The Forensic Liaison & Diversion (L& D) Service in South West London is looking for a Band 6 professionally registered Mental Health Practitioner, Registered Mental Health Nurse or Allied Health professional, to join our service.
If you are a nurse, OT or social worker with experience within an acute, crisis, community or forensic mental health setting and looking for a new challenge then we want to hear from you. The Forensic L& D service is looking for a Mental Health Professional to join our dedicated and dynamic team in providing safe and effective assessments within police custody suites and Magistrates Court. Specifically, we are looking for someone enthusiastic, motivated and experienced, who can work in a team as well as autonomously.
Police Vetting:
The position can only formally be offered subject to successful Police Vetting to enable you to work in police custody locations. As such, you will be subjected to a significantly higher level of vetting compared with your DBS. This vetting is conducted by the Metropolitan Police. It is essentially a detailed background check. One of the most essential criteria is that you are required to have resided in the UK for at least 3 years.
Main duties of the job
The Forensic L& D Service works within an all ages and vulnerability model and identifies people who have mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders. The service can then support people through the early stages of the criminal system pathway, refer them for appropriate health or social care or enable them to be diverted away from the criminal justice system into a more appropriate setting, such as hospital if required.
The service aims to improve overall health outcomes for people and to support people in the reduction of re-offending. It also aims to identify vulnerabilities in people earlier on which reduces the likelihood that people will reach a crisis-point and helps to ensure the right support can be put in place from the start.
The successful applicant will work on a rota system with other Band 6 colleagues, covering both Wandsworth Police Custody Suite and Wimbledon Magistrates Court and will be expected to work unsocial hours including weekends and bank holidays.
As a mental health practitioner based within the criminal justice system you are required to go through Police Vetting Clearance as part of your application process which we will support you with. It is an essential part of the application process therefore if you fail Police Vetting we will not be in a position to formally offer you the role.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti-racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide specialist knowledge on mental health and other vulnerabilities within the criminal justice system namely police stations and the courts within the Trust's catchment area, providing expert advice and consultation with colleagues in the criminal justice system and mental health services.
To work within codes of practice and professional guidelines and to be accountable for own professional practice.
Ensure observance and the working of all relevant legal and statutory requirements.
Required to act within broad occupational policies without guidance or direct supervision.
To maintain client confidentiality at all times.
To participate fully in continuous professional development and supervision.
To regularly provide mentorship and supervision to students on placement.
To collect and implement data from assessments made in the police stations and courts, within the Trust's catchment area, which will assist in developing the service through review and research providing evidence to inform future service provision.
When required to provide clinical assessments/reports to the courts, mental health services and prisons (both healthcare and safer custody) to ensure a smooth informed pathway of care.
Assisting senior staff in ensuring that the team performs effectively and efficiently in providing high quality provision.
Required to make clinical judgments on situations as they arise and respond using appropriate contingencies thereby ensuring the safety of the client and community at large.
To work within the guidelines of the Trust professional policies and procedures.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
* Experience in working within complex Mental Health at Band 5 or above for 2 years which includes working within a forensic and/or community setting and or with experience in working with Mental Health Offenders.
* Experience in undertaking detailed assessments of an individual's mental health, vulnerabilities and risks and to communicate these effectively.
* A robust understanding of risk assessment and management strategies.
* Experience of providing professional support/supervision and motivation of staff.
* Experience of providing professional support and supervision including mentoring.
* Experience of implementing the principles and practice of the Recovery Approach.
* Experience of implementing the principles of Trauma-Informed practice.
* Experience of multi-professional and multi-agency collaboration including working in partnership with other statutory and voluntary organisations.
Desirable
* Experience in the crisis/acute care pathway i.e. liaison psychiatry, home treatment or S136 suite.
* Experience of engaging/supporting clinical research projects.
* Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas.
* Experience of teaching/training e.g. lecturer practitioner /preceptorship.
Training & Qualifications
Essential
* Relevant professional qualification at degree level.
* Professional registration.
Desirable
* Masters level or have other relevant experience.
Knowledge
Essential
* Knowledge of relevant Professional and Clinical legislation relating to the service.
* Knowledge of Safeguarding policies and procedures.
* Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act, Care Act, Housing Act, Quality & Safety Governance, Clinic audit and relevant national policies.
* An understanding of effective systems for integrated governance and the management of clinical and non-clinical risks.
* Understanding of Health and Social Care Governance.
* Good understanding of Safeguarding and how to raise an alert.
* Knowledge of the principles of the Recovery Approach.
* Knowledge of the principles of Trauma-Informed practice.
* Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role.
Desirable
* Understanding of The Bradley Report in relation to L& D services.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
* Able to hold professionals and peers to account including professional resilience, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
* Ability to manage complex and challenging behaviour.
* Good verbal and written skills, in addition to good interpersonal skills.
* Ability to maintain boundaries and professional boundaries with both service users and other stakeholder/ professional colleagues.
* Ability to provide and receive complex and emotive information with staff, service users, carers and other stakeholders.
* Ability to effectively deal with aggression as well as exposure to distressing emotional situations related to serious offending.
* Good IT skills.
Desirable
* Problem solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework.
Employer details
Employer name
South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address
Springfield University Hospital
15 Springfield Drive
London
SW17 0YF
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
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