Job summary
We are a multi-disciplinary team who work with people aged 65 and above living in residential or nursing care homes in Lambeth and Southwark. We specialise in understanding the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, which can be found to be challenging.

Our team visits care homes to undertake thorough assessments of the people referred to our team. We work with residents, their families and alongside care home staff to provide specialist intervention. This includes 'information sharing' sessions, and developing person-centred care plans to help meet the individual's psychological and social needs. We also offer learning opportunities for care staff to enhance their skills and confidence when providing care.

You will need to be motivated and enthusiastic about providing high quality person centred dementia care and be able to inspire others to do so too. As part of a multi-disciplinary team you will be expected to contribute to the core team tasks as well as working autonomously with clients managing your own caseload adopting a flexible and positive approach.

You will receive regular managerial supervision with regular appraisals. There are excellent opportunities for training to help develop your skills. There will be opportunities and support for continuing professional development and to actively participate in quality innovations, research and audit.

Main duties of the job
The post-holder will be expected to carry out an assessment and formulate a plan of care for service users who are experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia or challenging behaviour in the context of mental illness. They will work in conjunction with the residential to support staff skill development. They will care co-ordinate a defined caseload comprising of people with a diagnosis of dementia that are experiencing Behavioural and Psychological symptoms associated with the illness. They will provide support and consultation their carers, relatives and friends as directed by line manager. This will include developing and evaluating care plans in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team.

The post will have a key role in providing time limited support to people with dementia, their carers and relatives and will liaise with colleagues within primary care, community health and social care services, voluntary organisations and the wider mental health of older adult service as appropriate.

Communications and Working Relationships

• People with dementia and their carers
• Multi-disciplinary team colleagues
• Private residential and nursing homes and day centres
• Community, day & in-patient services within MHOA directorate
• Line & service management and professional leads
• GPs, primary & community health and social care teams
• Third Sector and community groups - in particular the Alzheimer's Society

Job responsibilities

• To promote a holistic, person-centred, needs led assessment and formulation framework to local authority and private providers of older peoples care to support direct care staff to implement the plan of care. To work towards a recovery and social inclusion focussed framework, ensuring that the care offered is evidence-based and promoting the use of non-pharmacological strategies as a first line intervention.
• To care co-ordinate a clinical caseload of service users with behaviours that challenge, who may also experience dementia, other mental health difficulties and physical health co-morbidity. This will include carrying out some tasks directly, and overseeing other parts of the care pathway which may be carried out by other members of the team (including Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners, and Support Time and Recovery Workers).
• To effectively assess and manage complex psychiatric and physical health risk as required, taking into account a range of perspectives and modifying the frequency and intensity of intervention and support in response to changes in risk, to reduce the likelihood of needing to resort to more restrictive models of care (e.g. hospital admission) or breakdown of care arrangements.
• To take a team approach and work as part of the CHIT MDT in collaborating on and contributing to all stages of the care pathway, including assessment, observation, formulation, care planning, and evaluation, both for service users under your own care, as well as those under the care of others in the team.
• To develop and facilitate education/training opportunities to enhance the knowledge of residential / nursing home staff. To make use of practice-based training opportunities to increase the skills of staff working with clients with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia or challenging behaviour in the context of mental illness.
• To ensure effective verbal and written communication with service users, carers and residential / nursing home staff, to maximise service user and carer involvement in the delivery of care and treatment, and provide a service which is responsive, empathetic and non-judgmental to all parties.
• To work in partnership with social care to provide information that can contribute to a review of service-users needs as required. To liaise as required with other disciplines and organisations to ensure that all issues affecting client care are managed and communicated to a high standard and work in a manner that supports effective partnership working with all services that will enhance service user and carer interventions.
• To maintain accurate clinical and timely clinical documentation as per the Trust policy. To contribute to clinical audit and outcome measures with the support of the MDT. Attend meetings, forums and working groups as appropriate, and participate in service development.
• To act as a voice for those we work with to ensure that service user and carer views are incorporated into the development of the service. To work in a consultation role with service users, carers and staff to provide consultation and supervision to stakeholders and associated professionals about behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia or challenging behaviour in the context of mental illness issues.
• To ensure anti-discriminatory practice is upheld and promoted. Continually seek to improve practice via reflective learning, making effective use of supervision, training and learning opportunities to keep abreast of latest developments, guidance and legislation in dementia care and mental health for older people. Account for your own professional practice in accordance with the relevant professional Codes of Conduct and Ethics, and maintain the requirements for re-registration.
• Deputise for the Team Manager as required. Establish and build on excellent working relationships between other services within and external to the Directorate, and understand how to implement the Trust and Directorates strategies and goals within your role.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma/BSc Level Qualification and Registration in Mental Health Nurse/Social Worker/Occupation Therapist
• Registered with a professional body (NMC for Nurses/ Social Work England or equivalent for Social Workers/ HCPH for Occupational Therapists)
• Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

• Further training relevant to Older Adult Mental Health care
• For nurses: Mentorship qualification; For OTs/SW, experience in supervision of trainees

Experience/ Knowledge
Essential

• Experience in working with people who display behaviours that challenge
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of assessment and casework which meets the needs of older adults with mental health problems who are supported in the community
• Experience of assessing and managing complex risk issues in the context of community work with people who have mental health problems.
• Experience of contributing to research, clinical audit, quality improvement and / or service development

Desirable

• Further training relevant to Older Adult Mental Health care
• Knowledge and/or experience of dementia care mapping, psychological formulation, person centred care, or other interventions relevant to people with dementia
• Experience of working within a care home environment or supporting staff working in this environment
• Experience of working with other client groups and of using a variety of models/approaches to care
• Knowledge of all relevant legislation associated with mental health care, including Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, and Human Rights Act

Skills, Abilities and Attitudes
Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Ability to present ideas in a clear and concise way and vary communication styles according to audience
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role (visiting residents in care homes across the borough, sometimes at short notice)

Desirable

• Methodical approach to work with attention to detail using established IT skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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.

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Lambeth and Southwark Care Home Intervention Team (CHIT), 1st Floor Offices, Greenvale, 5 Streatham Common South, London, SW16 3BT, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.slam.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Team Manager, Joyce Mutabeni, Joyce.Mutabeni@slam.nhs.uk, 02032286928

The closing date is 17 November 2026.