Job summary Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner - Taunton & West Somerset We are Transforming Mental Health Services in Somerset and have an exciting opportunity for you to become part of an expanding Community Mental Health Service. We are currently recruiting for a Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner to join our Older Persons Community Mental Health Team in Taunton and West Somerset. If you are a registered professional (Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker) we want to hear from you. The post will be based in Taunton but there may be occasional work in Minehead depending upon the service needs. The team provides needs-led assessment and treatment and support, for older-aged adults in the community, working closely with the inpatient ward, home treatment team, other CMHTs, GPs, Primary Care Network MDTs and voluntary services, and in the developing neighbourhood integrated teams. Acting as Keyworker, you'll make ongoing assessments of service user needs to reflect individual circumstances, including; assessing risk, promoting and enabling independent functioning, delivering relevant therapies and ensuring that service users are protected from significant harm. You will be committed to a person-centred approach to your work and will have an ability to prioritise and work flexibly. You will help to supervise the work of other registered, unregistered and vocationally qualified staff under the direction of the team managers. Main duties of the job You'll work as a member of the Neighbourhood Team in Older Persons' Mental Health providing a high quality, comprehensive mental health service for older people in Taunton and West Somerset with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. You'll be personally responsible and professionally accountable for a caseload within the community working with individuals and their significant others who have multiple and complex needs. Acting as a key member of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will provide assessment, psycho-social, evidence based interventions using a collaborative recovery approach and will be skilled at positive risk management. The specific terms and conditions will be dependent on the professional background and each profession will have slightly different responsibilities. You may be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service. About us At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer: Flexible working options to help you balance work and life NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work. We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds. Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breath-taking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London. The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future. Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy. Date posted 12 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 184-OL-BL-1885 Job locations Minehead Community Hospital Luttrell Way Minehead Somerset TA24 6DF Harrison House Taunton Somerset TA1 2PX Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will provide a high standard of care and treatment for patients and work with other members of the team and other agencies to best meet the patients health and social needs. Undertaking care coordination responsibilities with a defined caseload focusing on work with people experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties and other complex needs and difficulties in the community. To undertake the assessment of patients referred to the Older Persons Mental Health Service using a recovery approach and strengths model. Undertake the assessment of risk and nursing needs and contribute to the multi-disciplinary team care plan, under the development and implementation of individual care plans for the client. To actively participate in Primary Care Network Multi-Disciplinary Teammeetings in Taunton and West Somerset discussing PCN patients, includingcare home residents To provide high quality patient care, working in a flexible way across thecommunity, and day hospital, as required, focusing on the need to supportpatients and their families/carers. To fully comply with the Trust and Local Authority Policies relating to theICPA/Care Management and act as a key-worker for patients. Use interpersonal skills to build a therapeutic relationship with patients. To provide support and interventions to patients in their own homes (including care homes) to enable them to remain in the community during crisis periods. Providing and receiving highly complex and sensitive information in relation to Safeguarding and Child Protection work and taking appropriate action. This includes identifying and appropriately reporting concerns to Childrens Social Care while using communication skills in order to maintain a professional working relationship with parents and significant others in often hostile and highly emotive situations. Identifying adult protection concerns, raising alerts and participating inSafeguarding Adults processes To ensure effective, planned handover of care. To ensure comprehensive risk assessment of patients and risk managementplans are in place and clearly documented in accordance with the Trusts Policy. To ensure that service user and carers are fully involved in planning review of care and provide information, education and support for carers.Ensure medication and treatments/injections are prescribed and administered by an appropriately qualified professional, as defined within relevant Trust procedures. To ensure a high standard of communication with Community Mental Health Teams, Taunton and West Somerset Neighbourhood Teams, Primary Care Mental Health Practitioners, and GP Practices and work with them in the care planning process as appropriate. The post holder will use knowledge of the eligibility criteria for the Team and will make decisions based on this knowledge as to whether referrals should be accepted for the Team or signposted to teams/services including the Assessment Team and Link Working when undertaking the role of duty officer, attending referral meetings and deputising for the Team Manager. To work flexible hours to meet the needs of patients and their families. To adhere to your code of conduct. The post holder will contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, providing supervision for other team members, as agreed with the Team Manager, and participate in team and service development and evaluation. Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will provide a high standard of care and treatment for patients and work with other members of the team and other agencies to best meet the patients health and social needs. Undertaking care coordination responsibilities with a defined caseload focusing on work with people experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties and other complex needs and difficulties in the community. To undertake the assessment of patients referred to the Older Persons Mental Health Service using a recovery approach and strengths model. Undertake the assessment of risk and nursing needs and contribute to the multi-disciplinary team care plan, under the development and implementation of individual care plans for the client. To actively participate in Primary Care Network Multi-Disciplinary Teammeetings in Taunton and West Somerset discussing PCN patients, includingcare home residents To provide high quality patient care, working in a flexible way across thecommunity, and day hospital, as required, focusing on the need to supportpatients and their families/carers. To fully comply with the Trust and Local Authority Policies relating to theICPA/Care Management and act as a key-worker for patients. Use interpersonal skills to build a therapeutic relationship with patients. To provide support and interventions to patients in their own homes (including care homes) to enable them to remain in the community during crisis periods. Providing and receiving highly complex and sensitive information in relation to Safeguarding and Child Protection work and taking appropriate action. This includes identifying and appropriately reporting concerns to Childrens Social Care while using communication skills in order to maintain a professional working relationship with parents and significant others in often hostile and highly emotive situations. Identifying adult protection concerns, raising alerts and participating inSafeguarding Adults processes To ensure effective, planned handover of care. To ensure comprehensive risk assessment of patients and risk managementplans are in place and clearly documented in accordance with the Trusts Policy. To ensure that service user and carers are fully involved in planning review of care and provide information, education and support for carers.Ensure medication and treatments/injections are prescribed and administered by an appropriately qualified professional, as defined within relevant Trust procedures. To ensure a high standard of communication with Community Mental Health Teams, Taunton and West Somerset Neighbourhood Teams, Primary Care Mental Health Practitioners, and GP Practices and work with them in the care planning process as appropriate. The post holder will use knowledge of the eligibility criteria for the Team and will make decisions based on this knowledge as to whether referrals should be accepted for the Team or signposted to teams/services including the Assessment Team and Link Working when undertaking the role of duty officer, attending referral meetings and deputising for the Team Manager. To work flexible hours to meet the needs of patients and their families. To adhere to your code of conduct. The post holder will contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, providing supervision for other team members, as agreed with the Team Manager, and participate in team and service development and evaluation. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Current Professional Registration (eg with HCPC/NMC) Experience Essential Experience as a Band 5 or equivalent Mental Health Practitioner Additional Criteria Essential Computer literate in use of Word, Excel, Email and PowerPointEvidence of good standard of literacy/English language skills Person Specification Qualifications Essential Current Professional Registration (eg with HCPC/NMC) Experience Essential Experience as a Band 5 or equivalent Mental Health Practitioner Additional Criteria Essential Computer literate in use of Word, Excel, Email and PowerPointEvidence of good standard of literacy/English language 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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Address Minehead Community Hospital Luttrell Way Minehead Somerset TA24 6DF Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)