Bank Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview

The Criminal Justice Team are looking for Bank  Senior Mental Health Practitioners (Band 7) to join their team based at Wotton Lawn Hospital, Gloucester.

The CJLS (Criminal Justice Liaison Service) provides an all-age, all vulnerabilities service. The successful applicant will be working with people within the criminal justice system, where a potential mental health need or other vulnerability is suspected and further assessment is  indicated, to inform disposal of the case and to identify robust care pathways.

The successful applicant will work in the police custody suites, and courts, as well as with those attending voluntary interviews or leaving prison; working with people within the criminal justice system where potential mental health, learning disability or other vulnerability need is suspected and further assessment is indicated to inform disposal of the case and to identify care pathways for appropriate onward referral/support.

Main duties of the job

Working in the police custody suites, and courts, as well as with those attending voluntary interviews or leaving prison; working with people within the criminal justice system where potential mental health, learning disability or other vulnerability need is suspected.

The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• To provide a specialised range of clinical assessments/advice relevant to the service user and have knowledge of evidence-based models of practice and current developments within criminal justice.
• Refer appropriate cases to the mental health services ensuring timely access
• Refer appropriate cases to primary and third sector providers ensuring timely access to services
• To work in partnership with criminal justice staff in the assessment of individuals and make recommendations for custody or non-custodial options.
• Develop contingency plans with partner agencies for the most prolific offenders.
• To monitor, evaluate recommendations for disposal in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of interventions.
• To discuss with the individual, and when appropriate, with their carers, their health problems and how they see and understand them, facilitating a process of developing their understanding and maintaining their hope for the future.
• To develop professional networks and keep abreast of local resources; third sector partners, primary care, housing, education, social care and other statutory organisations in order to ensure that the service user is able to navigate the full health, criminal justice and social care system.
• To establish robust communication networks with criminal justice partners other health workers and agencies.
• To promote awareness of the professional role within the team and across the criminal justice service.
• To demonstrate effective communication skills with people in an age appropriate way and those whose understanding may be impaired. Making adaptions/appropriate reasonable adjustments to cater for the individual’s needs.
• Specialist skills/knowledge/experience relating to all-ages/all health vulnerabilities.
• Be able to employ higher level written and oral communication skills. Demonstrate the ability to communicate, negotiate and problem solve clearly and sensitively in situations that are contentious and/or hostile/emotive and or communicate clear decisions and rationale when agreement cannot be reached.
• To apply specialist skills and knowledge in order to establish professional competence and fitness to practice.
• To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.

As part of our Voluntary Interview pathway, screening referrals and where appropriate offering an assessment of an individual’s health vulnerabilities for those attending a Police Voluntary Interview, aiming to replicate the level of service and support offered to those who have been arrested and are seen in Police custody.