The post holder will assess service users who remain acutely unwell for the suitability of home treatment as an alternative to continuing hospital admission. Following assessment, the post holder will co-produce a care plan with the service user, which will include identification of local community assets to support discharge from hospital and continuing community care.
The post holder will attend any meetings with the inpatient staff, ward rounds, bed management meetings, and MDT meetings (as required) to discuss, screen, and assess actual and potential referrals for early discharge.
Through local intelligence and tracking, the post holder will identify service users who may be appropriate for early discharge and facilitate assessment. If, after assessment, the service user is not accepted for home treatment, the post holder will clearly identify the reasons why early discharge is not appropriate and what changes to the service user's presentation need to occur before a referral for early discharge will be reconsidered.
There will also be an expectation that the post holder provides input to Mental Health Act assessments regarding the consideration of potential community options. Advice will also extend to external providers who have been commissioned to provide acute inpatient services on behalf of NHFT.
Main duties of the job
* To undertake assessments of service users who may be suitable for early discharge from hospital.
* To be responsible for the assessment of service user care needs, which may be complex, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of programmes of care in the community.
* To ensure programmes of care are co-produced with service users and that carers are kept up to date and relevant, available within the MDT to refer to when needed.
* To undertake, co-producing where possible, risk assessments and risk management strategies for service users who may be complex and who present with risk factors and risk-taking behaviour.
* To actively utilise clinical skills to conduct comprehensive service-user care reviews.
* Establish, maintain, and effectively manage barriers to communication with service users and carers to develop a therapeutic relationship within which highly sensitive, distressing health conditions and complex issues will need to be addressed; this may include using highly skilled and effective communication to impart information relating to assessment and the basis for early discharge.
* To work with external agencies to facilitate seamless pathways of care for service users and carers.
* To provide the highest standards of care utilizing clinical skills and working in collaboration with the MDT to improve and maintain the quality and safety of service user care.
About us
NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health, and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work, or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, focusing on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development, and growth.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post is a countywide post primarily based at the Welland Centre, Kettering, with an occasional requirement to attend Berrywood Hospital, Northampton.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
* Registered mental health practitioner (Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist).
Desirable
* Knowledge/experience with inpatient ward/UCAT function.
Experience
Essential
* Car driver and access to own car.
Desirable
* Acute inpatient and adult community mental health experience.
* Demonstrable knowledge/understanding and experience working with people with complex mental health needs.
Employer details
Employer name
Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address
Dryland Block, St Marys Hospital
London Road
Kettering
NN157PW
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
270-TF654-MH-A #J-18808-Ljbffr