The Looked-after Children's Mental Health Team sits within the Integrated LAC Health Service to meet the emotional and mental health needs of children in care. NHFT is rated Outstanding by CQC and the Integrated LAC Health Service is highly regarded in the local area and the team are passionate about improving the mental health outcomes for children in care.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to fulfil the Specialist Mental Health Practitioner role to contribute to the high-quality service we provide. This exciting and varied role will sit within a well-established and highly specialised multi-disciplinary team that is very supportive.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will work with children, young people and their carers, as well as providing support and advice to other staff and agencies, including Social Workers within the Local Authority.

The clinical part of the role will involve providing direct mental health assessments and interventions to individuals presenting with complex emotional and mental health needs. A key part of the role will involve allocated Duty days responding to urgent queries and undertaking assessment of young people presenting in crisis. Through collaborative risk assessment the post-holder will develop appropriate safety plans and aim to reduce hospital admission and agree a robust community package of care.

The ideal candidate will have an adaptable and flexible approach to their work and be committed to providing a high-quality service. You will need to be an enthusiastic and capable team player with excellent clinical skills in order to take the service forward in a positive way.

About us

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools.We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

Job description Job responsibilities

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Relevant professional qualification - entitlement to professional registration

Desirable

• Post-graduate qualification in relevant therapy or intevention
• Training in mentoring or supervising students / trainees

Experience Essential

• Direct work experience with children and young people
• Direct work experience in mental health setting
• Experience of assessments and therapeutic interventions
• Experience of conducting risk assessments in a clinical role

Desirable

• Experience working with children in care
• Experience conducting risk assessments for children and adolescents
• Experience working with foster carers or residential homes
• Experience working with young people in crisis or high levels of emotional distress
• Experience delivering training to other professionals

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Ability to hold a caseload independently
• Able to build rapport with clients
• Able to work within a multi-disciplinary team
• Good communication skills - both verbal and written
• Ability to manage multiple and competing demands

Desirable

• Skilled in de-escalation or responding to people in distress

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of a range of mental health difficulties

Desirable

• Knowledge of child development and formation of attachment
• Knowledge of legislation relevant to children in care

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

270-TD579-ACS