Job summary
Employer heading
Mental Health Engagement Practitioner
Band 5
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of specialist health care and has a presence in community outreach sites and, in collaboration with other providers, our clinicians help deliver care closer to patients’ homes by holding local clinics at locations from Cumbria to Shropshire, in Wales and the Isle of Man. The Trust also provides inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs at our Sunflower House building newly relocated, and opened on the hospital site.
We currently have more than 4,000 staff working across our community and hospital sites. We’re also a teaching and training hospital providing education and training to around 540 medical and over 500 nursing and allied health professional students each year.
As black and minority ethnic (BME) employees are currently under-represented in this area, we particularly welcome applications from members of our BME communities. All appointments will be made on merit.
You can expect a warm welcome at Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At Alder Hey we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Great flexible working opportunities
- Lease car scheme and Home Electronics Scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- Extensive staff health and well-being programmes
Job overview
Mental Health Engagement Practitioner - Crisis Care Team
37.5hrs per week
Permanent
This is an exciting opportunity for candidates who have an interest and/or experience in working with young people experiencing a mental health crisis. We are particularly looking for applicants who have experience of working with young people and their families in community settings.
Mental Health Services at Alder Hey are offering excellent benefit schemes:
Refer a friend – Alder Hey
Successful candidates who are introduced to the trust by existing staff members will receive £1000 after completion of six months in post. Please include the name/Alder Hey email for your friend in the additional information section of your application.
This will be paid in two parts, £250 in first month pay on commencement in post, and £750 on completion of six months.
Accommodation
Alder Hey will support the cost of accommodation for up to 3 months from the date of employment (up to £500 per month)
The cost is to be paid by the staff member and reclaimed as expenses.
Relocation package
Relocation packages to support new hires and will be consulted on an individual basis, please link in with [email protected] for further information
Main duties of the job
Mental Health Engagement Practitioner provide support and guidance for young people, parents and professionals who call our 24/7 crisis care line, and will also undertake sessions with young people in their homes as part of our intensive support and home based treatment team, under the supervision of a qualified Senior Mental Health Practitioner or Clinical Psychologist.
In addition:
- To work directly with children, young people and families as part of the intensive home treatment service as directed by senior clinicians.
- To answer calls on the 24 hour crisis line and support young people, parents and carers who call in crisis.
- To report and escalate crisis line calls to shift lead as clinical risks indicate
- To report directly to the shift lead any problems/issues regarding the crisis support plan for individual children, young people and families.
- To work in the community, including home visits and through agreed activities to positively improve a young person social and emotional development.
- To work flexibly in order to maximise opportunities for engagement of children, young people and families.
- To develop positive relationships with children, young people and families which actively supports their engagement with CAMHS Crisis Team/Intensive Home Treatment.
- Identify appropriate activities for young people and develop a local knowledge of youth groups and alternative voluntary projects young people can link with.
Working for our organisation
In April 2020, the Crisis Care team moved rapidly to a 24 hour service to provide support for Children, Young People and families experiencing mental health crisis in Sefton and Liverpool. The service operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week and comprises of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, Nursing, Social Workers, Mental Health Engagement Practitioners and Assistant Psychologists and provide a 24 hour urgent response and assessment to children and young people who are experiencing mental health crisis, as well support to parents/carers, and consultation to other professionals involved in their care.
The intensive support and home based treatment team is a new service, co-located within our Crisis Care Team who offer support to children, young people and their families throughout Liverpool and Sefton. The main base for this post will be Alder Hey, but the post holder will work throughout the Liverpool and Sefton footprint.
The service operates 24hrs per day and will provide intervention and support to children, young people and families at home. Post holders will be required to work 12.5hr shifts, including weekends and nights.
This role is in a department that operates on a 24/7 shift basis and therefore enables staff to qualify for unsocial enhancements in addition to their basic pay.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further detailed information about this role
Person specification
Qualifications, Experience and Training
Essential criteria
- Degree level qualification and/or equivalent experience in a child and family related field e.g. social work, youth and community work, nursing
- Ability to assess plan and implement patient plans of care with regular supervision.
- Ability to develop therapeutic relationships
- Knowledge of child development including adolescence.
- To be able to work independently with young people presenting at risk but being aware to maintain this within the bounds of your responsibility accessing supervision if required out of the formal structure.
Desirable criteria
- To demonstrate a commitment to work with a diverse group of families and professionals from a variety of backgrounds.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with families with mental health problems.
- Knowledge of behavioural based interventions.
- An understanding of the specific needs of people from different ethnic backgrounds and an understanding of those with disabilities.
- Skilled in the communication of sensitive issues and have an awareness of child protection issues and understand the bounds of confidentiality.
- Must demonstrate a commitment to on-going professional development
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Must demonstrate a commitment to on-going professional development
- Must demonstrate an understanding of the need to take part in Personal Development Reviews to ensure career development plus attending relevant training when appropriate.
- Must show enthusiasm and appreciation for multidisciplinary and multiagency working.
- Must demonstrate a professional manner.
- Must demonstrate a high level of verbal and written communication skills commensurate with the nature of clinical and professional contacts required for the job.
Desirable criteria
- Driving licence and access to car (due to outreach work)
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Zoe Bentley
- Job title
- Specialist Mental Health Practitioner
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
Paula Smith
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
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