Mental Health Practitioner

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

Main area

Community Mental Health - Primary Care Mental Health

Sites across Kent and Medway including:

Ashford, Dartford, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Thanet, Medway, South Kent Coast (Deal/Dover)

Main duties of the job

Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview:

These new positions are exciting and innovative and will provide mental health support for children and young people to Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Kent and Medway. PCNs are groups of GP practices who work together in a local geographical area.
There will be numerous posts available across the PCNs (see above)

We want mental health professionals: social workers/nurses/occupational therapists and psychological therapists to be part of this initiative.

It is an exciting time to join services in Kent and Medway as we are beginning a programme of transformation of community Mental Health services, these roles are the building blocks for those developments. Initially in trailblazer localities you will be responsible for embedding the role and the successful applicants will be part of a task and finish group to review the job description and the effectiveness of the role to support the future roll out of the programme.

You will primarily work in the PCNs as a member of the integrated teams in GP surgeries

Working for our organisation

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties of the role:

The role is part of the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme to embed Mental Health practitioners in Primary Care Networks. The purpose of the role is to bridge the gap between Primary Care and Secondary Mental Health services by delivering high quality Mental Health care in Primary Care settings.

It will allow the Children and Young people of Kent and Medway to receive Mental Health care in GP settings and support individuals to access a range of interventions outside of secondary care services.

The role requires a highly competent, proficient practitioner, who is able to work autonomously & creatively in this busy demanding role. Excellent assessment skills and knowledge of local services is essential to this role, as it is the gate keeper and guardian for referral to secondary services.

Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the main responsibilities of the role. This is an exciting opportunity for a practitioner with significant experience of working with children and young people with mental health needs in a community setting.

Full and part time positions available.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

For More information contact Ike Ikechukwu

If you are an overseas qualified nurse and wanting to start your journey to becoming a UK based registered nurse with the NMC, you can check whether you are eligible to be supported through our Capital Nurse consortium. Please visit; . Whilst NELFT is happy to welcome overseas nurses we are unable to consider your application directly. You should submit your interest and apply through the Capital Nurse London group.

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Registered mental health professional (NMC, HCPC etc) appropriate to the job role (Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Psychologist)

Desirable criteria

Experience of using quality improvement methodologies A recognised management qualification ( MSc) or evidence of other advanced education

Experience

Essential criteria

Sound knowledge / skills of Evidence Based Practice in relation to Children's MH and emotional wellbeing Good communication skills and ability to work both within MDT and independently Have a min of 3 years post qualification experience working in CAMHS or equivalent service, with complex cases

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in a community mental health setting

Knowledge

Essential criteria

An understanding of the relationship between primary and secondary care services Knowledge of key legislation and guidelines in relation to statutory mental health responsibilities, including Safeguarding Adults, Young people and children. Knowledge of the theory of and practical application of psychological models, such as CBT, DBT.

Desirable criteria

An understanding of the stepped care model of delivery of psychological therapies

Skills

Essential criteria

Good communication skills and ability to work both within MDT and independently

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.