Job overview

Previous applicants need not apply

NHS England/Improvement has developed a new Framework to support local systems in implementing the NHS Long Term Plan’s vision for transforming community mental health care. This Framework sets out how the LTP’s vision for a new place-based community mental health model can be realised, and how we can modernise community mental health services to shift to whole person, whole population health approaches.

The role of Clinical Practice Specialist is fundamental to the developing of these innovative new ways of working. The role will support the ongoing development and mobilisation of integrated mental health service offer with a specialist clinical focus on the discharge and step down pathway, Assertive in reach into the community and supporting the flow within the team especially with difficult to reach patients. The role provides and promotes flexible and responsive access to assessment, treatment and/or onward bridging to community resources and support, in line with evidence based interventions for people with serious mental illness. The role will help people to focus on achievable goals and access local community resources as part of their recovery and care plan.

The service offer will be for people over 18 years who are experiencing mental health difficulties but with a specific focus on: the step down and in reach pathways being developed and implemented into community clinical protocols and models.

Main duties of the job

Provide follow up care for service users who are difficult to engage or struggling to access care and support. In addition, support the teams clinical thinking and decision making as part of the step down and discharge pathways within the teams.

·       Work closely with colleagues in specialist community mental health services to ensure smooth transitions between teams and services and facilitate an ‘easy in, easy out’ approach to improve access to evidence based interventions.

·       Provide a responsive place based care and support  for clients in immediate crisis where their needs/difficulties are best met or understood within a biopsychosocial model and away from physical health setting ( A&E).

·       Offer professionals support which can be accessed by community partners such as the police, paramedics and GPs who are seeking clinical advice around mental health crisis or when use of s136 is being considered.

·       Use evidence based practice to provide assessment and interventions that promotes the engagement of the client in treatment, to assist them into recovery.

·       Share in the clinical management of a defined caseload and develop an interface with other services and agencies so that service users are offered focussed and co-ordinated packages of care which are appropriate to their needs.

Working for our organisation

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy:

1.     We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.

2.       With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all

3.       We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.

4.       We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology. 

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.