Job summary
Join the Somerset Team for Early Psychosis: Shape the Future of Mental Health Care
The Somerset Team for Early Psychosis (STEP) is seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Band 7 mental health practitioner to join our newly established service. You'll become part of a dynamic and supportive multi-disciplinary team, which includes nurses, psychologists, and peer support workers- where every perspective is heard and validated. We adhere to a biopsychosocial model and constantly explore creative ways to support those in our care. Additionally, we are collaborating with a wide range of voluntary partners to ensure timely access to a broad spectrum of support services within the local community.
The At Risk Mental State (ARMS) is a speciality within Early Intervention Psychosis Services, dedicated to supporting young people and adults across Somerset, aged 18-25. Our focus is on identifying and treating those who may be experiencing prodromal symptoms, with the goal of reducing the likelihood of them developing psychosis. By working with this group, we aim to significantly decrease the number of individuals who progress to a First Episode of Psychosis. ARMS represents an exciting and innovative advance in EIP services across the nation, offering a unique opportunity to engage in proactive and preventative mental health care.
This is a countywide post however base is negotiable.
Main duties of the job
As the clinical leader of the team, you'll play a key role in providing supervision to your colleagues, contributing to team and service development, and liaising with a diverse range of partners.
You'll act as an initial point of contact, triaging referrals for people who may be considered at risk of developing psychosis and to provide specialist assessment and advice or signposting to patients and their families. This may involve the provision of information/advice regarding psychosis, its management and pathways into mental health and related services.
Applicants must hold a full driving licence and have permanent access to their own transport, with appropriate business insurance.
If you're passionate about making a real difference in mental health care and want to be at the forefront of innovation, we would love to hear from you.
About us
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, fantastic pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will to experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan -- there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To maintain and further develop high standards for the delivery of care through co-operative work with colleagues, through audit and supervision.
2. To keep abreast of developments in the field of mental health, research and service development.
3. To develop and lead therapeutic interventions for service users with a range of mental health difficulties.
4. To promote and deliver effective interventions.
5. To liaise with other disciplines and agencies, as appropriate, to ensure best practice is shared
6. To conduct specialist clinical assessments including the use of standardised assessment measures to identify young people and adults at risk of making the transition to a first episode psychosis. This will require judgements involving a range of facts or situations which require analysis or comparison of range of options.
7. To provide Family Interventions
8. To provide individual therapy/support to young people who have been identified as being At risk of developing a First Episode of Psychosis, utilising advanced counselling skills incorporating motivational interviewing, solution-focused and cognitive-behavioural techniques.
Please see the attached job description for full duties.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
9. *Evidence of post qualifying professional development in an acute setting.
10. *Non-medical Prescribing Qualification
Desirable
11. Degree/Diploma level qualification in family interventions in psychosis (CBT for Psychosis/Psychosocial InterventionOther relevant specialist CPD qualification (eg. Clinical assessment)
Experience
Essential
12. *Significant post registration experience in multi-disciplinary community mental health services.
13. *Experience of managing risk of clients in crisis.
14. *Experience of assessment, care-plan, development and evaluation in conjunction with clients and carers.
15. *Experience and knowledge of working with people with mental health problems.
16. *Experience of service development/project work
17. * Evidence of a good standard of literacy/English language skills
18. * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including presentation of cases to multi-disciplinary case conferences.
19. * Able to carry out evidence-based interventions.
20. * Be a role model to Peer Support workers and junior colleagues
21. * Compassionate - Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives about complex and sensitive issues remaining sensitive and empathetic.
22. * Listens to others' views respecting and valuing individual patient needs.
23. * Professional and patient focussed approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
24. * Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities for staff and patients.
25. * Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
26. * Ability to lead a team, demonstrating teaching and mentorship skills and work effectively as part of a team.
27. * Ability to work autonomously and independently.
28. * Experience of carrying out supervision to junior staff, coordinating the care of clients and delegating tasks.
29. * Ability to record and retrieve information on charts/paper and electronic patient records
30. * High standards of written communication skills with the ability to use email and internet.
31. * Ability to work in partnership with other agencies.
32. * Willingness to lead groups.
33. * Experience of multidisciplinary working in a community setting.
34. SKILLS & ABILITIES
35. Communication Skills
36. * Evidence of a good standard of literacy/English language skills
37. * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including presentation of cases to multi-disciplinary case conferences.
38. * Able to carry out evidence-based interventions.
39. * Be a role model to Peer Support workers and junior colleagues
40. * Compassionate - Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives about complex and sensitive issues remaining sensitive and empathetic.
41. * Listens to others' views respecting and valuing individual patient needs.
42. * Professional and patient focussed approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
43. * Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities for staff and patients.
44. * Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
45. * Ability to lead a team, demonstrating teaching and mentorship skills and work effectively as part of a team.
46. * Ability to work autonomously and independently.
47. * Experience of carrying out supervision to junior staff, coordinating the care of clients and delegating tasks.
48. * Ability to record and retrieve information on charts/paper and electronic patient records
49. * High standards of written communication skills with the ability to use email and internet.
50. * Ability to work in partnership with other agencies.
51. * Willingness to lead groups.
52. * Experience of multidisciplinary working in a community setting.
53. * Awareness of clinical audit, research and quality improvement. Awareness of national guidance and policy that directs our service delivery.
54. * Good awareness of Clinical Governance for our services.
55. * Compassionate - Open minded, treats colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with dignity and respect.
56. * Intuitive and caring nature.
57. * To be able to demonstrate an awareness and responsibility whilst recognising the impact frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
58. * Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the patients.
59. * Sympathetic and considerate towards patients, carers and relatives.
60. * Ability to inspire hope, support recovery and make a difference.
61. * Act in a way that supports equality and diversity.
62. * Access to regular transport with appropriate business insurance.
63. *Able to demonstrate a good standard of English language
64. * Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities for staff and patients.
65. * Required to spend a considerable period of a working day in front of a VDU.
66. * Ability to travel round Trust area to fulfil the requirements of the role.
67. * Ability to undertake PMVA training to required level for role.
68. *Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
Desirable
69. Experience of supervising all grades of staff
70. Awareness of clinical audit, research and quality improvement. Awareness of national guidance and policy that directs our service delivery.
71. Good awareness of Clinical Governance for our services.