Rough Sleepers Mental Health Practitioner (RMN/ OT/ SW)

Job Summary

We have an opportunity for a Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist to join the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Rough Sleepers Mental Health Project (RAMHP), a London trust wide service covering City of London, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. RAMHP is an assessment and liaison service that works with street outreach services to support people who sleep rough and help them get the right mental health care. This role requires an understanding of the health needs of rough sleepers and the challenges homeless people face in health settings. The team uses an assertive outreach approach which means they will go out to see people where they are. We are looking for people who are trauma informed and creative in how they engage and support people with multiple needs. The post holder will be an active member of the multidisciplinary team and will support rough sleepers and people experiencing multiple exclusion homelessness with multiple needs by providing bio-psychosocial assessment. The core hours of the RAMHP team is Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. However there are periodic outreach shifts. Early shifts start at 5:30am and later shifts end at midnight. For an informal discussion about this opportunity, or to arrange a visit please call Hilary Neal, Operational Lead, on [contact hidden] or email [contact hidden].

Main Duties of the Job

• To work with people who are rough sleepers who are experiencing a mental health problems. Provide assessment and link in with other advocacy and support services in the non-profit sector as well as helping existing services work together more effectively so that homeless people are identified, assessed, supported and directed so that their recovery is sustained.
• The team operates 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year. The team mainly operates 9am - 5pm shift patterns. In addition, there are regular early and late outreach shifts with street outreach teams.
• Work with the Clinical and Operational Leads in supporting the continuous development of the service ensuring safe and effective practice upholding the Trust values with the homeless person at the centre of all care delivered.
• To undertake comprehensive assessments of mental health and social needs including risk assessments effectively and efficiently.
• To have an understanding of trauma informed principles and the challenges homeless people face in health settings.
• To promote a service user focussed service and maintain a recovery focussed ethos. To formulate and agree care plans and safety care plans.
• Be flexible, working according to the needs of the service.

About Us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a high standard of practice based on assessment through the use of psychoeducation, the Recovery Model and supportive clinical management.
• To liaise and establish good working relationships with partner agencies, colleagues in non-profit sector services, Primary Care services, Social Services, Community Mental Health Teams, In-Patient services, Criminal Justice, and other agencies as appropriate.
• To have knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions available to reduce distress for individuals experiencing mental illness/ distress.
• Ability to work autonomously and within MDT setting.
• To work with the multi-disciplinary team in developing plans that offer supportive care in the least restrictive way.
• Act as a role model in the practice area, encouraging staff in teaching and supervision to sustain a supportive learning environment.
• Be responsible for the maintenance and accurate recording of patient information in the documentation systems and to ensure the effective dissemination of patient information throughout the multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure compliance with the requirements of Safeguarding Adults and Childrens policies. To ensure that staff have the required knowledge and skills to work within these procedures to support the safety of vulnerable adults and children.
• Recognize the role of advocacy, promote concept of autonomy and self-empowerment and ensure members of the team comply with this.
• Have an understanding of the KPIs for the Rough Sleeper Mental Health Project and ensure compliance with Trust CQUINs.
• Participate in audits and survey relevant to the team.
• Identify own educational needs ensuring professional updating and development as appropriate.
• Ensure full potential through supervision, appraisals and performance management.
• Ensure that you are suitably skilled in addressing the physical health needs of service users.
• To participate in development of new policies and procedures as required.
• Ensure that clients receive a culturally competent service.
• To co-ordinate the day-to-day activity and manage the workload of the Team.
• To ensure the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act (1983) and subsequent amendments and the Mental Capacity Act (2005) are adhered to.
• To establish and maintain good relationships with service users, carers and voluntary sector colleagues.
• To provide best evidence practice to service users which complies with legislation, policies and procedures and relevant quality, governance and local and national guidelines.
• Ensuring that the local demographics are taken into consideration for service provision and improvement.
• To represent the team positively both internally and externally to the Trust.

Person Specification

Education, qualification, training (Essential)

• Relevant clinical qualification (RMN, SW, OT)
• Active registration with relevant clinical body
• Evidence of post qualification clinical training
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Higher Education qualification in Community Mental Health

Experience (Essential)

• Experience in hospital or community caseload management
• Experience in working with diverse agencies in a complex environment
• Experience of working as part of a multi-Professional team
• Experience of making full psycho-social assessments and writing reports
• Experience of partnership working with other agencies

Knowledge and skills (Essential)

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to work autonomously and independently
• Ability to be innovative in daily practice
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to work effectively with other agencies including the voluntary sector
• Word processing and computer skills or willingness to attend training
• Ability to engage with people with serious mental health problems in a holistic manner
• Understanding of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Care Act 2014
• Knowledge and understanding of the presentation of mental health problems
• Able to demonstrate high level of care expertise
• Ability to manage severely challenging behaviour/ crisis intervention
• Ability to manage unpredictable workloads and frequent demands on concentration and attention
• Understanding of the key themes of clinical governance and evidence based practice
• Knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities, confidentiality and consent issues
• Health and safety issues

Additional Information

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.

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.

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

Employer Details

Employer name: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Address: Old Montague Street, 86 OLD MONTAGUE STREET, LONDON, E1 5NN

Employer's website: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/