Job summary
The Wirral Homeless Service is looking to recruit a motivated and compassionate Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner to join our dedicated service for 22.5 hours per week to work alongside Wirral Ark. This is a rewarding opportunity to work with some of the most vulnerable members of our community, providing mental health assessment, care planning, intervention and support to individuals experiencing homelessness. You will work collaboratively with partner agencies to promote recovery, improve access to healthcare, and reduce health inequalities across Wirral. We are seeking an enthusiastic practitioner with excellent communication and clinical skills, a flexible approach, and a passion for delivering person-centred care to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people facing complex challenges.

Main duties of the job
Provision of mental health assessment, care planning, intervention and support to individuals experiencing homelessness. You will work collaboratively with partner agencies to promote recovery, improve access to healthcare, and reduce health inequalities across Wirral.

About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum (pro rata)
Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 373-SMH2823
Job locations: Stein Centre, Derby Road, Birkenhead, CH42 0LQ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence and values. CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. Apply through our website, or contact cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or call 01244 393100 for guidance.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £15 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: Core professional qualification (e.g., RMN, CQSW, OT)
• Essential: Degree or equivalent level qualification
• Essential: Evidence of continuing professional development
• Desirable: Training in Exposure & Response Prevention and Anxiety Management Techniques
• Desirable: Knowledge of/expertise in other therapeutic models
• Desirable: Mentor qualification
• Desirable: Evidence of using Microsoft Software

Knowledge and Expertise

• Essential: Working knowledge of legislation and policy relevant to a Mental Health setting (e.g: Mental Health Act, NSF)
• Essential: Skills in the assessment of risk and deliberate self harm
• Essential: Experience of implementing significant changes in working practices
• Essential: Experience of monitoring standards of care
• Essential: Experience of providing supervision
• Essential: Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Essential: Working knowledge of a wide range of mental health conditions

Experience

• Essential: The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in providing mental health services to adults within relevant settings.
• Essential: Experience of providing clinical supervision and training of clinical and/or support staff
• Essential: Specialist knowledge relevant to service
• Essential: Working knowledge of all relevant legislation
• Essential: Evidence of undertaking audit work
• Desirable: Experience of providing Mental Health interventions in home and community settings
• Desirable: Evidence of participation on research/audit

Trust Values

• Essential: Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

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

Employer details
Employer name: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Stein Centre, Derby Road, Birkenhead, CH42 0LQ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Visit our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Interim Head of Clinical Service, Angela Davies, angela.davies1@nhs.net, 07825973112