Overview
Senior Mental Health Practitioner role at Cheswold Park Hospital. The position is part of the Single Point of Access (SPA) team, made up of band 6 (or social work equivalent) nurses and occupational therapists. SPA triages and assesses referrals into secondary mental health services, working with professionals and self-referrals. The team operates across Calderdale and Kirklees, with nurse-led supervision and psychology support.
Responsibilities
* Provide a Single Point of Access for external referrals to mental health services in Calderdale and Kirklees.
* Conduct high-quality screening and initial assessments in various settings, independently or within a multi-disciplinary framework.
* Carry out telephone triage, and triage risk and appropriateness for secondary mental health services; make decisions on urgency and risk, supported by evidence.
* Perform face-to-face or telephone assessments; document findings; travel to cover the Kirklees and Calderdale areas; be flexible to changing daily requirements.
* Signpost and broker access to relevant resources and services; act as an advisor to referrers, service users, carers, and professionals.
* Work as part of a multidisciplinary team; participate in clinical supervision and professional development reviews; contribute to policy, procedures, and service development for SPA.
* Participate in quality improvement activities, audits, and statistics as required.
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of professional practice, and ensure adherence to statutory codes of practice; maintain own NMC registration or equivalent.
* Support safeguarding, Mental Health Act considerations, and risk management within the service; provide brief interventions where appropriate.
* Demonstrate effective communication with service users aged 18 and over and with professionals; maintain high standards of clinical risk assessment and management over the telephone.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
* RMN current registration, Dip. Social Work, or Occupational Therapy registration (as applicable).
* Significant experience with people with complex mental health needs, including community settings; experience in management of resources.
* Current or recent experience in either an acute inpatient or community setting; involvement in staff supervision and professional development processes.
* Crisis Intervention Skills.
* Full UK driving licence and access to a car during working day (reasonable adjustments may be considered).
* Ability to undertake duties and demands of the post with a satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years.
Desirable
* Approved Mental Health Professional; PSI Postgraduate Counselling; experience mentoring/supporting learners; Practice Educator/Practice Assessor preparation.
* Audit, research awareness/training, managerial awareness/training; leadership experience.
* Risk management, brief focused therapies, crisis services experience.
Special Knowledge & Skills
* Strong understanding of modern mental health issues and developments; familiarity with local and national policies, MHA, safeguarding, child protection.
* Therapeutic assessment, risk assessment and management; ability to formulate complex care plans; effective multi-disciplinary collaboration and independent working.
* Excellent written and oral communication; experience supervising junior staff.
Additional Information
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and requires DBS disclosure; current UK professional registration is required. The employer is South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust, located at 2nd Floor Beckside Court, 286 Bradford Road, Batley, WF17 5PW.
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