Job overview

We currently have a 12-month secondment opportunity for a Senior Practitioner (Band 7) in our Crisis, Assessment & Treatment Team in Ealing.

As a Senior Practitioner, you will gain a variety of experience as a key member of the community healthcare team and be part of a multi-disciplinary service that other teams call on for help. Working in this service places you on the frontline of community mental health service and will enable you to respond to a variety of clinical needs at short notice.

Our goal is to develop highly motivated, professional staff who will work in partnership with patients.  As a service we want to promote and encourage positive community relationships. We believe in embracing the expertise of our staff and making a difference to the lives of our patients.

This leadership role in CATT consists of assessments and also brief home-based treatment to people with mental health problems at risk of admission to hospital.

As a member of CATT, you will work closely with local services Single Point of Access who provide triage for every new referral to the service.

The post holder will work within a 24 hour rota system –- ensuring that a comprehensive service is provided to patients 365 days a year, an excellent interface with the Single Point of Access and other significant interfaces is maintained and robust gatekeeping at all times.

The team is fast paced and outcome focussed so a ‘can do’ attitude and a willingness to get stuck in are a must.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, co-ordination and the delivery of a high quality mental health service for patients under the care of CATT who required assessment by secondary mental health services for pathway planning, crisis intervention in the community, or gate keeping for the inpatient wards and community recovery house with the emphasis for potential providing home treatment. 

The post holder will be involved in the on-going development of services, to ensure that the most relevant care pathway and care plan is devised to provide access to urgent and crisis care. They will be active in the promotion and use of evidence-based practice through the provision of clinical advice and support; acting as a role model; and providing education and training where appropriate.

They will liaise closely with carers, both statutory and non-statutory services, emergency services, and 3rd sector services. They will liaise closely with local services Single Point of Access providing rapid response to mental health crisis situations where necessary and appropriate to decrease the number of unnecessary presentations to A&E.

The post holder will also deliver supervision for junior colleagues. To work within a 24 hour 7 day a week rota system, ensuring that a comprehensive service is provided to patients and robust gatekeeping is maintained.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.