Full Time - 37.5 Hours Per Week

An exciting position has arisen in the Calderdale Home Treatment Team, for a Band 6 Police Liaison Practitioner

The working hours will be 6pm till 6 am, full time or part time post.

We are seeking an experienced practitioner who has an interest in working within our busy crisis pathway.

Working from the police patrol room and Home Treatment Team office you will be expected to offer, support and advice to officers attending incidents where there are mental health concerns.

The role encompasses triaging police logs and advising on the most appropriate form of action. Support calls to individuals may be required and there will be occasions where it is necessary to attend incidents in the community with officers, to facilitate comprehensive mental health assessments. You may also have occasional need to assess individuals at the police station if required.

You will advise on the appropriate pathways and signpost to various agencies where indicated, reducing the need for any police interventions and avoiding the use of section 136 (MHA) where appropriate. we practice proactively to avert a crisis and de-escalate situations which may be highly charged.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

Main duties of the job

A background in crisis / liaison work would be an advantage but more importantly you will be confident in working independently, be resilient and enjoy a challenge with a can do approach and attitude. You must be able to formulate and document plans and strategies to manage risk effectively whilst involving the service user, police colleagues, family and carers. The environment can be fast paced so an ability to work under pressure is a must.

The successful applicant must have experience in risk assessment within an acute setting, be highly motivated and feel confident in working with service users who have complex mental health and social needs.

The team has an excellent relationship with the criminal justice system as well as health and social care agencies and have been very successful in the reduction of S136 detentions.

We share good relationships with police officers who report they feel more confident when dealing with individuals and it is essential that we continue to foster these relations.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

To work as a senior member of the police liaison team providing comprehensive mental health assessments for those in crisis, identify care pathways and offer support and advice to local police who come into contact with those who have mental health issues.

The successful applicant will work in the police station and maintain close links with mental health services, social care and other voluntary agencies.

This involves a commitment to close partnership working with both statutory and voluntary sector agencies and a commitment to working with a complex and diverse range of individuals with varying needs.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

To attend with or without the police, varying community settings and provide mental health assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways for individuals where a potential mental health or learning disability need has been identified.

To provide the police with written information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion.

To work closely and build links with all officers, acting as a single point of contact for mental health.

Facilitate mental health act assessments at the police station or in the community if clinically indicated.

To be proficient in all aspects of care and risk management associated with the role of lead professional, whilst referring to appropriate community teams.

To provide specialist advice and service to the police where indicated.

To provide mental health information that is proportionate in order to provide the best outcome for the person, where a potential mental health need has been identified.

To have the interpersonal skills necessary to develop a therapeutic alliance with emotionally and psychologically disturbed clients and their carers enabling the client to accept responsibility for their personal wellbeing appropriate to their level of cognitive functioning.

To work collaboratively with clients, carers and multiple other agencies to provide effective care to optimise and maintain clients mental state and overall functioning.

To have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding or current issues and research relevant to the legislative framework and systems in which mental health care is delivered e.g. CPA, MHA (1983), S136.

To take personal responsibility and supervise junior staff, ensuring the maintenance of written and electronic client and Trust records including inputting data related to own work activity and to be accountable for your own professional practice.

To participate in the development of and practice within the policies and procedures of the Trust and adhere to NHS and NMC guidelines or appropriate governing body specific to professional role.

To have an understanding or and participate in the clinical audit process within health and social care.

To be responsible for providing training to the Police, Police liaison practitioners and wider IHBTT colleagues re own discipline.

To promote and disseminate evidence based practice relevant to the Liaison and Diversion and the criminal justice system to individuals and target groups within the health and social care community, through the development and delivery or appropriate training.

To participate in the Trusts appraisal system taking responsibility for own continues professional development, keeping abreast of current research and evidence base and participating in training and development opportunities.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge/Skills

Essential

• Experience of carrying out complex risk assessment and development comprehensive packages of care to meet individual needs and management associated risks.
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication.
• Skills in specialist assessments, negotiation, engagement and teamwork.

Desirable

• Recognised qualification in clinical supervision.
• Experience of substance misuse.
• Relapse prevention.
• Use of assessment tools.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Demonstrate ability to be flexible, self-motivated and work in M.D.T. setting and ability to work with Partnership agencies.
• Ability to prioritise workload.
• Ability to travel across the Trust as appropriate to the role
• Ability to work unsocial hours

Qualifications

Essential

• A Professional Qualification at degree level or equivalent in either mental health nursing or social work.
• Hold current registration with relevant professional body
• Evidence of post registration training and development

Desirable

• An NMC approved mentorship qualification, such as Supporting Learning in Practice (SLiP) or equivalent, and evidence of ongoing mentoring activity.
• Equivalent level of teaching mentoring qualification.

Training

Essential

• Working knowledge of the MHA 1983, CPA and other relevant codes of practice.

Desirable

• Training in P.S.I. and C.B.T.
• HCR-20

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people who are difficult to engage having developed through theoretical and practical knowledge of working with people with severe and enduring mental illness.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing situations.
• Substantial experience of practice at a senior level working autonomously and responsibility of supervising others.
• Substantial experience in community setting.
• Evidence of leadership skills and experience of supervising other staff.
• Experience of support carers and families.
• A proven commitment to working in partnership with service users and carers in the delivery of effective services

Desirable

• Experience/training in Research.

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Willowdale

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Halifax

HX30PW

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9378-CK1815A