Job summaryAbout the role:
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and dynamic mental health practitioner to join Lewisham Early Intervention Service (LEIS). The post is open to qualified Nurses, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists.
This opportunity is ideally suited to an experienced Community Care Coordinator looking to develop specialist knowledge and expertise in delivering the Early Intervention (EI) model of care.
The team has been commended by students and former colleagues for it's passion and enthusiasm in supporting service users, along with its supportive team dynamic.
Main duties of the jobThe post-holder will undertake the responsibilities of a care coordinator, working within the Care Programme Approach for a defined caseload of service users and their carers. They will conduct initial assessments of those suspected to be experiencing a First Episode of Psychosis (FEP). They will engage service users with evidence-based psychosocial interventions in line with NICE guidelines, with a focus on hope, recovery and social inclusion.
About usAbout the Team
LEIS is a large multi-disciplinary team providing a comprehensive service to people living in Lewisham who may be experiencing psychosis for the first time. The successful applicants will be enthusiastic about this client group, and committed to working within the recovery approach to deliver NICE concordant care.
About the Location:
This role is based at 59 Cordwell Road, London, SE13 5QY.
Benefits:
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
Job responsibilities- Assessment: To be responsible for the assessment of newly referred adults with First Episode Psychosis and the subsequent presentation of findings to the wider team. To work with diagnostic uncertainty, providing ongoing comprehensive assessments and outcome monitoring for all service users within caseload. To undertake risk assessments regularly, involving all other health professionals/agencies involved. To ensure that risk assessments are regularly updated, are meaningful and are reflected in care plans.
- Engagement: Assertively outreach difficult to engage clients. To meet service users regularly, as far as possible at a venue of their choice, be this at home, CMHT centre, education, work or recreational establishments to assist with engagement and encourage participation in treatmentdelivery as well as facilitating independence in all aspects of daily living.
- Support: To provide ongoing care coordination of a designated caseload of service users who will be experiencing their first episode of psychosis. To provide support and advice in relation to service users regarding the issues concerning them. To work collaboratively with service users focusing on a recovery approach.
- Interventions: To provide interventions relevant to a first episode client group. To ensure all interventions are age appropriate and that care is sensitive to the needs of black and minority ethnic service users. To provide low intensity CBT and Mindfulness interventions under supervision. To provide psycho-education to services users. To have a client-centred approach with a focus on re-socialisation and social inclusion.
- Families and Carers: To involve families and carers in treatment plans where appropriate. This may require direct family interventions. Ensuring services are provided within guidance of the Children and Carers Acts. To ensure that the needs of Carers are assessed and the care services areprovided as necessary. To provide families and carers with psycho-education.
- MDT Working: To work in co-operation with members of the multi-disciplinary team and all other relevant health professionals to assess, develop, implement and evaluate high quality packages of client centred care. To form effective relationships with inpatient services to facilitate early effective discharge. To participate in Mental Health Act Assessments of service users that you are responsible for as appropriate. To take part in all clinical meetings.
- Communication: To maintain accurate clinical documentation on designated caseload ensuring case notes are up to date as per guidance and in line with electronic patient journey system. To ensure effective verbal and written communication with all involved with delivery of care. The post holder will liaise with other disciplines and organisations to ensure that all issues affecting service user care are managed and communicated to a high standard.
- Personal Development: To remain up to date with current/emerging good practice relating to community mental health services, in general and Early Intervention services in particular. To abide by the policies of SLAM NHS foundation Trust and Local Authority. To keep abreast of all developments pertaining to the provision of Community Mental Health Care. To contribute to effective MDT working. To meet regularly with Team Manager/Supervisor. To remain up to date with all mandatory training requirements. To undertake CPD as agreed with Team Leader. Toprovide supervision to other junior members of staff.
- Miscellaneous: To participate in the team duty system. To provide cover for colleagues in their absence. To participate in research as requested. To undertake audit/clinical governance as required. To undertake other duties as requested by Clinical Service Lead and the LEIS Team Leaderand to be willing to work from any location in the borough.
Person SpecificationKnowledgeEssential- Knowledge of the Recovery Approach and its application in practice
- Knowledge of Early Intervention in Psychosis Approach
- Knowledge of CPA, Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation as application to practice
- Knowledge of the role of a Care Coordinator
Desirable- Knowledge of current Government Policy and Guidelines concerning provision of community mental health care and of EI in psychosis in particular.
SkillsEssential- Skills and experience in crisis management.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- IT/data input skills.
- Ability to involve service users and carers in care planning
- Ability to provide psycho education to service users and their carers about psychosis
Desirable- Care coordination/CPA skills
- CBT/FI skills
ExperienceEssential- Significant experience of working with service users with psychosis when acutely ill.
- Significant experience and skills in risk assessment and management.
- Significant experience and skills in clinical assessments.
- Experience of working with service users with psychosis and their carers.
- Experience of partnership working with statutory and voluntary services
Desirable- Experience of the use of evidence based interventions relating to the care of service users with first episode psychosis
- Experience of working with service users experiencing psychosis within a community setting
- Experience of carrying out Family Interventions
- Experience of care coordination/CPA
QualificationsEssential- BSc/BA (hons) in Mental Health Nursing / Social Work / Occupational Therapy / Dual BSc in Adult and Mental Health Nursing Or Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Mental Health Nursing / Social Work / Occupational Therapy
- Relevant professional qualification. e.g. RMN, CQSW or equivalent
- Up to date registration.
- Evidence of continuing professional development e.g. relevant training. (A)
Desirable- Meridan/FI training or equivalent
- MSc / MA in Mental Health Nursing / Social Work / Occupational Therapy
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.Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
