Community Mental Health Nurse

Job overview

Hold a caseload of service users that whilst having severe mental illness are relatively stable or require lower level input within our service.

Administer depot medications both on-site and in service users homes. Help run our depot clinics at East Glade and Argyll House.

Review stable service users prescribed Clozapine.

Keep all documentation up to date for your caseload. Manage your own clinical diary with support from administrator.

Engage with our weekly MDT meetings both by bringing appropriate queries there and being involved in other discussions utilising existing knowledge and experience.

Support the duty team 4 times a month in offering support outside of planned appointments.

Engage with external agencies as required to support the service users mental health.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work within a multi-disciplinary service under the supervision of experienced staff, and core responsibilities will include:

• Acting as a Named Worker for a designated caseload to ensure service users receive a consistent approach and a named person to contact. This will involve building a working relationship and to promote an individual’s ability to manage their own needs and independence.
• As a named worker you will work in collaboration with the Multidisciplinary team to support the overall care and treatment plan of the individual.
• Undertake ongoing full needs strength assessments, risk assessment & care plan.
• Participate in joint reviews, assessments where risk or joint visits are indicated by the MDT.
• Contribute to/participate in multi-disciplinary service development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

General requirements

• Maintain NMC/ registration/re-validation and adhere to professional guidelines and code of conduct.
• Work within the framework of relevant policy and legislation both local and national.

Principal duties

Clinical:

• Carry out comprehensive reassessments of an individual’s health needs in a variety of settings and agree the most appropriate course of action.
• To reassess, evaluate and manage clinical risk.
• To formulate a plan of care based on identified need.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions as appropriate.
• Review effectiveness of care plan at regular intervals.
• To work collaboratively with service users, carers and partner agencies.
• Undertake all work in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Act in accordance with the Community Mental Health Framework.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Primary Care colleagues.
• Work in collaboration with the Safeguarding Manager to undertake Safeguarding Investigations when required within the team
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records in line with data quality guidance, legislation and policy.
• Maintaining an understanding of social care needs and how to navigate and signpost to social care services.

Supervision:

• Regularly review own caseload with supervisor to promote efficacy and contribute to the overall management of Service.
• Deliver supervision and contributing to PDR processes with more junior members of staff.
• Participate in own PDR process, identifying training and development needs, and pursuing relevant actions to maintain and improve level of competence and effective contribution

Service development

Education and Training:

• Act as mentor to learner, keep up to date with relevant course and curriculum developments.
• Participate in training relevant to role.
• Promote insight and understanding of mental health issues to service users, carers, and other agencies.
• Maintain the appropriate level of mandatory training