Community Psychiatric Nurse

Job overview

A valuable substantive job opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated band 6 practitioner (RMN) to work within the team. This is an innovative service commissioned for Merton residents, serving as the primary access point for mental health referrals into secondary care. The post holder will be responsible for conducting mental health assessments for people who are referred by a variety of agencies, including self-referrals, and the post holder will contribute to the triaging of these cases by conducting risk assessments by variable forms of communication including telephone, e-consultation and face to face review. These assessments will be conducted at the Wilson Hospital site and variable community settings such as patient homes depending on the nature of need identified during the triage process. The post holder will also be responsible for identifying safeguarding concerns, and undertaking plans of action to help mitigate/reduce identified safeguarding risks.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will carry an assessment caseload and be responsible for the management and planning of those service users, under the supervision of the Team Manager and Consultant Psychiatrist, including discharge to alternative primary care services, or onward referral to secondary care or specialist teams within the trust. The Post holder will also require a degree of autonomy, and robust assessment/formulating skills are essential. Experience in crisis management and an ability to work flexibly will be an advantage given the high volume of referrals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working autonomously within the parameters of the role leading and supporting junior staff and wider care team to implement the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.

Leading on and undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support:

Co-ordinating and evaluating collaborative patient centred care; getting feedback and improving plans with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

Liaising and working positively with members of the multi- disciplinary team and partner organisations.

Administering, and monitoring the side-effects of, medication; monitoring service user compliance. Safety; safe custody of medicines, sharps, clinical equipment, report all incidents following trust policy.

Leading and supporting/teaching junior staff on risk assessment and risk management that involves making decisions based on knowledge of the research evidence, knowledge of the individual service user and their social context, knowledge of the service user’s own experience and clinical judgment.

Supporting and supervising junior staff to develop the management of care needs through: Initial data collection, Monitoring of individual service user / patient progress, Feedback and discussion

Producing reports and in-care reviews. Devising a plan of care and interventions in partnership with service user, carer and MDT.

Coordinating junior staff and the wider care team in providing hands-on care to service users and evaluating processes of care delivered. This will include: Undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non- judgmental way.

Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of maintaining the service user’s respect and dignity at all times and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.

Ensuring the monitoring and recording service user clinical observations are undertaken, such as physical observations and vital signs and treating or escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that does not fulfil the personal parameters to the relevant professional for treatment. Promote healthy lifestyles and give health promotion advice and support.

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.