Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care for service users who are referred to the Intensive Outreach Team, including the assessment and management of risk.
• To be responsible for a caseload of patients as the named key worker/care coordinator/lead clinician (or other equivalent title)
• To work alongside the service user in meeting the practical needs of everyday life such as activities of daily living, budgeting skills, social structures, leisure activities, etc. in a collaborative manner
• To work within a psychosocial / family centred framework when assessing and planning individual packages of care.
• To be responsible for organising and planning an active clinical caseload as an autonomous practitioner managing your time effectively and liaising closely with other agencies and disciplines.
• To undertake evaluation of clinical symptoms and disabilities, advising appropriate medical staff of any changes requiring psychiatric evaluation and / or intervention
• To undertake the role of CPA co-ordinator for a case load of service users with complex mental health problems who are difficult to engage and require intensive packages of care in line with the Trusts CPA policy.
• To work within the framework of any new model of patient care, as designated by the trust, which may replace the pre-existing CPA framework
• To develop therapeutic relationships with service users in order to provide support and assistance, as appropriate to the service users and their informal carers associated
• To ensure that the Team is aware of the particular perspective of your professional background in relation to patient care, whilst acknowledging the need to blur professional boundaries in order to achieve a seamless approach to client care
• To participate in mental health promotion / education and give advice as necessary to clients and their carers on the maintenance of good health and prevention of relapse
• To administer and monitor the effects and adverse effects of prescribed medication and liaise with medical staff regarding any necessary adjustments in medication (if within professional competency)
• To offer advice / information to clients and carers in regard to prescribed medications
• To ensure the Intensive Outreach Team promotes a positive view of mental health, breaking down prejudice and stigma to facilitate an understanding of problems associated with mental illness
• To provide formal clinical supervision to students and other staff within the team
• To receive formal clinical supervision from the relevant line manager or senior practitioner as appropriate
• To take part in the team duty rota (if applicable), taking duty calls as required for the shift and following the lone working policy for checking staff whereabouts to maintain staff safety
• To possess enhanced communication skills to be able to communicate with service users and cares who are experiencing a range of mental health experiences, including psychotic symptoms or personality disorder – and who may be in distress
• To undertake the role of Lead Clinician for people who are detained under a Community Treatment Order (Mental Health Act)
• To complete formal tribunal/hospital manager’s reports for people detained under a section or a Community treatment Order
• To provide cover for line manager in their absence.

• Being confident, autonomous practitioner who take responsibility for the care they give to patients but also take responsibility for overseeing the work of others in the team including less experienced and unqualified staff
• Communicating well with all members of the team
• Understanding their role in the team and how they help the team achieve its objectives
• Reflecting on their own practice regularly and encouraging the whole team to reflect on their practices in handovers and team meetings
• Encouraging the team to learn from adverse events or respond to data analysis from audits or benchmarking exercises and implement sustainable initiatives which improve clinical outcomes
• Ensuring the best possible clinical outcomes by using up-to-date skills and adhering to evidence based policies and procedures

• Demonstrate good risk assessment and management skills, ensuring that decisions made regarding referrals are in the interests of the individual patient’s needs and their safety, upgrading referrals where necessary.
• Be fully conversant with statutory and non-statutory services across South East Essex
• Maintain a good public image of the community mental health services by dealing with all patient, family, team and inter agency interactions in a professional manner
• Be responsible for the maintenance and accurate patient records on relevant patient information system (i.e. Mobius)