Clinical Practitioner

Job overview

We are seeking to recruit an experienced, motivated clinical practitioner within the Rough Sleeping and Mental Health Programme (RAMHP). The post holder will provide assertive, trauma informed mental health support through outreach; undertake comprehensive assessments, risk management and care planning, care needs assessment and safeguarding alerts as necessary.

RAMHP is an Oxleas Foundation Trust service that aims to improve the mental health of people sleeping rough in the London Broughs of Bromley, Bexley, and Greenwich. The role involves developing close operational working links with other advocacy and support services in the non-profit sector and will enhance, fill gaps, build bridges between services, and help existing services work together more effectively so that rough sleepers are rapidly identified, assessed, supported, and directed so that their recovery is sustained.

RAMHP is designed to complement, strengthen, and enhance existing provision, becoming part of a homeless wellbeing pathway. The service will work within Oxleas and allow access to a range of training and development resources, seminars, clinical support, supervision, and access to the Quality Improvement Programme.

A central aspect of the role is ensuring that the service provides comprehensive, adaptable, and trauma informed focused care with meaningful involvement of service users. The post holder will carry out joint outreach as may be needed, including outside of the usual 9- 5 work hours.

Main duties of the job

• To carry out the initial assessments of service users who meet the criteria for the Rough Sleepers Mental Health Project.
• To evaluate effectiveness whilst working within the framework of Risk Assessment.
• To assess, plan, set goals with the service user; implement and evaluate care using psycho-social interventions and skills to meet individual needs.
• To actively support the person in self-management of their symptoms through the formation of their care plan.
• Liaise with other services and undertake referrals to other services.
• To respond to emergency referrals within a timely fashion and to agree protocols and targets.
• To develop and implement appropriate Health Promotion strategies.
• To refer for carers’ assessments and provide information and support to carers as appropriate.
• To be responsible for accurate record keeping in line with Trust, NMC and HCPC policies.
• To respond in an appropriate manner to emotional distress resulting from mental ill health and social deprivation.
• To attempt to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations and to be supportive to colleagues in promoting and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.
• Manage distressing and challenging situations in a sensitive and non-threatening way to reduce anxieties and promote effective resolutions. Demonstrate appropriate emotional self-regulation and always maintain professional boundaries.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Significant knowledge, awareness and understanding of Mental Health Law, including legislation of relevance to the community sector including the Community Care Act (2015) treatment legislation, the Care Programme Approach (2008) and the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
• To be personally responsible and professionally accountable for a caseload as part of the RAMHP team and lead and manage the work of others as required.
• Co-ordinating care, communicating with other professionals involved in the care and ensuring regular reviews are held as required. This will include communication with other teams for example in-patient services through.
• attendance at ward meetings and with interface services e.g., Drug and alcohol services and voluntary organisations where appropriate.
• Independently carrying out assessment, care planning and care coordination with excellent interpersonal skills, ability to listen to others’ views, respect, and value individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Leading meetings with community team members on a regular basis to discuss report and evaluate client care.
• Ensuring a flexible approach in care provision with focus on choice and social inclusion opportunities.
• Recognising and addressing concerns about the physical health needs of service users with long term conditions (e.g., diabetes, asthma etc.); escalating these concerns as necessary to senior members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Encouraging and empowering service users to have an optimum level of responsibility for their individual programme of care and with their consent, where appropriate, seeking the cooperation of friends, relatives, and carers following ‘recovery’ principles and approaches.
• Supporting service users to adopt recovery strategies that promote their wellbeing, healthy lifestyle, independence, and self-care.
• Reporting any incident or Serious Untoward Incidents that may take place in a community setting and provide reports and accurate records relating to the incident.
• Working safely to ensure safe custody of medicines, sharps, and clinical equipment in a community setting; and reporting of all incidents following Trust Policy.
• Recognising and responding appropriately to “self-harm and suicide prevention regarding the risks in community settings, in line with Trust policies and training guidelines.
• Understanding and working within the boundaries of the Lone Working Policy and awareness of Personal Safety in a community setting, including clear and updated communication with colleagues.
• Responding to urgent situations, emergencies or crises using protocols specific to the local community setting.