The Mental Health Support Team in SEN schools are undergoing a major expansion, with our services across Hertfordshire and West Essex. We are seeking to appoint a motivated, committed, flexible and forward-thinking band 7 Senior Mental Health Practitioner, who has a range of experience within the mental health field.

This is a very exciting opportunity to be part of an expanding team and to participate in a fully funded qualification, at the university of Reading to become a fully qualified EMHP supervisor.

You will be working in a variety of school environments across Hertfordshire and West Essex, combined with being part of a virtual team to deliver our service. We operate from 7-7 Monday to Friday.

Main duties of the job

The post is permanent and will be full time however, the trust is open to exploring part time and flexible working.

The ideal candidate will be:

• A range of experience within the mental health field.
• Able to develop individual case formulations for all CYP integrating clinical assessment data with evidence based therapeutic models to plan interventions for CYP and collaboratively engage them in the process of therapy.
• Able to establish and maintain effective inter-agency and inter-team communication.
• Able to provide continued efficient and effective management of the team, providing leadership and supervision to a multi-disciplinary staff group.
• To provide specialist assessment, intervention, advice, and consultation on CYP's care to colleagues, professionals from other agencies and to other non-professional carers.
• Able to undertake risk assessment and risk management.
• Able to plan and to lead workshops and therapeutic groups.
• Able to maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings where there is a highly emotive atmosphere.
• Flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure.
• Able to work both in a team environment and autonomously.

About us

A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff

We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust visionWe welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages

We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now

You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you

Job description

Job responsibilities

A full valid driving license and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Closing date for applications will be midnight on 03th December 2023 with interviews running from the 11th December 2023. Interviews will be run using MS Teams and full details and instructions will be provided to successful candidates.

For further details / informal visits contact:

Sarah Garvey - MHST Team Lead, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust on 01727 732031 or email: hct.mhst@nhs.net

Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in relevant field Professional Qualification (RMN, DipSW, OT or equivalent) supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses plus further specialist training to master's equivalent level or Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology.
• Experience in relevant mental health/learning disability setting.
• Specialist knowledge within the field of clinical skills gained through theoretical and practical training and experience.
• Membership of relevant professional bodies

Desirable

• Approved mental health professional (AMHP).
• Further training in relevant areas of Autism, Learning Disability and mental health.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of risk assessment within a mental health or learning disability setting.
• Comprehensive assessment skills
• Significant experience of working clinically in a mental health and/or learning disability setting assessing, containing and managing complex cases in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Experience of working with people who have a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole course of presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the treat of physical abuse
• Knowledge of child development, child and adolescent mental health and a range of therapeutic models
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised therapies and assessment methodologies
• Multi-Disciplinary Team and multi-agency working
• Experience of dealing with Safeguarding Incidents.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and national policies
• Knowledge of evidence based practice
• An understanding of the impact of Learning Disability, Autism and mental health difficulties and challenging behaviour on family life.

Desirable

• To have good knowledge of local community services.
• Provision of effective clinical/practice supervision
• Experience of developing and delivering training and/or groups

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Ability to lead professionally and managerially.
• Ability to identify appropriate evidence based interventions for mental health and/or challenging behaviour.
• Ability to communicate effectively when under pressure and dealing with challenging phone calls.
• Ability to perform under pressure, to be able to analyse information effectively, therefore ensuring correct conclusion for action.
• Ability to prioritise workload.
• Evidence of well-developed critical decision-making skills
• Ability to access various sources of information.
• An ability to make autonomous clinical judgements involving highly complex facts and situations
• High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate effectively complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a range of audiences.
• An ability and commitment to work as a member of a team and effectively communicate with the team.
• Excellent IT skills including use of databases and spreadsheets.
• Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
• Ability to use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Ability to recognise the emotional consequences of working with children with distressing and life changing disorders and seek support if needed.
• Ability to recognise signs of stress and to seek appropriate support.
• Ability to work as part of a 'virtual team'.
• Ability to think clearly and express self.
• Ability to work with children & young people whose behaviour is personally challenging.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships
• Ability to manage potentially distressing telephone calls and situations.
• An ability to work effectively in a range of direct care settings with families, carers and staff.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
• Ability and willingness to work flexibly including evenings and weekends as required.

Personal Abilities

Essential

• An interest in, and commitment to, working with children who have a learning disability and/or an autistic spectrum disorder and/or mental health difficulties.
• Positive interpersonal skills
• Able to meet targets and deadlines in line with triage times and returning phone calls.
• Values that match positive behaviour ethos
• Good organisational skills and an ability to manage own workload
• Capable of using initiative and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Able to challenge and to be challenged.
• Professional attitude to work and team members.

Other Specifications

Essential

• A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010
• Willingness to travel to alternate locations to provide services.
• Eligible to live and work in the UK

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Address

Sandridge Gate Business Centre

Ronsons Way

St Albans

AL4 9XR



Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

812-MHST-23-SMHP-SG-10-A