Senior Community Practitioner

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Croydon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health provider is seeking an experienced Registered Mental Health Nurse for a dynamic role in Croydon. You will conduct assessments, develop care plans, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide essential support to service users experiencing mental health challenges. The ideal candidate will possess strong skills in mental health care and a commitment to a diverse, inclusive environment. Building a career within our supportive framework offers professional development opportunities and generous benefits.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Generous pay and pensions

Career development support

Qualifications

• Experience conducting comprehensive needs assessments.
• Ability to provide tailored care plans and interventions.
• Commitment to confidentiality and diversity.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and develop tailored care plans.
• Provide short-term interventions to support recovery and wellbeing.
• Supervise and support community practitioners.
• Exercise autonomous professional judgment in managing cases.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues on care delivery.

Skills

Experience with mental health conditions

Ability to work autonomously

Strong communication skills

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse qualification

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN), Mental Health Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist looking to take the next step in your career? This is a fantastic opportunity to broaden your professional experience and deepen your expertise within a supportive and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team. We provide specialist mental health services to adults aged 18-65 living in the London Borough of Croydon. Our team offers timely assessments, expert advice, and tailored care planning for individuals experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and personality disorders.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and develop tailored care plans.


• Provide short-term interventions (up to 12 weeks) to support recovery and wellbeing.


• Signpost service users to appropriate external services and facilitate safe discharge to primary care where suitable.


• Supervise and support community practitioners, contributing to their development and ensuring high standards of care.


• Work collaboratively with a wide range of professionals and services on a daily basis, including: Multidisciplinary colleagues within the team; Other borough-based mental health teams; External agencies and primary care providers.


• Support the Team Leader and Service Manager in maintaining service delivery, including: Monitoring performance against key targets; Managing staff absences and ensuring adequate team coverage; Providing supervision to junior staff; Offering management support and leadership in the Team Leader's absence.

Autonomous Senior Practitioner Role

• Offer comprehensive, specialist, initial assessments and formulations to service users.


• Manage the provision of appropriate interventions/treatments to a small caseload of service users experiencing transitional mental health problems.


• Exercise autonomous professional judgement for assessment, coordination and transfer to the relevant team of a designated caseload.


• Provide comprehensive ongoing assessment and outcome monitoring of all allocated clients.


• Participate in the team assessment and duty rota; liaise closely with crisis services and emergency out of hours services; provide evidence-based care as outlined in NICE guidance.


• Attend regular clinical and management supervision and appraisal; provide specialist teaching and training of mental health professionals and other staff; undertake mentorship of students.


• Maintain standards of practice/Codes of Conduct (NMC/HCPC); ensure client confidentiality; attend clinical/managerial supervision; participate in performance reviews; maintain accurate and timely written records.


• Form and maintain effective working relationships with all services in the borough, maintain primary care liaison with aligned GP practices, and ensure user/carer views are incorporated into all care; ensure care is sensitive to a diverse population.


• Contribute to the development of best practice within the service; stay up to date with legislation and policies in Mental Health and Primary Care Services; promote health and safety for staff and the public; deputise in the absence of the clinical lead; undertake the role of duty senior regularly; undertake other duties as appropriate to grade as requested by the Clinical Service Lead.

Standards, Diversity & Equality

• All employees comply with statutory requirements and the Trust's employment policies; ensure information processed for patients and staff is kept confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.


• The Trust is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity. We welcome applicants from all sections of the community and all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to fairness, compassion, respect and dignity.

What to expect and applying

• This post is one of continual development; duties may change to reflect the organisation's needs.


• We encourage flexible working and consider varied arrangements where possible.


• All applications should be made online; read and understand the Job Description and Person Specification; your Statement should reflect the criteria used for assessment.


• The closing date is a guide; applications may close earlier if a sufficient number is reached. Submit early.


• Upon submission, your application may be transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system (apps.trac.jobs); further communication will be generated from that system.


• If you have not heard within three weeks after the closing date, your application has not been successful.


• Priority consideration may be given to at-risk NHS employees; eligibility for Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) will be requested if successful.


• We are a smoke-free Trust and a Stonewall Diversity Champion. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of mental illness as an asset to the Trust.

Benefits & About Us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust serves Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond. We are rated as 'good' by the Care Quality Commission and offer a five-year strategy focused on improvement, learning and development. We offer flexible working and a range of benefits including generous pay, pensions and leave; work-life balance; career development; accommodation support on selected sites; NHS discounts; and wellbeing resources.