive training package during the daytime. The service will be operational 24/7 and so successful candidates will be required to work a full shift rotation on completion of the training period. If you have experience of supporting people, whether that be face to face or over the telephone, and you have a passion for improving and shaping services, we would really like to hear from you. Please note that the selection process for these roles will include an assessment of competence in managing a difficult phone call.

Main duties of the job

• Mental Health & Wellbeing Practitioners provide effective mental health support to people calling the service who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. This may include triage and risk assessments, and brief psychosocial interventions.
• Working via telephone and video calls, Mental Health & Wellbeing Practitioners will provide effective emotional support for people through the use of compassionate conversations and, when appropriate, encourage and guide effective self-management of emotional distress.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Practitioners will be able to recognise when a person requires more support than is possible to be delivered over the phone.
• Post holders will work with people from different cultural backgrounds and of all ages and should be committed to culturally competent practice and aware of issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion.

As this role will be evaluated to understand whether it needs to adapt, successful candidates will also be required to engage in regular reviews, e.g., completing questionnaires, giving feedback, in addition to their usual supervision. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this role; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your speciality or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff. We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work. Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Knowledge

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
• Evidence of CPD in relevant field
• Awareness of social determinants of mental health & wellbeing
• An understanding of common mental health and neurodevelopment conditions
• Good understand of barriers that people with mental health issues face
• Understanding of the issues affecting people from BAME community and those with protected characteristics
• Good understanding of the impact of stigma and discrimination

Desirable

• Understanding of the services that are available to support people in mental health crisis
• Understanding of the need to use evidence-based psychosocial interventions

Experience

Essential

• Experience of providing mental health or wellbeing support to people
• Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
• Experience of prioritising tasks within a busy and pressured environment
• Experience of utilising evidenced based psychosocial interventions
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team, and/or collaboratively with other organisations/agencies

Desirable

• Experience of providing mental health and wellbeing support to people in mental health crisis or experiencing emotional distress
• Experience of providing telephone assessment/support
• Experience working in a service where agreed targets are in place, demonstrating clinical outcomes
• Evidence of working in the local community
• Experience of working in NHS Primary Care Services/mental health settings/ care homes/ in-patient services

Aptitude/Abilities

Essential

• Able to adapt skills to working remotely (i.e. via telephone/video calls)
• To be reflective and self-aware whilst working with people
• To work well within a team and foster good working relationships
• To develop positive therapeutic relationships with people experiencing mental health issues
• Strong and adaptable communication skills to suit varying environments and situations (written and verbal)
• Ability to think laterally and prioritise effectively
• Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
• High level of analytical and judgement skills
• Assertiveness skills
• Ability to work without direct supervision
• Competent assessment and/or support skills
• Excellent telephone and IT skills
• Ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
• Ability to recognise own wellbeing needs and utilise skills to ensure wellbeing needs are met

Desirable

• Ability to speak Welsh
• Knowledge of NHS policies, procedures and guidelines
• Knowledge of outcome measures and their use in clinical audit
• Ability to work effectively with interpreters
• Knowledge of different mental health models and research/evident based treatment
• Competent in assessment of risk
• Ability to work independently within the boundaries of clinical supervision
• Ability to appropriately challenge and resolve conflict

Other

Essential

• High level of enthusiasm and motivation
• Ability to use supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Have a flexible approach with working hours to cover a 24/7 shift pattern

Values

Essential

• Proactive and innovative approach to work
• Willingness to support others and show empathy to their situation
• Self-motivated and able to demonstrate good time management and prioritisation skills
• Committed and adaptable with a professional approach to work

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.