Job overview
The role of the Early Intervention Practitioner is to work in partnership with “At Risk mental state” (ARMS) and First Episode of Psychosis (FEP) service users wrapping care and treatment around hope and aspirations informing their care and recovery plans. They will demonstrate an understanding of clinical interventions evidenced based for this particular care group – including education and support, carer and family psycho-education and risk minimisation planning. The post holder will work at all times flexibly and to promote the safety and the wellbeing of service users and their families/carers. The post holder will assess, plan and implement care, and provide specialist advice.
We are seeking to recruit 1-part time for 22.5 hours a week, dynamic Band 6 Care Coordinator either a Nurse, Social Worker (SW) or Occupational Therapist (OT) based at Hammersmith and Fulham Early Intervention in Psychosis Team.
The individual must be enthusiastic, committed, compassionate and experienced with a good knowledge of the issues and guidance around working with psychosis. In addition, have some experience of working with young people and adults aged 14 to 65 years with a range of complex mental health issues.
This role would be to cover additional demands within the service. This will be ideal for staff who are looking for flexible working whilst developing their Professionals skills.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be an autonomous practitioner and responsible for a defined caseload of service users by undertaking these duties:
1. To undertake assessments of individuals and their families in the designated care group with complex health presentations, including those service users presenting with higher levels of risk.
2. They will work alongside the service user to develop their care plan along the recovery principles.
3. To offer specialist assessment and advice where required.
4. To assess, manage and regular review on going risks as identified during the assessment, ensuring that this is done in collaboration with the service user and carers.
5. To ensure that clinical practice is evidence based and consistent with relevant NICE guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
6. To provide supervision of junior staff and trainees where appropriate (mentorship and preceptorship qualifications)
7. To act within the relevant Code of Conduct dependent on your Registration Body.
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 and Training
Essential criteria
8. Qualified RMN/OT/SW with current professional registration
Desirable criteria
9. Evidence of recent or ongoing continuous professional development.
10. CAARMHS Trained
11. Family Therapy Qualification.
12. CBT training
Experience
Essential criteria
13. Demonstrable substantive post qualifying experience in psychiatry, with evidence of relevant experience at Band 6 in a community mental health setting.
14. Experience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines.
15. Working in partnership with other agencies.
Desirable criteria
16. Clinical experience of working in a community mental health setting.
17. Working with people with psychosis.
18. Carry out Care coordination and planning within CPA in the community.
19. Working with Children and Adolescents – CAMHS
20. Working with At Risk Mental State (ARMS) service
Knowledge
Essential criteria
21. Specialist knowledge of mental health disorders as well as their relationship to physical disorders
22. Assessment skills.
23. Risk assessment and management.
24. Mental health issues within community services
25. Clinical and professional aspects of complex cases
26. Understand the principles of recovery and their application to risk management, positive risk taking and strengths orientated approaches to care delivery
27. Use of psychosocial assessment and interventions.
28. Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options.
29. The Early Intervention in Psychosis model, ethos and practice
Autonomy
Essential criteria
30. Ability to manage own caseload and time effectively through robust prioritising of own and others workloads
31. Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence
32. Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required
33. Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and self- awareness
34. Ability to meet deadlines.
35. Team/self-management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service.
36. Be aware of the limitations in own competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership.
Other
Essential criteria
37. Higher level communication skills, both written and oral
38. Commitment to Equal Opportunities
39. Wiling to use peer and group supervision creatively
40. Ability to be reflective and accept constructive criticism to further develop oneself
41. Be able to work flexibly if required
42. Sickness (or attendance) record that is acceptable to the Trust
Desirable criteria
43. Able to travel to see your allocated service users as we are a face to face service.
44. Lived experience of mental health issues