Job summary
- Main area
- Southwark Directorate
- Grade
- NHS AfC:: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 334-NUR-7079108-LF
- Employer
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Maudsley Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £44,806 - £53,134 per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 03/06/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 13/06/2025
Employer heading
Acute Referral Centre (ARC) Practitioner
NHS AfC:: Band 6
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
The Acute Referral Centre (ARC) operates 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. It is the Trusts central point of contact for crisis referrals. All referrals are triaged in ARC to ensure robust gatekeeping. ARC works closely with the borough-based Home Treatment Teams (HTT), Assessment and Liaison services, Community Treatment Teams, acute trusts, Crisis Assessment Team (CAT), London Ambulance Service (LAS) and the Police.
ARC Practitioners are experienced mental health professional (Nurse, OT or Social Worker) who will undertake triage assessments and when required face to face rapid assessments alongside London Ambulance and the Metropolitan Police.
The post holder will be able to demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process. They will work with the multi-professional team to meet the needs of the service users and provide clinical professional supervision and leadership to the clinical team working within the referral centre.
The post holder must be able to work shift pattern which are, Early’s, Lates, long days and nights.
Main duties of the job
Clinical
· To triage, evaluate and identify the most effective intervention for referrals which present with mental health diagnoses and any co morbid conditions.
· To ensure thorough risk assessment of all service users in line with policy standards
· To be available to advise on the most complex and high-risk cases and be available to assess patients face to face where required.
· Making the right decision including referring patients for Home Treatment Assessments as required.
· To operate within the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act.
· Assess and escalate the need to refer service users presenting with physical health conditions to borough Matrons to ensure safe admission with appropriate support required.
· Communicates the patient’s health status using appropriate terminology, format, and technology.
· Use expert communication skills to provide accurate information to professionals, service users and their families and carers in a sensitive and professional manner.
· Use and demonstrate sensitive communication strategies to ensure that service users are fully informed and consent to care/ treatment.
· Act as an advocate for service users.
· Responsible for clear handover of referrals to the wards.
· Have a good understanding of the Trusted Assessor Framework.
· Have a good understanding of the NHS Who Pays’ Guidance, and COMPACT agreement.
Working for our organisation
By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014; providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels. In addition, our working relationship with King's Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
ARC Practitioners are responsible for triaging all referrals and identfying the most effective intervention for referrals which present with mental health diagnoses and any co morbid conditions.
The post holder will be able to demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process. They will work with the multi-professional team to meet the needs of the service users and provide clinical professional supervision and leadership to the clinical team working within the referral centre
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- Registered Mental Health Nurse and/Social Worker/ Occupational Health Therapist
- Mentorship qualification
Desirable criteria
- Master’s Degree or Post-Graduate study
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of research-based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
- Experience in working in acute services, Home Treatment team, Bed management, or Psych Liaisonence.
- Experience as a preceptor / mentor
- Knowledge of relevant Professional and Clinical legislation
- To be knowledgeable around Safeguarding.
Desirable criteria
- Monitoring of safe practice and take a lead on fact-finding investigations
- Experience of engaging / supporting clinical research projects
- Experience in working with students and knowledge of preceptorship.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Triage and evaluate the most effective intervention for referrals which present with mental health diagnoses and any co morbid conditions
- Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations and advise on most complex high risk referrals.
- Self-aware, self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to motivate others
- Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics; promotes equality and diversity
- Good communication skills, provide accurate information to professionals, service users and their families and carers in a sensitive and professional manner.
Desirable criteria
- Problem solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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
- Emmanuel Lahai Taylor
- Job title
- Clinical Service Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02032286272
- Additional information
Alice Nyakwawa
Advanced Nurse Practitioner
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