Community Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Community Mental Health Service to join our Community Mental Health Team, based in Bridgwater.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated practitioner - Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist - who is keen to be part of the exciting transformation of Mental Health Services in Somerset.

Our service responds rapidly to the needs of adults requiring mental health advice and support. You will be joining an established, supportive and knowledgeable multi-disciplinary team, who are not only passionate about the care they provide, but also committed to supporting one another.

As one of our colleagues describes:

"Working as part of the Community Mental Health team is one of the most rewarding roles I have undertaken. Every day is different - it is interesting, challenging, and I love being able to make a difference. From the moment I started, I felt relaxed and included."

We are also a team that values connection - whether through team days/nights out, sweepstakes, or secret Santa - and we're always open to new ideas.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

• Our Community Mental Health Team is a Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm service, so no weekend working required; office hours only!
• You will manage a rolling caseload of patients allocated to you where you will monitor their mental state, promote independence, promote social inclusion, aid the recovery process, and reduce hospital admissions.
• You will work in collaboration with the Operational Team Manager, Clinical Leads/ Practitioners and have close working relationships with the community teams, inpatient services, and the home treatment team across the service.
• You will need a full driving licence with permanent access to own transport with appropriate business insurance; this is so that you may carry out patient visits - you are able to claim expenses.
• To help you achieve the above we will offer you:
• Mentoring and supervision from our highly experienced staff and team leaders supporting you with your development and growth into the role
• Commitment from the team to develop you by offering coaching and role-specific training opportunities such as Leadership programmes, CBT, DBT and more
• Opportunities to shadow other services we work with including home treatment team, first response service, assertive outreach, STEP, Adult ADHD provision to name a few, allowing you to see the full circle of treatment for our patients
• Clear objectives and pathway to develop your career further.

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 discounts.

The 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 London.

There 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

You will hold a professional qualification and registration as a Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker, with post-qualification experience in community mental health. A key aspect of this role is the ability to balance independent practice with strong team collaboration.

The role will involve:

• Delivering high quality interventions to individuals with complex needs, supporting their recovery and independence.

• Building purposeful therapeutic relationships with service users, helping them to identify strengths and build resilience.

• Providing specialist input into assessments, recovery planning, crisis management and safeguarding.

• Communicating highly complex and sensitive information clearly and appropriately, including at multidisciplinary meetings and safeguarding forums.

• Promoting innovation in practice and contributing to service development, audit and quality improvement.

• Offering supervision and mentorship to junior colleagues, students and support staff.

• Deputising for the Team Manager when required, ensuring smooth running of team activity.

• Upholding Trust values of kindness, respect and teamwork, while maintaining the highest professional standards.

This is a rewarding and varied role where you will make a real difference in the lives of adults experiencing mental health difficulties, while being part of a compassionate and inclusive team.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapy Qualification

Current registration with relevant professional body

Evidence of post qualifying professional development in an acute setting.

Experience

Essential

Significant post registration experience in multi-disciplinary community mental health services.

Experience of managing risk of clients in crisis.

Experience of assessment, care-plan, development and evaluation in conjunction with clients and carers.

Experience and knowledge of working with people with mental health problems.

Desirable

Experience of mental health difficulties.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Evidence of a good standard of literacy/English language skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including presentation of cases to multi-disciplinary case conferences.
• Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities for staff and patients.
• Access to regular transport with appropriate business insurance.
• Ability to travel round Trust area to fulfil the requirements of the role.

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 Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

For help with your application, contact:

Sam Francis

[email protected]