Job overview
Are you ready for a unique and challenging opportunity in Acute Mental Health Services?
As part of the MH SPA, you'll be pioneering service delivery innovations and providing crucial support to a large community.
Our team is diverse, motivated, and deeply committed to making a tangible difference in mental health care. Here, you’ll gain frontline experience in community
mental health, enhancing your skills to meet a wide range of clinical needs.
We value our staff's expertise and are dedicated to their professional growth
Main duties of the job
As a Crisis Care Practitioner, your primary responsibility will be to assist
individuals concerned about mental health, whether their own or others',
particularly in high-risk situations.
Your role includes responding to calls for mental health support or information, rapidly assessing urgent needs, and conducting in-depth face-to-face
assessments for at-risk individuals. This will involve liaising with various groups, including police, ambulance services, and mental health providers, to ensure well coordinated care.
Additionally, you’ll contribute to refining crisis care services and developing effective care pathways. You'll also offer guidance and mentorship to junior staff
and manage referrals efficiently to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
This position operates on a 24 hour rota system to provide continuous support, demanding high motivation, adaptability, and effective communication across a multi-professional team
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Relevant professional qualification, e.g. Nurse (RMN/RGN/RNLD), Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language Therapist, Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Counsellor
2. Current registration with relevant professional body (e.g. NMC, HCPC, SWE, BACP, UKCP, NCPS, BPS)
3. Educated to degree level standard plus postgraduate diploma or equivalent level of experience
4. Specialist knowledge of mental health in relation to crisis, including assessment and management of risk
5. Demonstrable clinical knowledge and experience of mental health, including triage, assessment and support for individuals with complex needs
6. Evidence of Continuing Professional Development within a mental health setting
7. Understanding of the barriers and challenges faced by people with serious mental health issues
Desirable criteria
8. Degree in a health-related subject
9. Qualification in psychosocial interventions in mental health
10. KUF training
11. Additional training in brief interventions for people in crisis or emotional distress
12. Knowledge of local services available to support people in crisis
13. Full UK driving licence
Experience
Essential criteria
14. Experience of providing clinical support to people in mental health crisis or acute emotional distress
15. Experience of carrying out crisis mental health assessments and risk formulations
16. Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative in pressured environments
17. Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
18. Experience of prioritising tasks in a busy clinical environment
19. Experience of receiving and engaging in clinical supervision
Desirable criteria
20. Experience in psychiatric liaison or home treatment services
21. Experience supervising or mentoring staff and/or students
22. Experience facilitating wellbeing sessions with colleagues or service users
23. Experience of working to agreed targets and demonstrating clinical outcomes
24. Experience of working with people across the lifespan
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential criteria
25. High standard of written and spoken English
26. Excellent telephone manner and ability to engage empathetically in high-risk or emotive situations
27. Knowledge of relevant mental health law (MHA, MCA)
28. Competence in structured risk assessment and crisis safety planning
29. Strong and adaptable communication skills (written and verbal)
30. IT literacy, including MS Office and electronic health records
31. High level of analytical and judgement skills
32. Ability to recognise own wellbeing needs and maintain resilience
33. Ability to work without direct supervision
Desirable criteria
34. Ability to speak another community language
35. Ability to work effectively with interpreters
36. Knowledge of RiO or other NHS electronic record systems
37. Knowledge of outcome measures and use in audit
38. Knowledge of different mental health models and evidence-based psychosocial interventions
39. Ability to appropriately challenge and resolve conflict
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
40. Ability to work under pressure in high-risk situations
41. Flexible and positive approach to shift work, including nights and weekends
42. Empathy and ability to contain distress while maintaining professional boundaries
43. Proactive, reflective, and self-aware approach to practice
44. Ability to manage potentially distressing or traumatic situations
Desirable criteria
45. Evidence of supporting others in their development
46. Evidence of self-development
Specific Requirements
Essential criteria
47. Availability to work a shift rota covering 7 days a week 365 days a year