Specialist Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced innovative and motivated Mental Health/Learning Disability/General Nurse to join our evolving Reconnect Service.

This role involves working as a member of the Nottinghamshire Reconnect service in collaboration with Criminal Justice agencies, social care, primary and secondary health services and third sector agencies.

The Reconnect Service work with people with health and/or social vulnerabilities i.e. learning disability, mental health needs, substance misuse, domestic violence problems, homelessness and other vulnerabilities. Needs identified at assessment are met through supporting individuals to access relevant services, as early as possible, as they pass through the criminal justice systems and return to the Community from Prison Establishments.

The service will support the post holder in developing skills via accessing relevant training and supervision.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Main duties of the job

The Reconnect Service provide an all-vulnerability service to improve health and social outcomes for adults who are in Prison and due to be released into the community, ensuring robust assessment of vulnerabilities and risk and positive engagement with good information sharing across agencies.

You will work into Prison establishments, Probation offices and NHS Bases across the Nottingham/Nottinghamshire area. You will work closely with the Team Manager picking up referrals, assessing the vulnerabilities and risk, and care planning for the service users transition into the community utilising the other members of the team to provide the support as they are released.

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Job responsibilities

Assessment - To undertake service user centred assessments using the Core documentation on RiO and create, with them a shared understanding of their needs and difficulties, Identifying health, social support needs using this formulation to identify the most appropriate plan of care for the transition into the community.

Sharing relevant information with criminal justice agencies, Primary, Secondary Health Services and third sector services to support the patient during their transition from Prison to Community.

Active engagement Facilitate interventions as appropriate and required. This engagement may extend to family/friends/carers of the service users where appropriate/necessary.

Develop good working relationships - To effectively liaise and maintain links with services with partner agencies i.e. probation, substance use services, Trust services and 3rd party services etc. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Criminal Justice Services.

Support & Supervision of others - Provide clinical supervision and support to junior staff. Plan and provide specialist and core training and education as service/staff needs are identified.

Person specification

Values and Behaviours

Essential

• oAll colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
• oAll colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

Physical Requirements

Essential

• Ability to undertake relevant mandatory training and engage in the management of violence and aggression to breakaway level, commensurate to the role.
• Requirement to travel around the community to different locations.

Qualifications - Academic/Craft/Professional

Essential

• Recognised qualification in one of the core mental health/learning disability/general professions e.g. psychiatric nursing, social work and occupational therapy OR other training/significant experience with demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field.

Desirable

• Experience in the Criminal Justice System

Training

Essential

• Understanding risk assessment and management in the context of all vulnerabilities
• Experience in completing All vulnerability assessments, Risk Assessments and Care Plans. and Physical Health assessments.
• Documentation and sharing of risk information ensuring confidentiality, safety and proportionality
• Experience in Suicidality and Self Harm assessments using appropriate tools
• Experience of vulnerabilities and safeguarding - DASH-RIC, Prevent

Desirable

• Experience in HCR20, Safe Tool, Holistic assessments, DASH-RIC, MAPPA, MARAC

Experience

Essential

• Experience of using computer systems.
• Substantial post registration experience of working with individuals of all ages within a healthcare/social care setting.
• Experience of caseload management.
• Experience and understanding of working in team setting, liaising with colleagues, other agencies and services.
• Experience of communicating with range of other agencies within health/social/criminal justice agencies care settings.
• Experience in delivering clinical supervision to other mental health clinicians
• Experience of assessing service users with a broad range of mild to moderate mental health/physical health/learning disability issues.

Desirable

• Experience of the Criminal Justice System.
• Experience of working in caring settings/roles

Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrates an awareness of wide range of vulnerabilities inclusive of mental health/LD needs.
• Demonstrates an understanding of cultural and diversity needs of individuals.
• Awareness and understanding of confidentiality and professional responsibilities.
• Understanding, and experience of, the importance of maintaining boundaries in the workplace.
• A sound knowledge of safeguarding Procedures
• Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act and be fully aware of the legal and ethical issues.

Desirable

• Awareness of the interface of the Health, Social Care and Criminal Justice Systems
• Understanding of Reconnect Service

Skills

Essential

• Ability to keep accurate records on computer system.
• Ability to motivate others and skill in forming and maintaining positive working relationships.
• Ability to communicate to a range of people on a range of matters, in a range of forms.
• Ability to identify own development needs with support of others.
• Ability to identify risk and to take responsibility for self and others in ensuring legislation, policies and procedures are followed in the workplace.
• Ability to actively participate in development of the service.
• Skills in communicating with people with a range of communication needs.
• Ability to work in partnership providing consultation, supervision, specialist training, education and support when required and appropriate within existing Mental Health services, statutory and non-statutory organisations.

Desirable

• Evidence of decision-making skills
• Ability to manage and seek support for own wellbeing.
• Ability to carry out practical tasks
• To think creatively.
• Skills in using own initiative.
• Autonomous working

Contractual Requirements

Essential

• Ability to adapt to changing services and be flexible in approach.
• Must be able to travel to different sites