Job overview
The post holder will manage a defined caseload of older clients with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs (including functional and dementia) living in the community. They will provide a specialist assessment service to meet the needs of individuals referred to the Older Adults Community Mental Health Team, taking into account levels of risk and service users’ strengths, in order to protect their rights and promote their inclusion and independence.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will also participate in the duty system for the team along with other members of the MDT, carry out initial assessments and attend all relevant clinical reviews. They will provide support and advice to clients, carers and other professionals on mental health issues relating to older people and work closely with primary care and statutory agencies.
They will provide supervision to students on placement with the team and to junior staff as appropriate. They will contribute to the learning and development of themselves and others.
Working for our organisation
The team is a dynamic service that supports people with functional mental health needs and/or a primary diagnosis of dementia to manage their mental and physical health, reside in the least restrictive setting and promote recovery. The service is co-located and works closely with the Westminster City Council mental health service to provide a holistic service to service users and carers. Additionally, we are part of the CNWL project in the implementation of Open Dialogue, an innovative person centred and recovery orientated model of crisis and continuing mental healthcare.
We believe in making a real difference to the lives of older adults by providing a service that is non-hierarchical, multi-functional and multi-disciplinary, drawing on the expertise of all team members to deliver person-centred assessment, care and support. We work continuously to instil a caring and compassionate culture. We have created a cohesive and proactive team of professionals who are empowered to work across functional divides to deliver the best care for our service users and carers. The team consists of medical staff, nursing, occupational therapists, social workers, administrators, support workers, assistant and clinical psychologists. This enables us to deliver holistic and person-centred care that avoids the need for multiple handoffs and improves patient experience.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To ensure the mental health needs of older people referred to the CMHT are appropriately assessed and a high level of quality care is delivered within available resources. To provide support and advice to users, carers and other professionals on mental health issues relating to older people.
MAIN DUTIES
To act as lead professional for individuals in line with mental health transformation agenda as appropriate to CNWL Trust policy, managing a defined clinical caseload of service users with complex mental health problems living in the community.
To carry out holistic mental health assessments, assessing needs and risks of services users, carers and their families following referral to the service.
Plan and implement a range of therapeutic interventions and measure the outcome of these.
To work in partnership with the primary care team, local authority, statutory and voluntary agencies to maintain the health and wellbeing of older people with complex mental health problems.
Together with service users and carers plan appropriate interventions and support plans to meet their needs, maintaining independence.
To participate in the duty service of the Older Adults CMHT.
To supervise band 5 occupational therapist in the OA CMHT if required.
To act as practice placement educator for OT students and to participate in the training of students from other disciplines and support staff.
To maintain own continuing professional development in accordance with regulatory body guidelines and CNWL policies and procedures.
COMMUNICATION:
To maintain effective communication links with CMHT team members and relevant external agencies ensuring that service users receive high quality and coordinated service.
To maintain up-to-date clinical records and documentation in line with the CNWL policy and professional guidelines. Producing detailed occupational therapy reports as required.
To have a high level of interpersonal and communication skills to deal with a range of highly sensitive and emotive situations e.g. dealing with crisis situations or high expressed emotions from service users and their carers.
To develop and promote effective communication and liaison with GPs, other primary care professionals, Social Services and voluntary organisations.
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
To undertake holistic assessments of service users utilising risk assessment tools and mental state examination in order to provide a high standard of care to service users in the community.
To clinically manage a defined caseload of service users with complex mental health problems in a community setting including service users and in line with the Mental Health transformation agenda.
To formulate individualised Care Plans that include recovery goals, with service users and their carers which aims to address their psychological, physical, spiritual & social needs.
To respond to urgent and unplanned clinical events involving service users known to the CMHT and on own clinical caseload, utilising analytical and problem-solving skills to ensure the situation is managed effectively.
To have an in-depth understanding of mental health pathology to manage service users with complex mental health problems.
To monitor service users who are being treated with psychotropic medications, observing efficacy and monitoring any adverse reactions. To report and act on any adverse reaction observed in conjunction with the General Practitioner or Consultant Psychiatrist, as appropriate.
To alert the line manager to any increase in risks to individual service users on a regular basis or immediately as required and seek advice on appropriate action.
To be aware of and sensitive to the safeguarding needs of the client and those associated with them. To have an understanding of potential indicators of abuse or neglect and about what to do if they had concerns.
To regularly attend and participate in CMHT clinical reviews.
To have a sound understanding and knowledge of current legislation and its application to service users with mental health problems e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Human Rights Act, Freedom of Information Act, and Data Protection Act.
SUPERVISORY & MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
To participate actively in clinical supervision, as well as in management supervision and annual appraisal with line manager, and to pursue further professional development and training appropriate to the age range covered by the team, according to a Personal Development Plan and the requirements of the professional body.
To maintain up-to-date knowledge through networking, training and reading, and to comply with professional requirements for the maintenance of professional registration.
To ensure that all sickness and absence reporting, annual leave requests, and activity data for junior staff is completed and documented in accordance with local procedures and CNWL policy.
If appropriate provide line management to junior staff or support workers providing regular supervision and annual appraisal.
To participate in, and occasionally take responsibility for the recruitment of junior staff.
To deputise for the Senior Practitioner as needed.
To effectively manage own time in relation to clinical and non-clinical activities E.g. caseload management issues, record keeping and report writing.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:
To provide treatments interventions and plan support plans within the resource limitations.
The post holder will take action to ensure that the team’s expenditure is within budget parameters by notifying line manager of situations where costs may escalate.
The post holder will ensure that all financial transactions are authorised and recorded in line with Departmental and /or Trust procedures.
SERVICE DEVELOPMENT:
To assist as required in the development of the CMHT service in accordance with research and evidenced based practice to ensure a modern and exemplary service is delivered.
To assist the CMHT management in developing processes that prevent inappropriate admissions, facilitate timely discharge and provide appropriate mental health care and support to service users and carers within the community.
To engage with service users, carers and other agencies advocating for these groups to ensure they are fully involved in service evaluation, monitoring and development.
To promote user empowerment, carer involvement and anti-discriminatory practices in the delivery of mental health care, at all times.
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
To keep abreast of changing clinical practice and mental health practice, new developments, evidence-based practice and research.
To contribute to activities, which continue to build on a culture of, shared learning and evidence based practice.
To ensure timely booking and attendance of mandatory and statutory training. Failure to do this may preclude further learning and development opportunities.
To maintain a professional knowledge base and act as a resource to others regarding specialist areas of expertise.
SERVICE GOVERNANCE:
To participate, along with other members of the CMHT in audit, Quality Improvement and research activities that contribute to improvements in the delivery of care within the CMHT.
To ensure that own professional practice is maintained in accordance with guidelines from your relevant professional body, local procedures and CNWL policy.
To adhere to all policies and procedures in the prevention and management of areas of risk e.g. Risk Management, Fire Safety, Health and Safety, Lone Worker policy.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download