Job summary
This is a great opportunity to be part of Kent & Medway's NHS 111 crisis mental health line for children and young people. The UK is one of the first countries in the world to provide a 3 digit emergency line for mental health needs. Children who are in crisis or concerned family and loved ones can now call 111, select the mental health option and speak to a trained mental health professional.

The right candidate will triage and guide callers with next steps such as facilitating access to Crisis Assessment Triage Team which provide urgent assessments, or to alternative mental health support teams or organisations that can offer the right support.

We invite applications from qualified professionals with Children's Mental Health experience.

You will be working in our Offices in Maidstone Studios (no hybrid working/home-working is available for this role). Working patterns are currently Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am to 6pm.

Main duties of the job

• Receive and handle NHS 111 calls professionally whilst demonstrating active listening skills, professional curiosity and risk management. Document calls accurately on NHS IT system.
• Advise and support junior NHS 111 call handlers with calls, reviewing risk concerns and support to direct their calls to the most appropriate services.
• Review and evaluate the immediate needs of the caller through the process of a clinical triage. Risk assess, and direct to clinically indicated services.
• Triage and risk assess referrals from Accident and Emergency departments and paediatric wards, referrals will either require onward referrals to the Crisis Assessment Triage team, Locality CYPMHs or signposting to Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises.
• Be able to remain professional and calm whilst managing difficult and challenging NHS 111 calls, using your clinical skills and experience to de-escalate and manage crisis situations.
• Demonstrate clinical expertise decerning what the clinical mental health need is, and who is best placed to offer the appropriate support.
• Make time considered action and safety plans that reflect the needs of the caller.
• Complete admin timely and accurately and inform other services when appropriate.
• Be able to effectively liaise and communicate between CYPMHS services and other networks.
• Able to adapt quickly to the needs of each call and manage expectations of callers.

About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.

Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.

Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification.

Person Specification
Training, Qualifications and Registration
Essential

• Qualification in e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy and appropriate Professional Body Registration

Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Understanding of legislation and guidance e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, The Children Act etc
• Understanding of maintaining confidentiality/data protection
• Experience working in CAMHS
• Excellent interpersonal skills in a customer focussed environment
• Understanding and ability to differentiate mental health and Emotional Wellbeing

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 (opens in a new window).

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.