The Bognor Assessment and Treatment Service are looking for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner who has a keen interest in working in a supportive multi-disciplinary setting with patients experiencing mental health difficulties. Historically the role of the duty worker was shared between care-coordinators on a rota basis but after a successful trial we are establishing this new role within the team as a sole, full-time, duty worker.

The usual hours of work are Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.

Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.

You will be joining a warm, friendly, highly supportive team of dedicated colleagues who work together to offer the best possible service to the people we see.

This post offers a Golden Hello, or a Relocation package up to a maximum of £2000. (pro rata applies and subject to terms and conditions. Please see attached Protocol document).

To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID

Main duties of the job

• To maintain patient safety, in collaboration with patients, carers and families.
• To maintain professional standards of care at all times
• Responsible for recognising the potential for or signs of patient harm, abuse or neglect and taking all reasonable steps to protect the patient.
• Provides clinical advice on complex issues to other members of the clinical team and staff from other disciplines.
• Undertakes risk assessments.
• Responsible for decision making and coordination in a crisis situation.
• Take responsibility for the management of complex people who present to the team when their Care Coordinator / Lead Professional is absent from work and the person requires an urgent response.
• Working to support the team where Intensive Home-Based Treatment is required.
• To liaise with other services eg: Police; A & E as required.
• Responsible for participating in the setting of quality standards and offering a consistent approach to people open within the team.
• Support the team to deliver a range of interventions in accordance with the agreed plan of care.
• Maintain an effective reporting system by observing and reporting verbally and in writing on patient conditions.
• Support members of the team with other specialist assessments, as required for example, application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005; Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, s42 Care Act regarding Safeguarding Adults and Making Safeguarding Personal.

About us

The NHS is changing and with more emphasis on community-based care means there's never been a better time to join us. Over the next three years, community mental health services are going to be undergoing a real transformation and you could be part of these exciting developments. Our community mental health teams will become part of a much more integrated network of services and our mental health clinicians will be central in driving the changes, in close partnership with our primary and third sector colleagues.

We recognise that working in mental health can be stressful so we prioritise staff welfare, providing regular supervision, reflective practice, mentoring, and any other support that our clinicians need to ensure their wellbeing.

If you are a band 5 or newly qualified nurse with previous mental health experience who has a desire to develop into a community mental health nurse role, please contact us as we would be delighted to talk about any development opportunities.

We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact marylinda.gororo @spft.nhs.uk (Interim Service Manager) if you want to know more about the role.

Job description Job responsibilities

Excellent communication skills are needed in the role in regard to communicating with all stakeholders including service users, third sector providers, internal and external agencies and services.

Ideally, we would prefer someone who has experience of supporting service users with mental health problems (and we positively encourage applicants with lived experience). An inclusive and positive attitude is essential. If your current role includes duty work, that will be an advantage in your application. We always provide a robust induction and the wellbeing of our team is always thought about. Supervision, appraisal and training are all highly valued and prioritized.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered Nurse / health professional with current registration appropriate to the job role
• Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB / professional equivalent
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge/Experience Essential

• Significant post qualifying experience in the relevant care group (mental health or neurodevelopmental)
• Experience of working alongside people with complex health problems in the designated care group
• Experience of supervising staff
• Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
• Experience of working consultatively with professionals
• Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments
• Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non statutory teams and agencies
• Experience of working within the CPA process
• Understanding of clinical governance
• Previous experience of working in the community

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

354-AC-20633