Specialist Practitioner for Mental Health

NHS; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare provider as a Specialist Practitioner for Mental Health, delivering high-quality mental health expertise to patients and staff. You will support the development and implementation of mental health strategies while providing expert advice. This role requires strong communication and leadership skills, along with a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering mental health care in acute settings.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Knowledge of legal aspects of mental health.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on mental health care.
• Support the development of mental health strategies.
• Manage Mental Health Act section papers.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Education

Masters level education

NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN)

Tools

IT Systems

Job description

Go back Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Specialist Practitioner for Mental Health

The closing date is 18 May 2025

To operationally deliver a high quality service of mental health expertise to our patients, families and staff.

The post holder will provide expert advice on the care of mental health patients, including but not limited to; legal aspects of detention, risk assessment, mental health assessment and treatment, environmental risk assessment, restraint and involuntary administration of medication.

The post holder will support the Lead Mental Health Practitioner in the development and implementation of the trusts Mental Health Strategy to deliver frontline professional and operational priorities relating to patients with mental illness, ensuring services are developed, delivered and evaluated.

The post holder will be a skilled communicator and be able to communicate highly complex and sensitive information across multiple organisations. Fostering strong relationships with patients, families and clinical teams and with key strategic and delivery partners. Also able to present complex information written and verbal, formally and informally as appropriate and required.

Main duties of the job

Provide effective and appropriate support to patients, carers and trust staff, actively participate as directed by the Lead Mental Health Practitioner in joint planning meetings to facilitate patient admission, discharges and transfers between departments and other health care facilities.

To undertake the management of Mental Health Act section papers, liaising with Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust to ensure correct processes are followed.

In conjunction with the Deputy Medical Director, Deputy Chief Nurse and Lead Mental Health Practitioner at NUH, support the review and evaluation of regional and national guidelines, in particular the Nottingham/ Nottinghamshire ICB Mental Health Strategy and develop close links with external partners to ensure the implementation of any actions across the organisation support the ongoing development of a new Mental Health Strategy at NUH.

Be a visible leader in all clinical areas across the trust. Support and advise the clinical staff in relation to the management of Mental Health Act section papers and providing education/ advice for all aspects of caring for a patient with mental health concerns.

About us

With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.

Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.

Job responsibilities

Physical Effort

A combination of sitting, standing and walking.

Requirement for potential physical effort during the course of the working day, across the trust working. Occasional travel to external meetings.

Use of multiple IT systems, including external systems where confidential mental health information is stored.

Occasionally exposure face to face with patients and their families who are hostile, verbally or physically aggressive.

Mental Effort:

The post holder is required to exhibit a level of concentration for analysis, writing reports and training sessions.

The post holder is required to frequently respond actively to challenges within the clinical settings as required.

Emotional Effort:

Occasional exposure to distressing circumstances and complex patient groups, including working in clinical practice with staff in challenging situations. .

Respond to serious and emergency incidents.

Support and supervise staff in the clinical area.

Occasional exposure to distressing or highly emotional circumstances from untoward incidents.

The post holder will be required to sensitively and constructively challenge any areas of poor practice.

Person Specification

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's "We are here for you" behavioural standards

Training & Qualifications

• NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN)
• Educated to masters level or equivalent. Or Social Worker registered with Social Work England with degree in social work, to masters level, or equivalent and evidence of practical application of expertise.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and attendance at relevant conferences
• Evidence of sustained and continuous professional development
• Commitment to ongoing learning and person development
• Post registration qualifications relevant to role
• Qualified AMHP

Experience

• Experience of delivering mental health care in an acute care setting
• Experience of adult, child and adolescent mental health care and services
• Knowledge of the legal aspects of detention, restraint and mental capacity
• Experience of implementing policy, strategy and writing papers
• Experience of implementing change to support improved patient experience, patient.
• Knowledge and experience of system working and working as part of a collaborative.

Communication and Relationship skills

• Developed clinical leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams and have them understand the Trust's clinical performance and expectations.
• Able to build rapport and credibility with senior clinical and managerial teams in the delivery of performance targets, service delivery and change.
• Communicates with patients and relatives often in highly emotional and distressed states to resolve complaints and concerns.

Analytical and Judgement skills

• Able to support strategy implementation
• Able to rapidly interpret and synthesize information to problem solve complex issues
• Able to recognise own limitations and to seek support and guidance when needed
• Able to manage complex and difficult situations
• Able to maintain own personal safety and wellbeing and the safety and wellbeing of others
• Developed written and oral communication skills

Planning and organisation skills

• Good organisational skills
• A high attention to detail
• Able to deliver objectives within an agreed timeframe
• Able to prioritise work in the face of competing demands

Other requirements specific to the role

• Self-motivated - possess high internal work standards, wants to do better and to measure progress against targets
• Ability to influence and motivate self and others
• Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role
• Motivation - driven by a genuine interest and concern for quality and appropriateness of patient services.

Physical skills

• Well-developed IT skills to manage and report on complex performance management information systems.
• Supports delivery of direct patient care in times of significant operational pressures (occurring on a regular basis)
• Understanding of how to use technology to support delivery of improvement to services.
• Travel and working across trust sites and occasional external visits

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.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts