Job summary
The Access Team is a busy and fast-paced service that provides a single point of entry and first level gate keeping into mental health services in Stockport. We screen and triage all referrals into the service. We undertake telephone triages, urgent and routine face to face assessments and onward referral to the most appropriate service, getting people the right care, at the right time and by the right service.
Main duties of the job
You will undertake comprehensive assessments of the health and social care needs of individuals who are referred to the service, in addition to comprehensive risk assessments. You will also coordinate assessment clinics and prioritise appointments. No one day is the same and you will need a flexible, creative and supportive approach within the team.
Following assessment you will be responsible for identifying appropriate management plans, follow up care, referrals and fast tracking of patients into specialist services.
As a senior mental health practitioner you will offer support and guidance to junior members of staff on the team.
About us
The Team operates from Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
The Access Team works closely with Healthy Minds, The Transition Team and other internal and external providers; such as the Stockport Prevention Alliance, Open Door and the Safe Haven.
Staff are expected to participate in the overall development of the service, ensuring that the principles of Clinical Governance underpin all developments.
It is expected that you will deliver care in accordance with all Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust policies and procedures, the Mental Health Act and community care legislation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties & Responsibilities
1. To participate in the duty worker rotation
2. To participate in the triage process of new referrals to the service.
3. To carry out thorough assessment of service users current mental health problems and individual needs, including a risk assessment.
4. To develop individualised packages of care for service users with mental health problems, including signposting where necessary, within the stepped care model (NICE, 2003), Fair Access to Care Services and the Care Programme Approach.
5. To identify the need for protection in line with safeguarding children and the Protection of Vulnerable Adult Policy and to comply with statutory obligations.
6. To liaise and negotiate with other professions, statutory and independent agencies to ensure the best possible service is provided to service users and carers and to appropriately signpost to other agencies.
7. To assist service users to effectively manage their emotional distress, using psychological evidence-based interventions.
8. To promote medication concordance through medication follow-up, where appropriate.
9. To evaluate systematically and record, outcomes of mental health interventions, adapting care on the basis of these evaluations.
10. To provide education and appropriate self-help resources to patients specific to individual needs.
11. To keep and store up to date written records and follow appropriate Pennine Care policies.
12. To participate in audit of the primary care mental health service if requested.
13. To provide supervision/mentorship to the junior primary care mental health workers and students.
14. To utilise managerial and clinical supervision to ensure that care and treatment are tailored to service users, family and community needs; that learning needs are identified and acted upon to ensure professional and personal development.
15. To work with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a culturally sensitive manner.
16. To participate in improving access and liaison activities within the Stockport Community.
17. To improve liaison with Stockport GPs and other agencies.
18. To attend and participate in regular departmental and governance meetings.
19. To take a lead role in project and developmental work within the department.
Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
20. RMN/RNMH/Social Worker equivalent
21. Completion of Preparation for Mentorship / Practice Teacher / Fieldwork Educator qualification or willingness to complete
22. Evidence of on-going CPD
Desirable
23. Degree - or working towards completion.
24. Non-medical prescribing qualification
25. Formal teaching qualification.
26. Further training in brief psychosocial interventions.
Experience
Essential
27. Significant post registration experience.
28. Proven experience of working with clients with complex needs.
29. Experience of working with individuals who present to mental health services in crisis and have symptoms of mental health illness
30. Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
31. Experience of providing supervision to junior staff
Desirable
32. Primary care mental health work experience
33. Experienced in the use of outcome measures such as CORE, PHQ9 and GAD7
34. Experience of working with a psychological model of care
35. Experience of triaging referrals.
Knowledge
Essential
36. Understanding of current mental health legislation, Safe Guarding and Child Protection Legislation
37. Awareness of NICE Guidance in the treatment of mental health problems and knowledge of treatments and interventions appropriate for individuals with mental health needs
38. Understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues.
39. Knowledge of psychosocial assessment and risk assessment/management processes
Skills and Abilities
Essential
40. Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills.
41. Ability to construct effective packages of care and risk management plans
42. Ability to deliver a range of evidence based interventions.
43. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
44. Comprehensive Skills
45. Ability to form productive working relationships with service users, carers and multi-disciplinary staff
46. Good organisational and prioritisation skills.
Desirable
47. Skills in planning, delivery and evaluation of training
48. Skills in the area of audit or research