Care Coordinator - Lewisham Early Intervention in Psychosis

Job overview

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and dynamic mental health practitioner to join Lewisham Early Intervention Service (LEIS). The post is open to qualified Nurses, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists.

This opportunity is ideally suited to an experienced Community Care Coordinator looking to develop specialist knowledge and expertise in delivering the Early Intervention (EI) model of care.

The team has been commended by students and former colleagues for it's passion and enthusiasm in supporting service users, along with its supportive team dynamic.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will undertake the responsibilities of a care coordinator, working within the Care Programme Approach for a defined caseload of service users and their carers. They will conduct initial assessments of those suspected to be experiencing a First Episode of Psychosis (FEP). They will engage service users with evidence-based psychosocial interventions in line with NICE guidelines, with a focus on hope, recovery and social inclusion.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Assessment: To be responsible for the assessment of newly referred adults with First Episode Psychosis and the subsequent presentation of findings to the wider team. To work with diagnostic uncertainty, providing ongoing comprehensive assessments and outcome monitoring for all service users within caseload. To undertake risk assessments regularly, involving all other health professionals/agencies involved. To ensure that risk assessments are regularly updated, are meaningful and are reflected in care plans.

2) Engagement: Assertively outreach difficult to engage clients. To meet service users regularly, as far as possible at a venue of their choice, be this at home, CMHT centre, education, work or recreational establishments to assist with engagement and encourage participation in treatment delivery as well as facilitating independence in all aspects of daily living.

3) Support: To provide ongoing care coordination of a designated caseload of service users who will be experiencing their first episode of psychosis. To provide support and advice in relation to service users regarding the issues concerning them. To work collaboratively with service users focusing on a recovery approach.

4) Interventions: To provide interventions relevant to a first episode client group. To ensure all interventions are age appropriate and that care is sensitive to the needs of black and minority ethnic service users. To provide low intensity CBT and Mindfulness interventions under supervision. To provide psycho-education to services users. To have a client-centred approach with a focus on re-socialisation and social inclusion.

5) Families and Carers: To involve families and carers in treatment plans where appropriate. This may require direct family interventions. Ensuring services are provided within guidance of the Children and Carers Acts. To ensure that the needs of Carers are assessed and the care services are provided as necessary. To provide families and carers with psycho-education.

6) MDT Working: To work in co-operation with members of the multi-disciplinary team and all other relevant health professionals to assess, develop, implement and evaluate high quality packages of client centred care. To form effective relationships with inpatient services to facilitate early effective discharge. To participate in Mental Health Act Assessments of service users that you are responsible for as appropriate. To take part in all clinical meetings.

7) Communication: To maintain accurate clinical documentation on designated caseload ensuring case notes are up to date as per guidance and in line with electronic patient journey system. To ensure effective verbal and written communication with all involved with delivery of care. The post holder will liaise with other disciplines and organisations to ensure that all issues affecting service user care are managed and communicated to a high standard.

8) Personal Development: To remain up to date with current/emerging good practice relating to community mental health services, in general and Early Intervention services in particular. To abide by the policies of SLAM NHS foundation Trust and Local Authority. To keep abreast of all developments pertaining to the provision of Community Mental Health Care. To contribute to effective MDT working. To meet regularly with Team Manager/Supervisor. To remain up to date with all mandatory training requirements. To undertake CPD as agreed with Team Leader. To provide supervision to other junior members of staff.

9) Miscellaneous: To participate in the team duty system. To provide cover for colleagues in their absence. To participate in research as requested. To undertake audit/clinical governance as required. To undertake other duties as requested by Clinical Service Lead and the LEIS Team Leader and to be willing to work from any location in the borough.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.