Job summaryThe States of Guernsey are looking for a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
Main duties of the jobThe Senior Mental Health Practitioner will be acting as a key member of the multi-disciplinary team and will provide skilled assessment for under 18s with a range of psychological, psychiatric or risk-based issues. The post holder will also provide psychosocial, evidence-based interventions using a collaborative approach and will be skilled at-risk assessment and case management.
The Practitioner will complement the multi-disciplinary working of the team, providing supervision for other team members, as agreed with the Team Leader. A large proportion of the duties will require you to cover the Emergency Duty Rota and to do regular urgent or routine assessments also.
In addition, you will participate in team and service development and evaluation, and liaise, advise and consult with a wide range of agencies.
About usThe Island of Guernsey is in the English Channel in the Bay of St Malo, 50km off the north-west coast of France and 120km from the English coast.
Guernsey has a population of around 63,000 and in Alderney just under 2,000. Working in a relatively small Health and Social Care Service like ours means you can effectively work with colleagues across the services, health and social care professionals can collaborate not only with each other but also other agencies, the third sector and the community. We offer an attractive relocation policy and competitive salaries with great career opportunities, modern facilities ,excellent training, revalidation and registration support and a healthy work-life balance.
As a health or social care professional who chooses to join our team, you can look forward to working in an environment that gives you the time to care that you hoped for when choosing this career.
Job responsibilitiesResponsibility for Patient/Service User Care- To undertake the assessment of patients/service users with complex needs includingindividuals with unconfirmed diagnosis.
- To develop, implement and evaluate specialised programmes of care utilisingevidence and research.
- To work autonomously, recognising changes in patients'/service users' presentationwhich require intervention, knowing when to escalate as appropriate.
- To guide, advise and direct other staff in the assessment, planning, implementationand evaluation of specialised patient/service user care.
- To promote patient/service user involvement in the planning, delivery and evaluationof care, respecting their beliefs and dignity.
- To utilise data and information from a range of sources to identify patient/service usercondition to guide decision making.
- Within field of expertise and policy, request specific clinical tests to establish adiagnosis.
- To undertake the role of health promoter and educator for patients/service users andtheir support networks.
- To ensure that professional standards are upheld by the staff members working withinthe postholders sphere of responsibility.
- To report all accidents and incidents as per policy and participate in risk managementand Quality and Safety processes e.g SWARM.
- To be accountable for ensuring that safeguards are in place for patients/service usersand escalate any safety, safeguarding or risk concerns following the appropriateprocesses.
Communication- To build a therapeutic relationship with patients/service users and their supportnetwork, communicating with them in a way that respects their views, language,cultural differences and cognitive function.
- To use a wide range of communication skills that can be adapted to meet the needsof complex and challenging situations.
- To manage conflict between individuals including staff, patients/service users andtheir support network.
- To establish effective working relations with all members of the multi-disciplinaryteam and outside agencies, clearly relaying condition related information in a timelyand effective manner.
- Communicates to patients/service users and support networks compassionately, ina confidential and sensitive professional manner.
- To provide clear, concise, and accurate electronic and paper records of the care givenin accordance with agreed policy and standards.
Leadership- To act as a professional role model for junior staff, promoting high standards ofpractice and strong professional values.
- To take charge of the department or service as required.
- To co-ordinate nurse led and multi-agency activities within area of specialist practice.
- To contribute to team success and excellent standards of care by challenging othersconstructively, upholding HSCs CARE Values.
- To ensure team members are aware of organisational objectives, policies andprocedures and implications that they have for their practice.
- To undertake Values Based Appraisals for staff as required and support such staff withperformance issues, developing action plans to address developmental needs.
- To contribute to the recruitment of team members and ensure a positive andsupportive working environment for all staff.
- To advocate on behalf of patients and service users.
- To take accountability and reflect on own decisions and actions using availablesupport networks.
Planning and Organisation- To organise own workload and tasks and that of others, demonstrating the ability torecognise changing priorities and adjusting plans accordingly.
- To assist with shift planning/work scheduling for the service area including theappropriate allocation of staff to ensure safe levels of care.
- To coordinate and delegate activities to junior colleagues where applicable withinagreed systems of working, considering required skill mix and staffing levels, inaccordance with patient/service user need.
Policy and Service Development- To contribute to service developments and propose changes to policies andprocedures.
- To ensure that junior staff members are aware of relevant policies, procedures andguidelines.
Partnership Working- To demonstrate an understanding of and apply the principles of the CARE Values.
- To actively work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team with a range ofprofessionals from other service areas who may be participating in the care of apatient/service user.
- To lead effective team working, communicating with others in a constructive way,which enables colleagues to make suggestions for the improvement of care delivery.
- To lead and participate in team meetings.
Responsibility for Physical and Financial Resources- To ensure that public funds are used responsibly and appropriately.
- To authorise expenditure, e.g. the signing of timesheets and authorising the use ofadditional staff.
- To have an awareness of cost implications and assist in the management of resourceswithin the service area e.g equipment and supplies.
- To ensure the safe and responsible use of equipment.
- To handle valuables in accordance with agreed policies and procedures.
Professional Development- To take responsibility for maintaining own professional development and revalidationrequirements, ensuring completion of training in accordance with the Statutory,Mandatory and Essential to Role Training Policy.
- To participate in supervisory one-to-one meetings and undertake HSC Values BasedAppraisals where appropriate, developing plans to meet personal and organisationalobjectives.
- To continually develop new knowledge and skills, applying this to practice and sharingwith colleagues as appropriate.
- To develop programmes of learning to meet the educational needs of staff workingwithin the department or service.
- To participate in the induction, orientation and development of new staff, agencyworkers, students and any voluntary workers.
- To actively contribute to an effective learning environment and to supervise andassess pre and post registration students in accordance with University and HSCrequirements.
Research Development and Audit- To use data from clinical incidents to inform areas of audit activity and servicedevelopment.
- To participate in HSC quality improvement initiatives and audits to improve patientand service user safety and care.
- To keep up to date with evidence-based practice and current trends.
Analysis and Data Management- To understand Key Performance Indicators and trends within own service area andcontribute to service development.
- To utilise a variety of data sources to contribute to the analysis and investigation ofincidents.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Minimum Qualification:
- Registered Health or Social Care Professional (e.g. Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist etc).
- Professional registration with HCPC, NMC, SWE or equivalent.
- Experience of working in a CAMHS, crisis or community CAMHS setting or an equivalent experience.
Desirable- Key Criteria:
- The ability to evidence how HSCs CARE Values are applied in practice.
- Evidence of relevant CPD.
- A high standard of communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to deal with complex and challenging situations in a calm and diplomatic manner.
- The ability to effectively prioritise own workload and that of others.
- The ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Commitment to self-development and the development of others.
- Adaptable and responsive to changing service needs.
- Ability to deal with stress in self and others, recognising when support is required.
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). 
