Are you a passionate, enthusiastic, experienced, and registered Mental Health practitioner who is ready to make a difference! If so, an exciting opportunity has arisen for Mental Health Specialist Practitioner to join us at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals (LTHTR). This is a permanent post. We are looking to recruit a Mental Health practitioner to ensure positive patient experience, help drive forward the mental health strategy and ensure mental health is treated alongside physical health. The successful candidate will work alongside specialist multidisciplinary teams and multi-agency partners (mental health services, local authorities and third sector) to ensure high quality and collaborative care for patients of all ages.

The successful applicant will have the ability to collate data, analyse, produce and present reports, will have a good understanding of the Mental Health Act and have the ability to consider lessons learned and lead on change as part of continuous improvement. The role includes the development of training and providing education and role modelling to the workforce, driving best practice guidance for mental health,

The successful applicant will work autonomously but be able to work as part of the immediate and wider Safeguarding team.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Mental Health Specialist Practitioner is an important leadership position that considers clinical, operational and strategic issues relating to mental health. You will-

- Work closely with mental health services, LTHTR specialist teams and safeguarding team to ensure high quality care, parallel assessment, and collaborative care.

- Support the workforce to complete collaborative risk management plans for our patients prior to specialist mental health assessments.

- Improve patient experience as a result of clinical input, and feedback from patients, families and carers.

- Up skill the workforce by leading Mental Health Champions, attending MDT meetings or Best Interest meetings.

- Be part of policy review, service development and ensuring learning is put into action.

-To support the process of investigation , attending Rapid Incident Reviews and lessons learned from patient experience.

- To work closely with mental health services, developing individualised care plans and supporting LTHTR teams to provide individualised care.

- To ensure patient rights are upheld in context the the Mental Health Act

About us

We have 10000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients and working alongside families and carers. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area and give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & South Cumbria.

Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients and staff, ensuring we keep thriving and delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.

You'll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fabulous people and have new work experiences. You'll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills and enhance your career path.

You'll make an impact, be challenged to think differently , be bold and help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something to be really proud of.

The Trust is committed to continuous improvement and our Mental health Strategy highlights the passion to continuously improve the journey for our patients with a mental health difficulty. This role provides the opportunity to work clinically and operationally to build a skilled workforce and support for our patients, families and carers.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role of Mental Health Specialist Practitioner is an important position that will ensure excellent standards of care for patients who have a mental health diagnosis or support need.

• The post holder will guide the Mental Health strategy and lead on actions where required.
• Maintain oversight / an involvement with patients (where necessary) under the care Mental Health services (the Mental Health Liaison Team or CAMHS) and act as a conduit between LTHTR and LSCFT MHLT/ mental health community services/Eating Disorder services.
• The post holder will provide timely advice and support around the care of the patient with a mental health need to multidisciplinary teams to ensure parallel assessment is completed, holistic care is provided and risk behaviours are collaboratively managed with the patient.
• The post holder will respond to any Safeguarding Duty calls which require any specific specialist advice in relation to mental health.
• Advice will be given by the post holder in line with safeguarding policies, national drivers and best practice guidelines (for example MHA or NICE).
• Facilitate open and easy access to LTHTR for patients with a mental health including the consideration of Reasonable Adjustments.
• Design, implement and evaluate mental health training to ensure staff confidence and competence to support patients with a mental health.
• Ensure patients rights are maintained under Statutory frameworks, providing advice and support in the Mental Health Act, use of mental capacity and DoLS applications (at times alongside the MCA/DoLS Lead and / or Safeguarding Practitioners).
• Act in a specialist link role for pathways, and for timely and safe discharges for people with a mental health.
• To understand risk behaviours and vulnerabilities that may result from the patients mental disorder and act as a specialist resource supporting care and collaborative risk management, completing risk assessments as needed.

The post holder will act as an expert resource and point of contact for all LTHTR staff and other professionals.

• Work collaboratively with the Divisions across the Trust, safeguarding team and with other agencies to ensure high quality care for patients with a mental health.
• To provide support and advice regarding the care of patients with a mental health prior to assessment from mental health services, during periods of care, and act as a conduit to external agencies for discharge pathways.
• To attend MDT, Best interest, Strategy meetings where required to ensure advice around mental health is given.
• To act as a role model for staff in caring for patients with a mental health support need
• To evidence a good knowledge of the Safeguarding legislation and agenda in context of caring for vulnerable children, young people and adults.
• Ensure that clinical practices are in keeping with relevant legislation and policy.
• Provide support and guidance to wards and departments who are caring for patients with high risk behaviour associated with mental health needs, including risk management, collaborative care, parallel assessment from mental health services, and implementing lessons learned from Rapid Incident Reviews or datix.
• Ensure any restrictive practices for patients with mental health need are conducted in a safe manner, with guidelines being followed and appropriate legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act, MCA/DoLS.
• To support the process of Investigation, response to complaints and sharing of Lessons Learned

Actively work with the appropriate service users, healthcare professionals, support staff and external agencies to support professional development and practice.

• To promote patient / service-user involvement within any service-development project, training and working groups.
• Promote best practice in the care of patients with a mental health support need to throughout the Trust by enabling nurses, clinicians, managers and other staff to fulfil their defined roles and responsibilities.
• To design, implement and evaluate training on mental health
• To work in partnership with multi-professional / education staff where appropriate to increase the skills of staff.
• Work closely with the senior management team with regards to continual improvements for patients with mental health.
• Ensure the Trust Intranet provides information / up to date guidance in mental health.
• To work closely with Customer Care / Patient experience lead improving patient, family and carer experience.
• To be an active member in external multi-agency forums in relation to mental health (for example Self-harm steering groups, Multiagency groups), develop practice in line with local and national plans and monitor quality.
• To develop policies and guidance in relation to supporting the needs of patients with a mental health support need.

Person Specification

Qualifcations and Education

Essential

• Professional Registration with the appropriate Professional Body including - - Nursing - NMC registration (RMN) - Registered Social Worker (Social Work England) - Occupational Therapy (Allied Health Professional)
• Evidence of leadership training, qualification or relevant experience of a leadership role.
• Educated to degree level, working towards (or relevant experience).

Desirable

• Level 4 ILM (Institute of leadership and Management) or equivalent experience.
• Post registration training in mental health - children and / or adults.
• Post registration training in Safeguarding and MCA

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people with a mental health support need.
• Experience of leading clinical practice in mental health, guiding care planning and risk management.
• Evidence of leading others in the quality of care, including audit, patient collaboration and benchmarking to standards.
• Knowledge of safeguarding adults and children's agenda's.
• Knowledge and experience of Clinical Governance and the relevance to practice.
• Intermediate knowledge of the Mental Health Act and its implications for practice and patient care.
• Intermediate knowledge of Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, and its implications for practice.
• Ability to design, implement and evaluate a training programme relating to mental health.

Desirable

• Experience of working within an Acute Hospital
• Demonstrable ability for designing, implementing and capturing data, analysis and evaluation skills
• Working with a range of professionals across differing organisations and boundaries
• Knowledge of NICE guidelines for mental health.
• Evidence of improving systems to improve patient care and / or implement changes to services to improve care.

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood

Preston

PR9 2HT

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

438-PB0428-B