Job summary Would you like to work for an Outstanding NHS Trust, and join an innovative and supportive service that is highly committed to decreasing stigma associated with personality difficulties, promoting optimism about recovery, and increasing access to evidence-based interventions? An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced mental health practitioner with expertise in working with people with personality difficulties to join our specialist multi-disciplinary team as a Senior Practitioner/Inpatient Linkworker. The post is based at the Welland Centre Inpatient Hospital in Kettering and can involve occasional travel to other locations across the county. The Northants Personality Disorder Hub is a countywide specialist service that works to enhance understanding of personality disorder and promote the delivery of effective interventions across community and inpatient services in Northamptonshire. The team comprises of staff from a range of professional backgrounds (including nursing, occupational therapy and clinical psychology). This post will give the successful candidate the opportunity to develop their capabilities within a highly supportive and motivated multidisciplinary team and a range of training and CPD opportunities within the service and wider network can be provided. Clinical supervision is also viewed as integral to maintaining staff wellbeing and effectiveness. Main duties of the job This post will provide support to inpatient services in the south of the county to enhance the effectiveness of acute admissions for people with a 'personality disorder'. The post holder will make a significant contribution to the early identification of personality disorder in inpatient settings, support others to further develop therapeutic skills (e.g. in sharing information about diagnosis, goal setting, analysing crisis behaviour, and identifying and addressing barriers to discharge), and contribute to discharge planning and pathway development. The post holder will seek to enhance links between community and inpatient services to aid effective acute crisis management and improve access to evidence-based interventions in the community. The service provides a Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) programme at two locations across the county and leads on the delivery of Structured Clinical Management (SCM) across general secondary mental health services. Alongside this, the service also frequently delivers training to community and inpatient teams and benefits from an established group of experts by experience who are passionate about promoting hope, improving services and co-developing and delivering staff training. There are opportunities for this role to contribute to wider initiatives and interventions offered by the service. 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, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth. Date posted 20 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year pa, pro rata Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time Reference number 270-TF891-MH Job locations Berrywood Hospital Berrywood Drive Northampton NN5 6UD Job description Job responsibilities As a Senior Practitioner youll be expected to: Support inpatient colleagues in the implementation of an SCM-informed structured acute pathway Supervise or model key skills/capabilities required to effectively deliver the pathway Contribute to MDT decisions regarding length of admission; clarifying presenting difficulties and diagnosis, and suitable interventions during and after admission Co-facilitate SCM group sessions and support other colleagues to deliver SCM via peer supervision, training, and informal guidance Provide training to staff, service users and carers and work collaboratively with experts by experience to co-develop and deliver training. We very much welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds who are under-represented in service delivery and want to ensure that we are offering a service that celebrates difference and diversity, and which is culturally sensitive. It is expected that the post holder will develop in role and therefore may not meet all aspects of the job description on application. For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document. Job description Job responsibilities As a Senior Practitioner youll be expected to: Support inpatient colleagues in the implementation of an SCM-informed structured acute pathway Supervise or model key skills/capabilities required to effectively deliver the pathway Contribute to MDT decisions regarding length of admission; clarifying presenting difficulties and diagnosis, and suitable interventions during and after admission Co-facilitate SCM group sessions and support other colleagues to deliver SCM via peer supervision, training, and informal guidance Provide training to staff, service users and carers and work collaboratively with experts by experience to co-develop and deliver training. We very much welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds who are under-represented in service delivery and want to ensure that we are offering a service that celebrates difference and diversity, and which is culturally sensitive. It is expected that the post holder will develop in role and therefore may not meet all aspects of the job description on application. For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document. Person Specification Behaviours Essential Capacity to be appropriately assertive with others in a constructive manner. Self-motivated with the capacity to motivate others Ability to work alone and as part of a team. Knowledge & Experience Essential Recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, social work and occupational therapy or other relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the N.H.S (e.g. by maintaining registration with the HCPC and/or your recognised professional body). Significant experience of working in a mental health profession (or equivalent), and in a therapeutic role with people with significant personality difficulties. Demonstrate evidence of substantial post qualification training and interest in psychosocial approaches and working with people with personality disorders and complex emotional needs. Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse, self-harm and the threat of aggression. Undertaking risk assessment and management with people with severe and complex needs. Experience of successfully delivering training/teaching at introductory and intermediate levels across a range of settings. Desirable Prior experience of working within a DBT or SCM programme. Knowledge of legislation in relation to client group and mental health. Experience of working in inpatient settings and delivering time-limited and structured crisis interventions. Skills & Abilities Essential To demonstrate clear strategies of maintaining psychological well-being when working with intense emotions and distressing material. Communicating effectively with colleagues, managers and others in both written and verbal forms, including the preparation of reports, investigations, plans and proposals. Communicating clearly, effectively and sensitively with patients, particularly when presenting highly complex and contentious issues in a high-risk situation. Skills in engaging with other healthcare professionals in extending their psychological understanding of personality disorders and applying this understanding in their everyday practice. Skills in providing consultation and support to other professionals. Desirable IT and keyboard skills Person Specification Behaviours Essential Capacity to be appropriately assertive with others in a constructive manner. Self-motivated with the capacity to motivate others Ability to work alone and as part of a team. Knowledge & Experience Essential Recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, social work and occupational therapy or other relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the N.H.S (e.g. by maintaining registration with the HCPC and/or your recognised professional body). Significant experience of working in a mental health profession (or equivalent), and in a therapeutic role with people with significant personality difficulties. Demonstrate evidence of substantial post qualification training and interest in psychosocial approaches and working with people with personality disorders and complex emotional needs. Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse, self-harm and the threat of aggression. Undertaking risk assessment and management with people with severe and complex needs. Experience of successfully delivering training/teaching at introductory and intermediate levels across a range of settings. Desirable Prior experience of working within a DBT or SCM programme. Knowledge of legislation in relation to client group and mental health. Experience of working in inpatient settings and delivering time-limited and structured crisis interventions. Skills & Abilities Essential To demonstrate clear strategies of maintaining psychological well-being when working with intense emotions and distressing material. Communicating effectively with colleagues, managers and others in both written and verbal forms, including the preparation of reports, investigations, plans and proposals. Communicating clearly, effectively and sensitively with patients, particularly when presenting highly complex and contentious issues in a high-risk situation. Skills in engaging with other healthcare professionals in extending their psychological understanding of personality disorders and applying this understanding in their everyday practice. Skills in providing consultation and support to other professionals. Desirable IT and keyboard skills 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Address Berrywood Hospital Berrywood Drive Northampton NN5 6UD Employer's website https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)