Job summaryThe Senior Mental Health Practitioner is a key member of the CAMHS Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team, providing intensive, evidence-based assessment and treatment to children and young people experiencing acute or complex mental health difficulties across Oxfordshire. Working collaboratively with families, carers, multidisciplinary colleagues and partner agencies, the post holder will manage an allocated caseload, assess and respond to clinical risk, coordinate care, support safe transitions between services, and promote recovery within the least restrictive environment. The role also includes supervising and developing junior staff and students, contributing to service improvement and clinical governance, and participating in the team's seven-day rota and overnight on-call arrangements.
Main duties of the jobThe main duties of the role include triaging referrals, completing comprehensive mental health and risk assessments, and delivering intensive, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing acute mental health difficulties. The post holder will manage and prioritise an allocated caseload, formulate, implement and review treatment plans, maintain accurate clinical records, and coordinate safe transitions between services. They will work closely with families, carers, multidisciplinary colleagues and partner agencies to provide integrated, person-centred care in the least restrictive setting. Additional responsibilities include participating in clinical and multi-agency meetings, providing specialist advice and supervision, supporting staff and student development, contributing to audit, research and service improvement, and participating in the team's seven-day and overnight on-call rota.
About usPlease note that this role will require us to undertake a DBS check as a part of your onboarding.
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:
"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"Our values are:
"Caring, safe and excellent"We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
- Opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job responsibilitiesSee document attached for full Job description, below is a brief summary:
Clinical assessment and intervention: Triage referrals, undertake comprehensive mental health and risk assessments, and deliver timely, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing acute mental health difficulties.
Caseload and care coordination: Manage and prioritise an allocated caseload, formulate and review treatment plans, maintain accurate clinical records, and support safe transitions between services.
Risk management and safeguarding: Identify, assess and respond to clinical risk, take appropriate action to prevent harm, and comply with child and adult safeguarding procedures.
Collaborative and integrated working: Work in partnership with children, young people, families, carers, multidisciplinary colleagues and external agencies to provide coordinated, person-centred care in the least restrictive setting.
Leadership, development and governance: Provide supervision, guidance and training to junior staff and students, while contributing to clinical governance, audit, research, service improvement and the teams seven-day and on-call rota.
Person SpecificationKnowledgeEssential- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Understanding of the legal and social policy issues influencing the work environment
Desirable- To have knowledge and understanding of the research process
QualificationsEssential- Registered Nurse Mental Health (RMN) or Occupational Therapist (OT) or Social worker (SW)
Desirable- Professional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma. Teaching/mentoring qualification Leadership training
Further Training or Job Related Aptitude and SkillsEssential- To have ability to manage case load and act lead professional for clients on case list.
- To be able to function as part of multi-disciplinary team and liaise with external agencies i.e. primary care, education, social and health care
- To have ability to assess client need, both mental health, health and social needs
- Ability to organise own time and diary and that of junior staff and learners.
- Understanding of evidence based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice
Desirable- Understand role and pupose of Audit
ExperienceEssential- Post qualification experience in a mental health setting, working with young people or adults with mental illness. Experience of mentoring and clinical supervision of others.
Desirable- Experience of working with children and young people who have serious mental illness and their families and carers in the community
PersonalEssential- Ability to reflect on and critically appraise the performance of self and others.
- Commitment to client centred, non-discriminatory practice.
- Flexible
contractualEssential- Ability to travel across Oxfordshire independently & IT competent
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. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
