Senior Community Practitioner
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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
Are you an experienced Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN), Mental Health Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist looking to take the next step in your career?
This is a fantastic opportunity to broaden your professional experience and deepen your expertise within a supportive and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team. We provide specialist mental health services to adults aged 18-65 living in the London Borough of Croydon. Our team offers timely assessments, expert advice, and tailored care planning for individuals experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and personality disorders.
Working alongside dedicated professionals, nurses, doctors, social workers. You'll collaborate closely with service users, their carers, and GPs to ensure holistic, person-centred care.
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Practitioner you will operate as a highly skilled and autonomous clinician, delivering specialist mental health assessments, care planning, and brief interventions for adults referred to the service. You will:
- Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and develop tailored care plans.
- Provide short-term interventions (up to 12 weeks) to support recovery and wellbeing.
- Signpost service users to appropriate external services and facilitate safe discharge to primary care where suitable.
- Supervise and support community practitioners, contributing to their development and ensuring high standards of care.
You will work collaboratively with a wide range of professionals and services on a daily basis, including:
- Multidisciplinary colleagues within the team.
- Other borough-based mental health teams.
- External agencies and primary care providers.
In addition to clinical responsibilities, you will support the Team Leader and Service Manager in maintaining service delivery, which includes:
- Monitoring performance against key targets.
- Managing staff absences and ensuring adequate team coverage.
- Providing supervision to junior staff.
- Offering management support and leadership in the Team Leader's absence.
Working for our organisation
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Benefits:
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
- Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options
- Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
- Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
- NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
- Croydon Carers parking permit
- Counselling services
- Wellbeing events
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1) Offering comprehensive, specialist, initial assessments and formulations to service users. To manage the provision of appropriate interventions/treatments to a small case load of service users experiencing transitional mental health problems. To exercise autonomous professional judgement for the assessment, coordination and transfer to the relevant team of a designated caseload. To provide comprehensive ongoing assessment and outcome monitoring of all allocated clients. To participate in the team assessment and duty rota. To liaise closely with crisis services and emergency out of hours services. To provide evidence based care as outlined in NICE guidance.
2) To attend regular clinical and management supervision and appraisal. To provide specialist the teaching and training of mental health professionals and other staff working in the service. To undertake the mentorship of students working in the service.
3) To ensure the maintenance of standards of practice/Codes of Conduct according to the employer and regulating and professional bodies (NMC/HCPC). To ensure client confidentiality is maintained at all times. To attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with manager. To participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives. To maintain accurate and timely written records.
4) To form and maintain effective working relationships with all services in the borough, including Home Treatment, Promoting Recovery, inpatient units and psychiatric liaison teams. Maintain and develop effective primary care liaison/link working with aligned GP practices. To ensure that the views of users and carers are sought and incorporated into all care delivered. To ensure that care is sensitive to a diverse population.
5) To contribute to the development of best practice within the service. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services. To take responsibility for their own health and safety and the health and safety of colleagues, patient and the general public. To deputise in the absence of the clinical lead. To undertake the role of duty senior on a regular basis. To undertake any other duties as appropriate to grade as requested by the Clinical service Lead.
6) All employees are expected to comply with statutory requirements and the Trust's employment policies while carrying out their work. All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the data Protection act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.
7) This post is one of continual development and the post holder will be encouraged to develop skills and capabilities, including participation in projects and training events. Accordingly, the range of duties and responsibilities outlined above may change from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the organisation.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Registered Mental Health Nurse/ Occupational Therapist or Social Worker
Desirable criteria
- evidence of other advanced education e.g. management qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a CMHT
- Experience of working with and addressing issues of diversity including experience of working within a multicultural framework
- experience of conducting biopsychosocial assessments and risk assessments
- experience of working with service users with depression, anxiety and personality difficulties using evidence based interventions - NICE guidelines
Desirable criteria
- experience of working with primary/secondary care, working with GPs
- Experience of team management
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- An understanding of the relationship between primary and secondary care services
- Knowledge of key legislation and guidelines in relation to statutory mental health responsibilities, including Safeguarding Adults, Young people and children
- An understanding of the stepped care model of delivery of psychological therapies for depression, anxiety and personality disorder
- Knowledge and expertise in the management of complex risk and crisis
- Understanding of KPIs
Desirable criteria
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
- Knowledge of Datix and how to complete Fact Finder reports
Skills and ability
Essential criteria
- Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to clients, families and colleagues
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate and to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive and/or challenging behaviour
Desirable criteria
- Transferable skills and knowledge relevant to work with working age adults with severe and enduring disorders in secondary care
- Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to clients, families and colleagues
The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:
- Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
- Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
- We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity
Please note:
- That all applications for this post will need to be made online
- That you read and understand the Job Description and Person Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
- That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
- That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
- That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not been successful
- That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
- That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
- That we are a smoke-free Trust
SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe'
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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
- JD and PS (PDF, 173.9KB)
- SLaM Staff Benefits (PDF, 1.1MB)
- Happy to Talk Flexible Working (PDF, 680.1KB)