Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced OT, Social Worker or Nurse to work within the Newham Early Intervention Service (NEIS). The service supports 18-65 year olds experiencing a First Episode of Psychosis. It aims to reduce the impact of psychosis by reducing the duration of untreated psychosis and engaging clients in biopsychosocial interventions.
NEIS is a progressive and evolving team, looking to recruit candidates who are similarly interested in creative approaches to supporting individuals with First Episode Psychosis. It is important that our values align with that of any successful candidate.
Newham has the highest rates of psychosis among all London boroughs. The ambition for NEIS is to develop a sustainable model of care that collaborates with service users and families, harnessing the collective power of the broader community and community based services. We are therefore keen to meet candidates who are passionate about using innovative and community based approaches to support the recovery of individuals and their networks.
You would be working in a highly motivated multidisciplinary team, which values the unique contribution of each member. We are particularly interested in supporting Care Coordinators in their professional development, through accredited training courses or by setting up new projects. We are also interested in broadening the scope of our therapeutic interventions, and welcome new ideas around how we can develop these.
Main duties of the job
Be a member of the Early Intervention service being responsible for the delivery of services to people who are residents of Newham with First Episode of Psychosis, as defined by the service referral criteria.
Establish a network of relationships with educational, vocational and leisure facilities, and maintain a database/resource of such organisations. Interface effectively with other community organisations.
Be involved in service evaluation data.
Supervise and co-ordinate the work of trainees/students of your related profession, as appropriate.
Be involved in training/health promotion of First Episode Psychosis as required.
Working for our organisation
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• Contribute to the delivery of service to people with First Episode Psychosis.
• Provide specialist assessment and psychosocial/psychotherapeutic skills, together with the provision of wide-ranging practical support.
• Provide assessments within health (CPA) and social care (care management) frameworks.
• Participate in the setting up and running of service user and carer groups, which promote confidence building, meaningful occupation and recovery.
• Provide support to service users in line with a ‘whole team approach’, as recommended in Early Intervention in Psychosis best practice literature.
• Provide a service, which promotes recovery, identifies people’s needs and strengths, is user centred and holistic, and promotes safety and positive risk taking.
• Ensure the service provided is of the best quality and of a standard of professional practice and performance to meet the needs of Newham’s diverse community.
• Provide a service, which adheres to policies and procedures.
• Provide a service, which is of the highest standard in terms of fair access, equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
Person specification
Education & Training
Essential criteria
1. Formal qualifications in health or social care, e.g., RMN, Dip SW, etc.
2. Post registration experience
Desirable criteria
3. Psychosocial Intervention Qualification and/or recognised psychotherapy training.
4. Family intervention training.
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Experience of working with people who have serious mental health difficulties in a multi-disciplinary/agency environment
6. Experience of working within a health trust or social services department.
7. Experience of supervising junior staff and/or students.
8. Experience of carrying out assessments to include physical health.
Desirable criteria
9. Experience of working with people with first episode of psychosis and their carers
10. Working in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
11. Knowledge or experience of early intervention in psychosis.
12. Experience in preparing written and verbal reports
13. Creative and resourceful
14. Knowledge of welfare and vocational issues.
15. Ability to work in a team on own initiative Excellent problem solving skills.
16. Experience of promoting recovery.
17. Flexible and adaptable
18. Ability to identify people’s needs and strengths.
19. Demonstrate the provision of user centred care
20. Demonstrate the ability to make a difference
21. Demonstrate the ability to promote safety and positive risk taking.
22. Presentation and teaching skills
23. Ongoing commitment to personal development and life long learning Self motivating
24. Ability to prioritise and manage own workload Excellent interpersonal skills
Desirable criteria
25. Experience of preparing and executing formal and informal presentations
26. Experience of participating in the setting up of a new service
27. Experience of working within a team caseload/assertive community engagement environment
28. Ability to facilitate development activities across organisations
29. Ability to work in partnership and develop constructive relationships
30. Experience of liaising with statutory and voluntary sector organisations
31. Ability to work holistically with individuals and groups. Able to consider the social economic and potential context of mental health difficulties and to address impact on mental health of social economic deprivation, difference, discrimination and racism.