Advanced Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview

Interview date will be 21st May 2024 .

Are you a Registered Mental Health Nurse with an interest in working in our CYPF Health Hub, CAMHS Common Point of Entry Service as a Mental Health Practitioner? Then we at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) have an exciting opportunity for you! 

This fantastic opportunity will be responding to complex referrals to the CAMHS team, carrying out initial triage and telephone assessment of new children or young people including risk assessments and the formulation and recommendation for on-going care. You will review referrals coming into the service and undertake a structured telephone triage and develop a formulation to determine the mental health needs of the child or young person, assessing risk and either signposting to the appropriate CAMHS team or pathway. 

You will also be providing advice and consultation to referrers, colleagues and families who may require advice about symptoms, risk, or the need for a referral. You will also be identifying those who need a more detailed face to face assessment within CPE and allocating a priority level. 

Main duties of the job

Triage, assessment and formulation of young people presenting to Child and Adolescent mental Health services. 

Consultation with professionals making referrals to the service 

Undertaking Telephone assessments of young people referred to the service 

Undertaking Face to face assessments of young people referred to the service 

Work flexibly across multiple sites 

Taking part in the review of clinical records 

Reviewing of data to support the management of waiting lists 

Working within a team of skilled CAMHS clinicians 

Joining a service that provided front door access to a comprehensive CAMHS 

Working for our organisation

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.

We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you’ll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:

Caring for and about you is our top priority

Committed to providing good quality, safe services

Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

Benefits of working for us include:

Flexible working options to support work-life balance.

27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell

Generous NHS pension scheme

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme

Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants

Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities and armed forces community to support equality

Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.

Free parking across Trust sites

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The 4 “must haves” for you to be considered for this role: 

Registered mental Health Nurse or other registered appropriate health care professional

An interest in working within a CAMHS team

An ability to undertake telephone assessments

Experience of working in a mental health setting

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

Person specification

Education/Qualification/Training

Essential criteria

Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC) or

Registered Nurse Child or MH branch) or Occupational Therapy degree level qualification and registered with HPCP or Qualified Psychotherapist registered with professional body ACP approved Child Psychotherapist.

Masters level or significant experience in mental health

HCPC Registered Practitioner/Social Worker or

Postgraduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent for those who trained before 1996)

Registered and accredited with HCPC

Eligible for Chartered status with the BPS

Desirable criteria

Mentorship qualification

Qualification in a therapeutic modality, , Masters level or equivalent experience

Post graduate qualification in Child Mental Health Education/Qualifications/Training

Continuous Professional Development

Essential criteria

Ability to manage complex and sensitive information using well-developed motivational and negotiating skills, representing the service in a variety of different situations

Evidence of children, young people and carer involvement within care planning and service development

Desirable criteria

Evidence of post qualification learning in a relevant field

Previous Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working assertively with children and young people to engage in therapeutic activities

Knowledge and significant experience in mental health

Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment

Experience of working effectively in a team and able to demonstrate ability to work on own initiative, without direct supervision, making sound clinical decisions

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

Knowledge and understanding of the relevant national guidance and policies in management of children’s emotional and mental health needs process

Excellent knowledge and understanding of the health and social care systems and operating frameworks, clinical observations and the Children’s Safeguarding, SEND and other legal frameworks relating to children and young people

Good interpersonal, communication, observation and reporting skills. Ability to engage and communication with a wide range of professionals, staff and other service stakeholders

Able to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others and demonstrate resilience to able to cope with distressing circumstances

Ability to assess a young person and from this assessment develop a formulation.

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria

Ability to travel around the geographical area of BHFT

Able to work flexible patterns as required and the ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements of the position.

Berkshire Healthcare helps people manage their health in their local area, through a range of specialist and community services across the county. We promote independence and quality of life through community and mental health services and aim for seamless delivery of the best care in the right place. We get to know communities and the people in them so we can deliver the best services that meet their health needs.

Our team of 4,300 staff provide specialist mental health and community health services to a population of around 900,000 within Berkshire. We provide healthcare to people in their own homes and from different sites across the county.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

Appointment to any position is conditional on the satisfactory completion of the core NHS Employment Checks Standards. Information disclosed in your application will be checked and any offer of appointment may be withdrawn if you knowingly withhold information or provide false or misleading information.

Please ensure your application is submitted with a valid email address for your referees in order to minimise delays in the recruitment process. Short-listed applicants will be contacted by email, therefore applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly.

Applicants are advised that as a result of the high level of response we receive for some of our vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date.

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is committed to improving the health of its staff, patients and the wider community by providing a smoke free environment. A smoke free policy is in operation and smoking is not permitted on any of the Trust’s sites.

NO AGENCIES TO CONTACT BERKSHIRE HEALTHCARE DIRECTLY PLEASE

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