Mental Health Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Protected CPD time

Training pathways and leadership

Nurse Training Scholarships

Induction and preceptorship programmes

Job summary

Livewell Southwest invites applications for a Band 5 key worker within its city-wide Community Mental Health Service, focusing on adults with severe and enduring mental illness. The role emphasises assessment, care planning, risk management and therapeutic interventions in home and community settings.

You will work under supervision, engage in MDT collaboration, and contribute to professional development and audits while maintaining high standards of care and documentation.

Qualifications

• Mental health nursing qualification and current registration with NMC/HPC/SoW England by profession.
• Experience with adults who have severe and enduring mental illness and complex needs.
• Ability to work within a MDT and supervise junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide Band 5 key worker support for assessment, care planning, risk management and therapeutic interventions.
• Maintain a caseload of adults with high mental health complexity in homes and community settings.
• Liaise with service users, carers and professionals; supervise Band 3 staff and supervise junior workers.

Skills

Assessment

Risk assessment

Crisis management

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Communication

Education

RMN/Dip HE/BSc in mental health nursing

Occupational therapy or social work degree

Job description

A Band 5 key worker post in Livewell Southwest's city-wide Community Mental Health Service, working with adults who have severe and enduring mental illness and complex, high-risk needs. The work centres on assessment, care planning, risk management and therapeutic intervention in people's homes and community settings, with supervision of junior staff. Weekend and on-call work is described both as excluded and as part of a seven-day rota, so confirm the pattern. Registration in nursing, social work or occupational therapy is needed, and visa sponsorship may not be available.

What the job involves

• Key worker for assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of care for people with severe and enduring mental health conditions
• Maintain a caseload of clients with significant mental health complexity
• Assess new referrals at home or in clinic and carry out caseload reviews to support recovery
• Complete therapeutic interventions within a trauma-informed service
• Risk assess and manage complex needs with the MDT, including risk formulation and care plans
• Provide caseload supervision and line management for Band 3 practitioners, and supervision of junior staff such as community and peer support workers
• Liaise with and maintain relationships with service users, carers, relatives and professionals, including Adult Social Care, the Home Treatment Team and crisis services
• Promote positive risk to support independence and autonomy of choice
• Practise within the legal and ethical framework of mental health legislation
• Keep clinical records up to date in line with NMC or HPC guidelines and Livewell policies
• Contribute to professional development, appraisal, performance review and recruitment
• Take part in clinical audit of the CMHS, including annual Personalised Care Framework and health records audits

What’s required

Qualifications

• Mental health nursing qualification (RMN, Dip HE or BSc)
• Occupational therapy degree, or social work degree, PG Diploma or MA

Registration & licences

• Current professional registration (NMC, HCPC or Social Work England, by profession)

Experience

• Working with adults with a history of severe and enduring mental illness
• Multi-disciplinary working

Skills & knowledge

• Assessment, risk assessment and crisis management
• Planning and implementing community care packages for people with mental health problems
• Managing a caseload to Livewell record-keeping standards
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act, confidentiality and the Personalised Care Framework
• Knowledge of NICE guidance and evidence-based practice
• Knowledge of psychiatric illness, especially schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum, and relevant nursing care

Other

• Working autonomously within a team, including lone working
• Independent travel between sites, including areas without public transport
• Communication, liaison and leadership skills
• Self-management, stress management, flexibility and reliability

Nice to have

• Mentorship or equivalent experience
• Experience within a community mental health setting
• Specific therapeutic interventions
• Positive risk management
• Group interaction skills
• Networking with other agencies
• Experience of SystmOne or EPCF patient records
• Good working knowledge of the Care Quality Commission

What’s offered

• Protected CPD time
• Training pathways and leadership programmes
• Funding for qualifications such as the Care Certificate
• Nurse Training Scholarships
• Induction and preceptorship programmes