Job overview
As one of the 12 ‘early implementer’ sites for integrated community mental health services, we are expanding our community mental health offer. Our new services are centred around the Primary Care Networks and aspiring to comprehensive engagement with Integrated Care Systems using a whole person, whole population health approach. The model utilizes all the community resources available including health, social care, Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organizations and local communities and consider resources to support wellbeing outside of mental health services alone.
These new teams enable and support people to access mental health services wherever and whenever they need it and support individuals to manage their mental health supported in their local community. We are therefore looking for skilled and enthusiastic individuals.
Through this work, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative role of Mental Health Practitioner within each borough. As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will be employed by West London NHS Trust and will be key in the development of pathways of care in the local community mental health team (MINT). This role would also provide an opportunity to be mentored or to mentor, career progression and continued education.
We are seeking applications from Registered Mental Health Nurses, Social workers or Occupational Therapists, who have experience of working in community services.
Main duties of the job
The ideal candidate will have:
1. Prior experience of working across a range of community mental health settings and with a range of mental health diagnoses/need.
2. Knowledge of and experience in delivering a range of brief interventions to patients with mental health needs.
Good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to use these to strengthen local relationships with the local MINT Teams
1.Provide holistic and specialist bio-psycho-social assessment for anyone experiencing mental health difficulties and offer specialist nursing assessment where required.
2.Provide advice to primary care to help them provide better support to patients and to (where preferable) meet their mental health needs within a primary care setting.
3.Carry out robust risk assessments, working collaboratively with the patient and their carer to provide a plan that will support them remaining safe.
4.Provide access to a broad range of specialist psychosocial interventions for individual patients where needed.
5.Provide expert advice regarding the pharmacological treatment options available to mental health patients to patients and non-mental health professionals, seeking clinical guidance from the designated Consultant Psychiatrist/GP in relation to any specific prescribing advice.
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
3. Relevant professional qualification and registration with professional body. (Nurse, Social Worker ,Occupational Therapist ,Psychologist)
Desirable criteria
4. •Educated to degree or Diploma level with other courses relevant to primary care mental health services e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focussed Therapy etc
5. •physical health qualification
6. •Evidence of recent and on-going relevant further professional development
Experience
Essential criteria
7. •Demonstrable experience of post qualifying work in psychiatry
8. •Experience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
Desirable criteria
9. •Evidence of experience in a Band 6 position or equivalent
10. •Other relevant post registration experience
11. •Audit and research experience
12. •Experience of teaching/training in a formal or informal setting
13. •Experience of working in a primary care setting/ social care/ voluntary sector
Knowledge
Essential criteria
14. •Knowledge of counselling skills/cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventions
15. •Knowledge of recovery approaches as used with those with mental health conditions
16. •Ability to interpret research and apply to practice
17. •Specialist knowledge of mental health conditions as well as their relationship to physical disorders
18. • Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively
19. 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
20. • Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options, with senior clinical support/supervision
21. Higher level communication skills, both written and oral
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
22. • 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
23. • Ability to meet deadlines
24. • Commitment to equal opportunities
25. • Ability to accept constructive feedback
26. • Exercise initiative, flexibility and tact and self awareness
27. • Be aware of the limitations in your competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership
28. • Be able to work flexibly if required
Desirable criteria
29. • Personal experience of a mental health condition