Bank Band 7 - Senior Clinical Practitioner

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West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

The post holder will provide day to day clinical leadership, management and co-ordination focusing on delivering high quality mental health support for those accessing the service.

The post holder will be directly supporting junior members of staff on shift by providing advanced clinical advice, leadership and support ensuring the needs of the service are met by exercising and demonstrating high levels of clinical judgement, critical analysis and advanced decision making skills.

The post holder will be responsible for creating an environment which is safe, supportive and an easily accessible with a no wrong door approach and will also undertake brief crisis assessments, give advice, information, signpost and use their expertise to de-escalate presentations or interface with other services for more appropriate or intensive input/follow-up.

The post holder will also support the Mental Health SPA Team Manager in regular reviews of the team and performance, and adapting practice or the service in collaboration with other key professionals.

Main duties of the job

For a full, comprehensive breakdown of all duties and responsibilities, please refer to and study the attached Candidate Pack for this vacancy.

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, physical healthcare and community services commissioned locally and nationally. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of only three high secure hospitals in the country and one of the highest profile mental healthcare settings in the world.

Our medium-secure and forensic services care for patients from across the South of England. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs - Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. The Trust employs 3,770 staff, of which 47% are from Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) background. Our turnover in 2019/20 was £314m.

In recent years there has been a trust-wide step change in culture, performance and ambition. The Trust is now rated as 'Good' overall by the CQC, and the rating for our Forensic services has improved from 'Requires improvement' to 'Outstanding'. Rigorous financial management has been central to our ability to deliver service improvements. The Trust has delivered consistent surpluses since 2009, totalling more than £77m. In parallel, we have also improved efficiencies by reducing length of stays and improving patient flow, with almost no out of area placements in recent years.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• Provide team leadership to the MH SPA Team, coordinate and hold responsibility for the day to day work assigned to the team.
• Undertake comprehensive crisis assessment of patients and carers where needs are highly complex. This will involve planning, implementing and evaluating the care delivery according to changing needs.
• Demonstrate a high level of knowledge in relation to a wide range of mental health disorders and accessible resources which includes patients with serious mental health problems, those with a history of self-harm, and people who are experiencing a crisis, which has adversely affected their mental health.
• Anticipate likely potential physical and psychological problems caused either by the condition or by treatment and are able to assess critically and re-evaluate the clinical situation as the patient's condition changes.
• Advise and communicate as appropriate with other relevant services and third sector agencies to ensure safe and seamless continuity of care for patients between other relevant health and social care settings.
• Act as clinical lead for, supporting junior members of staff in assessment and risk management.
• Provide specialist advice and consultation to other professionals/members of the public in regards to the management of risk. This will require the post holder to make immediate, effective decisions based on telephone information.
• Liaising with emergency services when on scene with a patient to offer specialist assessment/de-escalation to avoid unnecessary conveyance to the Emergency Department.
• Maintain accurate records, to a standard that reflects their level of clinical expertise, to ensure clear timeline of contact and decision making for other professionals accessing the patient record.
• To remain committed to ensuring a clear, timely and optimum outcome and resolution for all calls/referrals.
• To improve and positively develop clinical practice in relation to the assessment and formulation for people in crisis by providing consultation, appropriate training and education across Acute Mental Health Services.
• To ensure safeguarding practices are robustly followed and managed and action taken in relation to Safeguarding policies and procedures, as required.
• Operate effectively in a flexible and demanding environment and proactively engage stakeholders within all sectors, working on a variety of topics.
• Proactively involve stakeholders, respond to and resolve conflict between different stakeholders when this arises through facilitation and or other appropriate mechanisms.
• Demonstrate sound understanding of the legal and ethical issues in caring for people with a mental health condition. In particular, demonstrating sound understanding of the Mental Health Act (1983) and Mental Capacity Act and its use in a non-mental health setting.

Further duties available via the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

Essential criteria

• Registered Professional (Mental Health Nurse RMN, Social Worker or OT).
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Mentorship/Teaching & assessing qualification

Desirable criteria

• First or higher degree in appropriate subject area.
• ENB 998, 812 or equivalent
• Nurse prescriber or willingness to become a nurse prescriber

EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria

• Experience in a variety of MH settings as a qualified practitioner.
• Significant experience at band 6 or equivalent within CRHTT, Liaison nursing, intake service or equivalent.
• Delivering Clinical supervision/ reflective practice to nursing as well as other professionals.
• Multi-disciplinary team working.

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of working within a Single Point of Access services.
• Previous experience of telephone based assessments.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Essential criteria

• Understand a range of models of mental disorder, including the contribution of social, physical and development factors.
• Understand the social perspective on mental disorder and mental health needs.
• Ability to build relationships across organisational and professional boundaries
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data required to deliver the service.
• Ability to deal with complex issues arising from managing a diverse multidisciplinary service
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good risk assessment and management skills
• Understanding of social care resources and provision available beyond statutory agencies
• Experience of supervision or practice teaching.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership under pressure, including good communication, prioritisation, and influencing.
• Extensive experience of applying assessment skills within a statutory social work setting.
• Demonstrate the ability to assess, develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care for individuals experiencing acute mental distress.
• The ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with individuals in acute mental health crisis.
• An understanding of the Care Programme Approach and its application
• Knowledge of the national agenda and vision for mental health services within the NHS.
• Interpersonal Skills; Works effectively with individuals, teams, clients and staff. Supporting others and showing clear personal values in line with those of the organisation.
• Adapting and Coping; Adapts and responds well to change. Manages pressure effectively and copes well with setbacks.
• Analysing Interpreting and Judging; Thinks analytically, ability to solve complex problems and issues, makes rational, realistic and sound judgements.
• Planning and Performing; Plans ahead and works in a systematic and organised way. Follows direction and procedures.
• Organisational Awareness and Strategic Thinking; Thinks broadly and strategically, supports and drives organisational change.
• Understands functions and needs of the organisation.

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrate knowledge of audit and research
• Demonstrate the ability to co-ordinate a team and it's day-to-day work.
• I.T. and Database skills with knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet management
• Received additional training in areas such as AMHP, BIA, Court of Protection, Practice Educator and talking therapies

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential criteria

• Warm, friendly, approachable
• Flexible approach
• Ability to cope with change
• Able to work seamlessly with other professional groups
• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexible and positive attitude to work.
• Ability to be empathetic
• Keen to learn new skills and to share learning with others

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Essential criteria

• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a service to clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week may include some on-call work.
• Fit and able to undertake patient facing work as and when required.

Desirable criteria

• Possession of a valid UK driving license.

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to West London NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, you will be required to undergo a pre-employment checks which can take between 4-8 weeks . After which your information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR ).

Please ensure you include email addresses for your referees which MUST be at supervisory or managerial capacity covering the last 3 years of employment to date to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

West London NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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

• Candidate Pack (PDF, 1.1MB)