NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Mental Health Act Transfer Coordination:

• Ensure timely assessment and transfer of acutely mentally ill patients under the Mental Health Act 2007.
• Support Consultant Psychiatrists and other colleagues in relation to all patients identified for possible transfer under the Act
• Liaise with Psychiatrists and others carrying out assessments for transfer, ensuring appointments are booked in a timely fashion and carried out to completion
• Continually liaise with mental health inpatient units in relation to those identified for transfer – in particularly with bed managers – to ensure any delay in transfer is prevented or minimised and individuals are transferred as soon as practicable
• Work with prison governors and other managers in relation to this process, ensure the prisons are aware of any individuals likely to be transferred and keeping them involved in every stage of the process whilst respecting patient confidentiality

 Clinical Responsibilities

•  The post holder will carry a small caseload of complex patients who may require assessment and/or transfer under the Mental Health Act.
• The post-holder will work closely with Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services on the transition of patients.
• The Mental Health Transfer Clinical Lead will organise specialist workload, planning activities around the needs of individuals and adjusting daily diary according to priorities as they arise.
• Provide clinical supervision to staff members within the Health and Wellbeing Team.
• To act as a specialist resource for students from all professional groups enabling them to develop knowledge and skills around mental health transfers.

 Strategic Management:

• To develop Surrey wide operational policies and pathways in conjunction with the HWB team, prison, L&D service and NHS Trusts and Commissioners.
• Participate in long term strategic planning for the service.
• To promote research and development and share good practice by reviewing publications, legislation and networking with colleagues that lead to improvement in quality and service outcome.
• To provide clinical expertise and knowledge to inform strategic planning for future needs of the prison population.
• Collect data and information that will inform the development of a strategic plan that responds to the needs of prisoner health needs.
• Be prepared to participate in the Business Continuity Plan in response to a major incident as requested.

 Service Development and Improvement:

• To develop polices and evidence-based practice that supports high quality effective transition.
• Undertake and contribute to Quality Improvement projects as required to develop the service

 Management and Leadership:

•  The Mental Health Transfer Clinical Lead will deputise, as required for the clinical team leader and the head of service for the HWB team.
• Line manage the Mental Health Transfer Coordinator and contribute to professional supervision and appraisal
• Attend regularly and participate actively in Clinical Supervision in line with CNWL Policy.
• To ensure their own continual professional development, keeping up to date with developments in nursing practice and participating in training programmes identified in an agreed Personal Development Plan.
• To contribute to ensuring all staff receive line-management supervision and appraisals on a regular basis, in line with the Trust’s supervision and appraisal policy.
• To contribute to ensuring that clinical supervision is provided, complying each of the relevant discipline’s professional regulatory requirements, and thus ensuring that a high standard of professional practice and good inter-disciplinary working is achieved.
• To ensure that all staff are fully aware of and understand their contribution to achieving successful client outcomes and performance targets for the service.
• To contribute to ensuring that the HWB team develop, implement & evaluate programmes of care using a problem-solving approach that ensures the needs of each individual patient are met.
• To ensure that all staff are trained to understand, and make optimum use of electronic systems (SystmOne) to plan and record service delivery.
• To lead on and participate in the interviewing, selecting, orientating and developing of new staff within the team, ensuring that they receive a full and effective induction and that mandatory training and other training needs are met.
• To facilitate a multidisciplinary approach (including partners agencies if required) and consider different skill mix solutions within the team.
• With the support of the Clinical Team Lead, to manage staff against performance criteria taking appropriate action when needed.
• To work closely with the Clinical Team Lead and HWB Service Lead in the assessment, provision and evaluation of training needs of nurses within the team.

 Finance and Resource Management:

• Observes personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources used in the course of work.
• Ensure resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible, taking into consideration allocation of staff, time management, clinical skills and equipment.
•  Approve expenses for staff under their supervision
• Identify and approve procurement and arrangements for patient transport.

 Information Management:

• Maintain high standard of clinical records on SystmOne, ensuring all activity, both direct and indirect patient contact, is recorded accurately throughout the transition process.

 Communication and Liaison

• To ensure open channels of communication with both internal and external agencies to achieve a coordinated service to clients and their families.
• Form and maintain strong communication links with NHS Commissioners and other secure estates
• To have and further develop a high level of interpersonal and communication skills to deal with a range of sensitive and emotive situations e.g. dealing with crisis situations, involvement in staff disciplinary processes.
• To develop and maintain procedures which result in good communication within the service and across the locality and with external/partner agencies as required.
• To play an active part in a communication system that ensures the flow of information to and from relevant meetings and forums.
• To communicate complex and sometimes distressing information to patients and staff, ensuring information is correctly assimilated and understood, and support networks are identified and put into place as necessary.
• To ensure that all documentation is legible and written in accordance with organisational, professional and best practice guidelines.