Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview

To work with service users and their families living in the borough of Tower Hamlets who are experiencing a mental health or psychological crisis in their own home as the least restrictive option, such that would warrant an admission to a Hospital.

To offer The staff will work with the Deputy Managers, Clinical and Operational Lead in supporting the continuous development of the service, ensuring safe and effective practice upholding the Trust values, with the service users at the centre of all care delivered.

Main duties of the job

To work with clients and their families living in the borough of Tower Hamlets who are experiencing a mental or psychological crisis, such that would warrant an admission to a hospital in their own homes.

They will work with the Operational Lead/Deputy Managers in supporting the continuous development of the service, ensuring safe and effective practice, upholding the Trust values with the service users, and upholding Trust standards of clinical practice.

Act as patient's advocate

Provide a safe and effective home-based assessment and treatment service as an alternative to inpatient care and early discharge from the wards in the least restrictive environment, including the Crisis House.

To act as crisis co-ordinator to a defined caseload of clients within the Home Treatment team.

To act as shift co-ordinator within the team, co-ordinating the work of colleagues to ensure a safe and effective crisis service is delivered.

To undertake a comprehensive (CAT) Crisis Assessment and Home Treatment Team assessment, including risk assessment, effectively and efficiently using the triage tool, over the telephone, or the relevant blue light emergency service is deployed.

To set up, implement, and review appropriate crisis care plans and to support and advise relatives and caregivers.

Take responsibility and deputise in the absence of senior staff for ensuring adequate staffing resources to provide the service

Be rotational and flexible, working according to the needs of the service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Develop and maintain a high standard of practice based on assessment through the use of psycho education, the Recovery Model, and supportive clinical management. • Liaise and establish good working relationships with referring agents, colleagues in Primary Care services, Social Services, Community Mental Health Teams, Assertive Outreach, Inpatient services, Criminal Justice, Voluntary Sector and other agencies as appropriate. • To have knowledge of and practice a range of therapeutic interventions available to reduce Page 2 of 8 distress for individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis. • Ability to work autonomously and within multidisciplinary team setting. • To work with the multi-disciplinary team in developing plans that offer supportive crisis care in the least restrictive way. • Act as a role model in the practice area, encouraging staff in teaching and supervision to sustain a supportive learning environment. • Be responsible for the maintenance and accurate recording of patient information in the documentation systems and to ensure the effective dissemination of service user information throughout the multidisciplinary team. • Ensure compliance with the requirements Safeguarding Adults and Children’s policies. To ensure that staff have the required knowledge and skills to work within these procedures to support the safety of vulnerable adults and children. • Recognize the role of advocacy, promote concept of autonomy and self-empowerment and ensure members of the team comply with this. • Have an understanding of the key performance indicators for the crisis service and ensure compliance with Trust CQUINs • Identify own educational needs ensuring professional updating and development as appropriate. • Ensure own compliance with mandatory training is maintained. • Ensure full potential through supervision, appraisals and performance management. • Ensure that you are suitably skilled in addressing the physical health needs of service users. • To represent the crisis response and home treatment team positively both internally and externally to the Trust.