Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join an evolving and innovative team working within the London Borough of Wandsworth Local Authority. The Family Safeguarding Team works within Children's Services and provides mental health assessment and intervention to parents and carers of children open to Children's Social Care on Child in Need and Child Protection Plans. Within the London Borough of Wandsworth, the wider Family Safeguarding model seeks to provide multidisciplinary support to families and comprises of Social Workers, Mental Health Practitioners, Child Practitioners, Drug and Alcohol Workers, Domestic Abuse Practitioners and Domestic Abuse Workers.
The Mental Health Practitioner will work with parents, carers of children, families and other agencies. The post-holder will be responsible for delivering clinical and evidence-based treatment and interventions to parents/partners/care givers with a mental health condition, who may also who experience (or perpetrate) domestic abuse or misuse substances.
The Family Safeguarding Team sits within the wider community adult mental health provision within Wandsworth and the post-holder will liaise with wider services to ensure smooth transitioning between services, should the need arise.
Main duties of the job
- Build trusting and collaborative relationships with parents, service users and their families.
- Understand what is important to the service user in their life.
- Offer help and support to the service user to develop and set goals with what is important to them and their families.
- Help them to feel hopeful about the things that are important to them.
- Provide support and advice with being involved in their community- for example housing, employment, education, welfare benefits, social life and peer support networks.
- Help service users to feel in control of their life including self-management tools and techniques.
- They mental health practitioner will also work closely with the team manager and senior leadership team around the evaluation, monitoring and development of the Family Safeguarding framework, ensuring the team is working towards and inline with the KPIs which have been set out and agreed.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive. Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Undertake mental health needs and risk screening assessments of parents/partners/care givers whose children are being supported by Childrens Services
2. Undertake short-term supportive intervention work with families who have severe anxiety/mental health difficulties that impacts on their ability to engage with the Family Safeguarding Teams
3. Assist parents/partners/care givers to engage with relevant and appropriate adult mental health services and/or refer to psychologists within the Family Safeguarding Team
4. Provide consultation on mental health issues to other professionals within the Family Safeguarding Teams, contributing to multi-disciplinary working and, as part of that, be an Approved on 21st October 2021 (Cluster with CAJE 1321) Family Safeguarding MH Practitioner, Band 6Page 2 of 9 excellent advocate for mental health attending relevant team meetings/group supervision as needed within Family Safeguarding Teams
5. Ensure any treatment programme for mental health conditions includes an on-going assessment of the risk of child abuse or further domestic abuse, in conjunction with other team members.
6. Contribute to the development and undertake training events and workshops, disseminating knowledge around mental health difficulties to other colleagues in Family Safeguarding Teams
7. Assist the Teams to ensure parents/partners (and their own Carers) are screened against the social care eligibility criteria in line with the Care Act 2014 and are referred to Adult Social Care colleagues for assessments of their eligibility to funded social care.
8. For those parents/partners (and their own Carers) who are not eligible to funded social care, offer direct support, information and advice about managing mental health difficulties, as well as signpost to other support services
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Undertake mental health needs and risk screening assessments of parents/partners/care givers whose children are being supported by Childrens Services
2. Undertake short-term supportive intervention work with families who have severe anxiety/mental health difficulties that impacts on their ability to engage with the Family Safeguarding Teams
3. Assist parents/partners/care givers to engage with relevant and appropriate adult mental health services and/or refer to psychologists within the Family Safeguarding Team
4. Provide consultation on mental health issues to other professionals within the Family Safeguarding Teams, contributing to multi-disciplinary working and, as part of that, be an Approved on 21st October 2021 (Cluster with CAJE 1321) Family Safeguarding MH Practitioner, Band 6Page 2 of 9 excellent advocate for mental health attending relevant team meetings/group supervision as needed within Family Safeguarding Teams
5. Ensure any treatment programme for mental health conditions includes an on-going assessment of the risk of child abuse or further domestic abuse, in conjunction with other team members.
6. Contribute to the development and undertake training events and workshops, disseminating knowledge around mental health difficulties to other colleagues in Family Safeguarding Teams
7. Assist the Teams to ensure parents/partners (and their own Carers) are screened against the social care eligibility criteria in line with the Care Act 2014 and are referred to Adult Social Care colleagues for assessments of their eligibility to funded social care.
8. For those parents/partners (and their own Carers) who are not eligible to funded social care, offer direct support, information and advice about managing mental health difficulties, as well as signpost to other support services
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a range of settings relevant to the post
- At least 2 years of post registration clinical experience of Adult Mental Health
- Experience of working in acute mental health inpatient/community services
- Experience of working in situations of crisis and emotionally demanding environments.
- Experience and knowledge of child and adult safeguarding processes
- Experience of delivering evidence based care
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings
- Experience of generic and specialist Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions
Desirable
- Experience of working with acute mental health problems in a community setting.
- Experience of working within Substance Misuse Services
- Broad base of clinical experience
- Experience of group work
- Experience/training motivational interviewing
- Experience in research and or audit
- Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-ethnic community
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Professional degree level for own discipline: RMN or Dip/Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing OR Registered Occupational Therapist
- Continuing registration with body overseeing practice of core mental health profession, e.g. NMC or HCPC
Desirable
- Psychosocial interventions Motivational Interviewing training Solution focused brief therapy
- CBT / DBT training Practice Placement qualification / APPLE accreditation
- ENB 998/Preceptorship and Mentorship
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, ethical issues, strategic frameworks and current guidelines regarding the range of presenting problems in adult mental health, their implications for both practices and clinical management
- Adhere to relevant Professional Code of Conduct and standards appropriate to discipline
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Experience of Clinical risk assessment and management in an inpatient or community setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of impact of mental health conditions on the welfare and safety of children and family
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life span's presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
- Knowledge of whole life span development and the impact on emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing.
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
- Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
- Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures
- Awareness of current NHS initiatives and developments
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
- Skills in the use of complex methods of assessment and treatment of individual, couples, and families requiring sustained and intense concentration
Desirable
- Knowledge of parental mental health literature and its application.
- Ability to teach and train others using multi-media materials suitable for presentation.
- Knowledge of current developments in research with service user group
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one evidence based psychological therapy (i.e. CBT, Interpersonal Therapy, CAT, systemic family psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy) relevant to the treatment of adults with complex problems and their families
- Substantial IT skills
- Experience of audits/evaluations of interventions and implementation of any subsequent changes to practice
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a range of settings relevant to the post
- At least 2 years of post registration clinical experience of Adult Mental Health
- Experience of working in acute mental health inpatient/community services
- Experience of working in situations of crisis and emotionally demanding environments.
- Experience and knowledge of child and adult safeguarding processes
- Experience of delivering evidence based care
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings
- Experience of generic and specialist Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions
Desirable
- Experience of working with acute mental health problems in a community setting.
- Experience of working within Substance Misuse Services
- Broad base of clinical experience
- Experience of group work
- Experience/training motivational interviewing
- Experience in research and or audit
- Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-ethnic community
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Professional degree level for own discipline: RMN or Dip/Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing OR Registered Occupational Therapist
- Continuing registration with body overseeing practice of core mental health profession, e.g. NMC or HCPC
Desirable
- Psychosocial interventions Motivational Interviewing training Solution focused brief therapy
- CBT / DBT training Practice Placement qualification / APPLE accreditation
- ENB 998/Preceptorship and Mentorship
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, ethical issues, strategic frameworks and current guidelines regarding the range of presenting problems in adult mental health, their implications for both practices and clinical management
- Adhere to relevant Professional Code of Conduct and standards appropriate to discipline
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Experience of Clinical risk assessment and management in an inpatient or community setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of impact of mental health conditions on the welfare and safety of children and family
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life span's presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
- Knowledge of whole life span development and the impact on emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing.
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
- Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
- Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures
- Awareness of current NHS initiatives and developments
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
- Skills in the use of complex methods of assessment and treatment of individual, couples, and families requiring sustained and intense concentration
Desirable
- Knowledge of parental mental health literature and its application.
- Ability to teach and train others using multi-media materials suitable for presentation.
- Knowledge of current developments in research with service user group
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one evidence based psychological therapy (i.e. CBT, Interpersonal Therapy, CAT, systemic family psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy) relevant to the treatment of adults with complex problems and their families
- Substantial IT skills
- Experience of audits/evaluations of interventions and implementation of any subsequent changes to practice
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
