Job overview

We have a new unique and exciting opportunity for experienced registered mental health professionals (RMN, Social worker, Occupational Therapists) to join the Access Mental Health services, in this Senior Practitioner role. 

Dorset's Mental Health Response Vehicles (MHRV) are due to come on line shortly, a partnership between Dorset Healthcare and SWAST. The post holder will be expected to work shifts on the MHRV - responsible for completion of urgent and emergency mental health assessments for those presenting in crisis.  

The MHRV will have operating hours of 16:00-02:00 7 days a week, and be based out of SWAST ambulance stations in the East (Ferndown) and West (Dorchester or Weymouth). This is a pan Dorset role, and whilst applicants may express a preference for main base, they will be expected to cover across sites according to service need.  

Working predominately out of hours, the role will also include supporting existing Access MH Teams in clinical decision making, providing advice to other agencies and emergency services, as well as direct clinical work in urgent telephone and face to face mental health assessments. 

Full and part time hours, along with all reasonable flexible working requests, will be considered - but applicants must be able to work a shift pattern which includes the 16:00-02:00 MHRV shifts. 

We welcome informal conversations and visits, please contact Saranne George - [email protected]

Main duties of the job

Important note - please read the Job Description and Person Specification carefully - you must have the required professional registration and clinical experience to apply for this post. 

You will work based either at Connection (St Anns Hospital) or on one of the MHRVs,  to provide clinical expertise, advice, assessment and decision making out of hours.  

You will be responsible for completing urgent and emergency mental  health assessments of those presenting in mental health crisis. And will need to be able to work autonomously without immediate access to supervision (though on-call medical support is available), in making timely and complex clinical decisions. 

Working on the MHRV, you will also be required to hold an honorary contract with SWAST, have successfully completed the mandatory training for this role. 

Working for our organisation

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.