Rapid Response Practitioner

Sussex Partnership Nhs Foundation Trust; Crawley Down; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking experienced mental health professionals for its Rapid Response service across Sussex. You may work by telephone, virtually or on scene to assess crisis situations and develop onward care plans with a clear, person-centred approach.

The team operates 24/7 with long day and evening shifts; practitioners are supported by a community worker and operate alongside Blue Light Line to optimise access and reduce conveyance to A&E.

Qualifications

• Registered with NMC, Social Work England or HCPC and current registration.
• Post-qualification mental health service experience is essential.
• Mentorship course or ENB equivalent completed.
• Ability to manage risk and work in emotive environments is required.

Responsibilities

• Receive information from emergency colleagues and provide advice based on crisis presentation.
• Offer hear and treat intervention via telephone and, when needed, attend scene for a face-to-face assessment.
• Complete written records for each referral, intervention, and outcome.
• Advise police on alternative support to avoid S136 and ensure best outcomes.
• Lead clinical discussions and handovers; work with other agencies to achieve person-centred outcomes.

Skills

Professional registration

Verbal & written communication

Lead clinical discussions

Education

Degree/ Diploma with specialist qualification

Mentorship course / ENB equivalent

Tools

Trust IT systems

Electronic patient records

Job description

Job summary

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The Rapid Response service was established in November 2024, building on the success of the Blue Light team. We effectively support emergency services responding to individuals experiencing mental health crisis. Interventions are largely delivered in individuals' homes, avoiding unnecessary conveyance to A&E and reducing the use of Section 136 during operational hours.

We provide emergency responders with advice and the option to request on-scene attendance, resulting in more appropriate care and reducing the time emergency services spend managing mental health incidents in the community. We are looking for experienced mental health professionals to work across Sussex. You will be a responsive practitioner who carries out person centred interventions, assessments and develop an onward care plan that can address a mental health crisis. This could be on the telephone, virtually or 'at scene'. Practitioners will be accompanied by a community support worker who can provide basic first aid and assistance by providing support to carers and administrative tasks.

The service operates over 24 hrs, and Rapid Response practitioners currently work a mix of long days 10am-10pm and midday to midnight, 7 days a week.

They work in partnership with Blue Light Line who provide a single point of access to emergency responders giving information and clinical advice ensuring patients achieve the best outcomes and reduce the need for conveyance to A&E and alternatives to the use of S136

Main duties of the job

To receive information from emergency service colleagues, and give advice and support based on the clinical presentation of a person in crisis, including a self‑defined crisis.

To receive information from emergency service colleagues and based on the clinical presentation of the person offer either a 'hear and treat intervention' by speaking directly to a person in crisis on the telephone, and when appropriate their carers and loved ones. Or if required attend the scene to carry out a face‑to‑face person‑centred holistic assessment and formulate a care plan that addresses the presenting mental health need, and make any referrals required.

Complete written records that outline the presenting need for each referral, intervention offered and the outcomes.

When required, using clinical skills and knowledge, advise police colleagues on alternative means of support available to avoid the use of S136, offer least restrictive practice and gain the best outcomes for those in mental health crisis.

Advise paramedics on alternative pathways to mental health assessment without the need for conveyance to A&E when there is no medical need.

To have experience of and specialist knowledge on interventions to be able to lead in clinical area.

To demonstrate excellent communication skills and provide handovers of activity.

To work in partnership with other agencies to gain the best person‑centred outcomes for the individual.

About us

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.

Working in Sussex:
Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns
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

We'd love you to join our organisation that is rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the CQC. Our staff agree, in our recent staff survey 82% told us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.

Job responsibilities

In order to be a successful senior member in our team you will be:

• Registered with the NMC, Social Work England or HCPC
• Experience working in mental health services
• Knowledgeable of factors which can impact on safety and service user experience
• Knowledgeable of factors which can impact on safety for emergency service colleagues.

Shifts are long days and evenings over 7 days but we will consider flexible working. The shift requirements ensure this post has generous enhancements attached to it.

It is essential you have:

• Either experience in an Urgent Care setting, ideally a CRHT or psychiatric liaison
• Or experience of crisis assessment in any setting that provides a safety care plan.

Person Specification

Person Specification

verbal and written

Essential

• Registered Nurse, Social Work England or HCPC registered professional with current registration appropriate to the job role.
• Degree/diploma level supplemented by specialist qualification, training, experience, evidence of post registration training in relevant service area
• Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
• Extensive post qualifying experience in relevant service area
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Comprehensive knowledge of interventions specific to service area
• Awareness of Trust policies and service specification
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills with staff, patients, families, carers and professionals
• Ability to provide and receive highly complex and highly sensitive information from multiple stakeholders and formulate the appropriate intervention
• Demonstrate empathy and reassurance skills to patients in crisis / intervention
• Able to establish links with other services and professionals
• Able to effectively manage riskTo have a good knowledge of service objectives
• Able to lead clinical discussions in team
• Able to manage and delegate tasks
• To offer leadership and lead the team in absence of the service manager.
• Competent skills in use of PC for daily administrative tasks and able to use Trust IT systems to enter patient information, case notes, risk, Care Notes
• Physically fit to undertake duties related to service area and have an awareness of PMVA interventions
• Able to manage distressing or emotional situations involving staff and patients on a regular basis
• Awareness of policies relevant to workplace, ie lone working and able to manage and deal with incidents as per Trust Policy
• Ability to work in highly emotive and potentially hostile working environments on a regular basis
• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Trust and demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• To be a team player and be punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental illness

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.