Job overview
The Mental Health Clinical Assessment Unit (MHCAU) is a service created in response to the Covid-19 crisis and ongoing emergency department pressures for the local population of Croydon. The unit is staffed primarily by staff from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and the SLaM psychiatric liaison team.
The service comprises a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and lived experience staff. The service has been established to alleviate pressure on the Emergency Department (ED) at Croydon University Hospital and to support the provision of capacity for a potential surge in emergency medical cases resulting from Covid-19. This is achieved by providing a diversionary assessment space for patients with mental health problems who would otherwise have been seen in the ED but have no concurrent acute physical health concern.
This area will provide collaborative and timely care to patients requiring mental health care and treatment, in line with the National Emergency Care Access Standards.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidates will be clinically confident in assessing mental health service users presenting in emergencies, carrying out short term interventions and making independent decisions. You will thrive in a fast paced environment, often working under pressure. You will possess excellent assessment, communication skills and interpersonal skills. You will work well with others and enjoy multidisciplinary work whilst maintaining the highest standard in the quality of care.
Working for our organisation
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
1. Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
2. Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
3. Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
4. Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
5. Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
6. NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
7. Counselling services
8. Wellbeing events
9. Long service awards
10. Cycle to work scheme
11. Season ticket loan
12. Childcare vouchers
13. Staff restaurants
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Education and Qualification
-Registered Adult Nurse and/or Registered Mental Health Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse
-Mentorship qualification
Experience and Knowledge
-Experience of research-based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge, and
develop these by using evidence-based practice.
- Significant relevant clinical experience
-Evidence of continuing professional development
- Experience in providing psycho-social assessments
- Experience in supervising junior staff
Skills and Abilities
-Able to provide quality care that is responsive to the service user’s needs, without close supervision
-Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations
Person specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential criteria
14. Registered Adult Nurse / Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disabilities
15. Mentorship Qualification or equivalent teaching in practice qualification
Desirable criteria
16. Master's degree
Experince & Knowledge
Essential criteria
17. Experience of research based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
18. Experience of carrying out psycho-social assessments
19. Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
20. Experience of taking responsibility for a ward/clinical unit
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
21. Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, without close supervision
22. Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations
23. Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics: promotes equality and diversity
Desirable criteria
24. Innovative, creative and a willingness to try new ideas
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
25. Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physical)
26. Flexibility to work shift patterns across 24hrs, 7days a week and across all clinical areas as required