Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
We are looking for an experienced mental health practitioner (senior nurse) with experience in the community and forensic fields to join the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT). This is a developing service that has been set up in response to the NHS New Care Models to improve the care of service users within the forensic mental health system. The SCFT works with mental health offenders from the Essex area who are being cared for within medium and low secure mental health units, primarily in Essex. This role will involve holding a small caseload of high risk complex service users (3-5) in the community. Provide operational leadership and management responsibility for the Specialist Community Forensic Mental Health team covering Essex. You will be responsible for providing effective leadership and standards of clinical practice and services working closely with the Clinical Lead to establish and maintain service standards.
Main duties of the job
The SCFT provides a period of 'in-reach' work with our service users for six to nine months prior to discharge with the aim of building good therapeutic relationships; with the aim to engage in them, in care planning, relapse prevention work and addressing potential challenges after discharge.
The successful candidate will oversee the day to day running of the service offering support to the care coordinators/social supervisors and work with the rest of the MDT. You will also act as social supervisor/care coordinator for a small caseload of service users through the care system pathway from secure placement to community setting in self-contained accommodation, 24 hour supported care and intensive enablement placements.
The successful candidate will be expected to cover the Clinical Lead at meetings and undertake other managerial aspects including HR related issues, management of staff rotas, caseload allocation, assessments of referred service users to SCFT, chair meetings, give clinical guidance to junior staff and act as a role model.
Job responsibilities
The main duties include providing expert knowledge and skills to support the multi-disciplinary team. Manage and co-ordinate the team caseload of patients with often complex social, forensic and rehabilitation needs and the associated intervention programs they require. Oversee care provision and ensure that staff maintain accurate risk assessments, care planning and record keeping in order to maintain a safe and effective service. Provide expert leadership to the multidisciplinary team including staff from partner organisations. Ensure staff receive probation, support, supervision and appraisal in a regular and consistent way to support development. Work in close liaison with in-patient forensic services, Social Care, Housing Commissioners and other partners to achieve and maintain smooth care pathways for service users. Act as a social supervisor for restricted patients, providing high-quality and timely reports to the Ministry of Justice as requested. Work within Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults legislation at all times, promoting the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults. Work collaboratively with third sector organisations to identify suitable placements in the community to support transition from secure settings. Co-ordinate and liaise with referrers, including other Trust services, Court services, HM Prison Service Probation, MAPPA, MARAC, CMHTs and wider liaison duties with local statutory and non-statutory bodies.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
* Professional Qualification in Mental Health nursing (RMN) at degree/masters level or relevant experience.
* Evidence of post qualification training.
* Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, or similar.
Knowledge
* In-depth knowledge of adult forensic mental health.
* In-depth knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983/2003
* Knowledge of Ministry of justice requirements and how they relate to offenders for mental health
Skills / Experience
* Literate in IT/Computer Skills
* Good oral communication skills based on fluency in the English language
* Minimum of two years leadership experience in an MDT environment.
* Experience of working closely and developing relationships and working in partnership with other statutory agencies
* Experience in managing change and problem solving both clinically and within employee relationships.
* Evidence of post qualifying continued learning and proven awareness of developments in criminal justice mental health
* Experience in other NHS or local authority adult services.
* Experience in offender mental health setting
* Experience of working in other statutory or voluntary agencies
Personal Qualities
* Shares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour
* Ensures that the organisational values of open, compassionate and empowering are demonstrated by self and others every day and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely way, either directly; or raised with the relevant Line Manager; or through the relevant processes within the Trust as appropriate.
* Ability to contain the emotional impact of work with adults' mental health problems
* Appreciation of the many aspects of diversity amongst people who use services, and of how structural inequalities affect life experiences, with the ability to adapt your own practice so as to challenge discrimination, reduce inequalities, and promote inclusion.
* Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to contain and hold the stress of others.
* Ability to balance competing priorities and multi-task.
* Ability to manage unpredictable work patterns
* Ability to deal with frequent exposure to highly distressing situations and family breakdown and provide support to staff in these situations
Additional Requirements
* Fitness Analysis as appropriate
* Current driving licence
* Ability to travel across sites and across Trust boundaries to attend meetings, etc.
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.
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