Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
We are looking for a Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to lead the PWP provision within an integrated mental health team based at HMP Northumberland.
The North East Prison service provides Step 1 and 2 therapies into HMP Northumberland, HMP Frankland, HMP and YOI Low Newton, HMP Durham, HMP Holme House, HMP Kirklevington Grange, HMYOI Deerbolt and Derwentside IRC. The service delivers evidence-based talking therapies in line with the stepped care model and is part of an integrated service of healthcare called Reconnected to Health. This is led by Spectrum CIC with Humankind delivering substance misuse and Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust leading on mental health with Rethink as a partner.
Main duties of the job
You will lead the Rethink Mental Illness provision within an integrated mental health team based in HMP Northumberland. Working as part of an integrated primary care mental health team within the prison to provide high volume, low intensity interventions in line with PWP guidelines, which will be a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions for clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression, modelling best practice clinically and professionally.
This includes providing guided self-help in both 1:1 and group formats, in line with the current Step 2 IAPT guidelines. You will be part of the directorate-wide leadership team striving for excellence and ensuring clinically compliant services are provided in accordance with national frameworks and Rethink Mental Illness values and behaviours. You must be an accredited PWP, either with BPS or BABCP.
You will work with the following people and teams within Rethink Mental Illness:
* Associate Director for Criminal Justice and Care Navigation
* Head of Criminal Justice and Secure Care
* Head of Care Navigation
* Counsellors
* Health and Wellbeing Coaches
* Care Navigators
The team comprises a range of highly skilled professionals who work collaboratively to provide the highest quality of care for those with mental health needs within the prison and for Rethink Mental Illness employees, operating between 08:00 and 16:00, Monday to Friday.
About us
You will work as part of an integrated care mental health team delivering Step 1 interventions, working alongside other professionals to support the mental health of the prison population. The team supports people with common mental health problems in the self-management of their recovery, building a professional relationship of trust in a non-judgmental manner with every client as a basis for developing and enabling therapeutic relationships. This ranges from providing informal information, support, and signposting, facilitating group activities and forums, to developing and training Peer Mentors and delivering service user engagement activities. You will work alongside the other staff in the mental health team to deliver high-quality mental health support during an individual's time in prison and in onward planning for their release into the community.
Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity, and that's why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives, and lived experience of our people regardless of who they are or their background to help us become an inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation, and service provider that reflects the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.
Job responsibilities
* Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service and make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary; or steps-up the person's treatment to high intensity.
* Assess and support people with mental health problems in the self-management of their recovery.
* Undertake person-centred interviews identifying areas where the person wishes to see change and/or recovery and make an accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
* Provide assessment and low intensity interventions e.g., psycho-educational interventions, Guided Self Help, drawing from CBT theories and techniques.
* Implement and support a range of evidence-based interventions utilising a self-management model of mental health care.
* Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment.
* Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
* Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
* Record and evaluate outcome measures as part of the ongoing therapy process.
* Ensure the accurate entry of clinical data onto agreed systems, maintaining the highest standards of clinical record keeping.
* Work in partnership with other disciplines and maintain links with statutory and non-statutory agencies as appropriate, in relation to continuing care on release from prison.
* Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimize waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
* Support the collation of monthly performance data for the service management team.
* Communicate effectively with patients, stakeholders, colleagues, and relevant professionals, both in verbal and written form.
* Maintain an open and transparent attitude to work, utilizing all elements of supervision appropriately.
* Uphold the values of Rethink Mental Illness at all times and represent the best interests of the company in all you do.
* Be prepared to provide contingency cover to other prisons if required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Successfully completed academic course of study in line with the IAPT Low Intensity National Programme and qualified as a PWP, e.g., Post Grad Diploma in Psychological Therapies.
* Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy, or within a psychological therapy.
Experience
* Post-qualification experience in offering and delivering the full range of evidence-based IAPT low intensity interventions at Step 2.
* Evidence of working within a stepped care service with people who have experienced a mental health problem delivering and demonstrating recovery outcomes.
* Knowledge of assessment procedures, screening, referral, record-keeping, and evidence-based brief psychological interventions.
* Demonstrates an understanding of the use of evidence-based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
* Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients and practice in a non-discriminatory manner, respecting the beliefs and cultural practices of individuals and groups.
* Operates at all times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises and respects diversity.
* Experience of using clinical outcome measures to inform practice.
* Confident communicator with excellent verbal and written skills.
* Working knowledge of standard IT packages including Microsoft Word, Excel, and use of database/information systems.
* Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and be self-reflective in own personal and professional development.
* Experience working in a prison environment or experience of working with offenders.
* Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems.
* Knowledge/relevant experience in other therapy modalities that are relevant to practice as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (e.g., solution-focused therapy, supervision training).
* Ability to prioritise workload demands and positively respond to unforeseen challenges.
* Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner.
* Ability to utilise continued professional development, in collaboration with supervisor and line manager to ensure work remains at the highest possible standard.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Recruitment Team at Rethink Mental Illness
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