Specialist Practitioner for Family Intervention
Early Intervention in Psychosis Service
Job Overview
A qualified Specialist Practitioner in Family Intervention is required to work in our Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIS) service. The post holder will have recognised training and experience in delivering evidence‑based Family Intervention for psychosis. The role focuses on delivering structured family work to reduce relapse, improve outcomes, and support recovery, alongside the identification and management of bio‑psycho‑social issues impacting service users and their support networks.
In addition to specialist family intervention delivery, the practitioner will hold a small care coordination caseload, ensuring high‑quality, recovery‑focused care planning, risk management and effective multi‑agency working. The post holder will also contribute to wider EIS functions, including but not limited to: provision of advice, consultation and support to care coordinators and the wider MDT on family‑focused approaches; supervision and support of junior staff; contribution to daily EIS multidisciplinary meetings; and other duties as required by the EIS Team Manager in line with service needs.
Key Responsibilities
* Support the team in effectively delivering NICE‑concordant treatment to service users with a first‑onset psychosis.
* Deliver Family Intervention to service users aged 14‑35 with a first episode of psychosis, including their families and carers.
* Offer consultation and supervision to colleagues in developing a service that works in partnership with carers and families to support the service user’s recovery.
* Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments and provide input and support to service users referred to the Early Intervention in Psychosis Team.
* Hold a small caseload of clients providing a care‑coordination role.
* Provide supervision of Band 6 Care Coordinators (nurses, social workers and occupational therapists).
* Contribute to daily multidisciplinary meetings of the EIS team.
* Support the EIS Team Manager with the successful running of the EIS team.
* Play an active role with other senior colleagues in the continuing development of a high‑quality service underpinned by evidence‑based practice, care pathways and NICE guidance.
* Contribute to quality improvement projects.
* Deliver training specific to the role to members of the EIS MDT.
* Act as a role model to colleagues, consistently seeking to maintain the highest standards of professionalism.
* Display behaviours aligned with the Trust’s core values in all duties.
* Ensure implementation of clinical and managerial supervision for Early Intervention team staff in line with Trust policy and professional guidelines.
* Make judgments on complex facts and situations requiring analysis and consideration of options.
The post is based across Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster.
We are looking to recruit one mental health professional at Band 7 to join the team. Applicants should hold a relevant qualification and demonstrable experience in community mental health and an understanding of the Early Intervention model of care. The team adopts a bio‑psychosocial approach and works in strong multi‑disciplinary collaboration among psychiatry, psychology, employment specialists, peer support, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, activity coordinators and administrative staff.
The post can be challenging and hugely rewarding – you will be supported by peers, colleagues and managers with regular daily meetings, clinical and managerial supervision.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria:
* Current professional registration as a Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker.
* Evidence of post‑registration training and CPD.
* Recognised training and experience in delivering evidence‑based Family Intervention for psychosis.
* ENB998/Slice/Mentorship in Practice/Practice Teacher course or professional equivalent.
Desirable criteria:
* Training in psychosocial interventions.
* Family Therapy/Work training.
* Other relevant training, e.g. substance misuse, work with adolescents.
Experience
Essential criteria:
* Post‑registration experience working with people experiencing psychosis and with complex health and social care needs.
* Experience working in a multidisciplinary community mental health team as a Care Coordinator.
* Experience supervising students and junior staff.
Desirable criteria:
* Work with adolescents.
* Work with families.
* Work with people experiencing mental health crises.
* Audit and research experience.
* Teaching – staff, service users, other agencies.
* Experience working with people who use substances.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria:
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and presentations.
* Leadership skills: ability to motivate others, use initiative and manage change.
* IT skills.
* Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive care package for the identified client group, using a wide range of resources.
* Well‑developed skills to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
* Ability to work effectively within a multi‑disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
* Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
* Ability to develop a comprehensive programme of intervention and support for the identified client group and their families.
* Knowledge of current legislation and guidance applicable to this client group.
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