Advanced Mental Health Practitioner
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
We are looking for an Advanced Mental Health Practitioner (nurse, social worker, occupational therapist) to join the King’s Health Partner’s (KHP) Homeless Team. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of an important and innovative service, one of only a few specific homeless mental health inpatient teams in the UK.The role would suit someone with experience or interest in homelessness and inclusion health.
The role includes jointly leading the service and working with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to support those that are homeless or vulnerably housed and admitted within Lambeth or Southwark. This is a diverse role which includes autonomous working and the opportunity to be a part of a dynamic team, led by evidenced based practice, linked with regional and national homeless research and strategies and a strong commitment to a personalised approach.
This is a full-time Band 7 position offered on a permanent basis. The service is operational between Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00.
Main duties of the job
As joint lead for the service, the post holder will be responsible for the day to day running of the service, including triaging of referrals, supervising junior staff members, taking a lead in areas of service development, amongst other operational tasks.
The post holder will support the team with managing a caseload of homeless inpatients, undertaking holistic and personalised assessments of people’s needs, and working together with the individual, the ward and hospital discharge teams. The post holder will use their knowledge, experience and communication skills to support and advocate.The post holder will support patients with transitional work into the community. The post holder will work within the MDT but will also be expected to work autonomously. They will work collaboratively with external agencies such as the neighboring local authority housing departments, as well internally such as with the hospital discharge teams.
They will have a role in developing and maintaining key relationships, such as with local authorities and 3^rd sector organisations, through regular correspondence and meetings. The post holder will work in partnership with the wider KHP homeless teams at King’s College Hospital and St Thomas’s Hospital, by attending regular meetings and sharing ideas and concerns.
The post holder will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They will be motivated, flexible and be able to show initiative and leadership.
Working for our organisation
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM.It’s important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
- Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
- Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
- Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
- Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
- NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
- Counselling services
- Wellbeing events
- Long service awards
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
We look forward to receiving your application.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- Jointly lead the service, supervise junior staff, taking a lead in areas of service development, amongst other operational tasks.
- To work autonomously, managing a caseload of patients. To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, as well as colleagues within the trust and local authorities, providing an integrated approach to the care of homeless people with mental health needs.
- To assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate effective health and social interventions for inpatients experiencing homelessness.
- To deliver individualised, specialised advice to service users, liaising with necessary support agencies / authorities to achieve the best possible outcome on discharge.
- To have in depth knowledge of the trimorbidity (physical health, mental health and substance use) and health inequalities that commonly impact on the homeless population.
- To support service users to adopt personalised recovery strategies that promote their choice, wellbeing, healthy lifestyle, independence and self-care.
- To promote the involvement of families and carers in patient care. Reflecting patients’ diversity, equality and rights to ensure their needs are met.
- To write necessary reports, case records and correspondence in line with Trust policy. To undertake all administrative duties, including data input into electronic recording systems.
- To have an understanding of the laws and legislations that effect homeless people, such as The Homeless Reduction Act and Duty to Refer, as well as immigration laws and know how to support those with No Recourse to Public Funds. To keep up to date with changes in legislation, practice and policy.
- To work collaboratively with local acute hospital homeless teams (King’s College Hospital and St Thomas’s Hospital), attending regular meetings, reflective practice and training sessions.
- To support the team in providing specialist homelessness training to SLAM inpatient staff.
- To work within a framework of anti-discriminatory practice. To seek to address the equality issues in service provision.
- To participate in the safeguarding process for vulnerable adults and children in line with local Trust policies.
Person specification
Qualifications/Education
Essential criteria- Recognised Professional Qualification in Nursing (RMN), Social Work (Dip SW/CQSW) or Occupational Therapy
- Post registration qualification in speciality
- Recognised leadership qualification or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Educated to or studying at Master’s degree level in relevant subject area
- Mentorship for RMNs
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria- Evidence of substantial experience of working directly with homeless clients or clients with addictions in a hospital and community environment.
- Experience of undertaking holistic health assessments, assessing physical health, social care and mental health needs.
- Experience of case managing clients with complex mental health needs.
- Substantial relevant post registration experience in a broad range of services.
- Experience and knowledge of quality, standard setting and audit.
- Formal teaching experience.
- Project management experience
- Direct experience of working with the benefit system.
- Experience of delivering Service User Initiatives
Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria- Able to effectively lead a multi-disciplinary team and think and work strategically.
- Proven ability to effectively manage change.
- Competence in provision of clinical supervision.
- Advanced clinical examination skills.
- Able to lead in partnership with and negotiate with a wide variety of partnership agencies, and other NHS providers.
The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:
- Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
- Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
- We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity
Please note:
- That all applications for this post will need to be made online
- That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
- That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
- That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
- That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
- That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
- That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
- That we are a smoke-free Trust
SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe’