Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview
We are seeking compassionate and dedicated professionals to join our specialized team providing trauma-informed care to individuals with complex mental health needs who pose a significant risk of harm to others.
Our goal is to create a safe environment where our patients can heal, regain control of their lives, and build essential life skills.
We are looking for individuals with a nursing, social work, or allied health professional background who possess strong transferable skills.
We aim to train staff in advanced risk assessment techniques and psychological approaches to patient care to promote recovery and sustainable life skills within the forensic population.
You should be a registered professional with prior experience in mental health settings, preferably in forensic services or community settings.
If you are seeking a new challenge and interested in becoming part of this forward-thinking and innovative Trust then we want to talk to you.

Main duties of the job

• The successful candidate will play a key role in preparing individuals for discharge from the hospital environment and reintegration into their community as part of the Care and Treatment Review Process, and dynamic support systems.
• You will be required to recognise when an individual requires increased levels of support to promote a sustainable lifestyle in the Community.
• Promote recovery and support patients to understand their risks and how to work towards greater independence, utilising the expertise of partner agencies and 3rd sector organisations, which will involve working closely with other agencies, including Community services and the Criminal Justice System.
• Demonstrate active clinical and managerial leadership skills within the team, providing education and supervision to junior staff members and other professionals.
• Bring to bear both their clinical, data analysis, and evaluation skills, by working closely with individuals, their circles of care, inpatient ward staff, and the wider community team to support the delivery of a comprehensive service.

Working for our organisation
We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.
Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.
Take a look at our Community Nursing Video

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This is a full-time role, at Agenda for Change Band 6; with flexible working opportunities available, part-time working hours would be considered. The post will cover Kent and Medway and out-of-area Kent and Medway patients.
If your application is successful, you will be notified by e-mail and advised to check your Trac/ NHS Jobs account. Therefore, please ensure that you regularly check both your email and your Trac/NHS Jobs account.
This post is subject to a six-month probationary period for candidates external to the Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust
To deliver an effective service, it is essential that you are able to travel between bases in a timely manner.
Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.
The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
What we can offer you:

• Career development with our comprehensive range of training & development opportunities to enhance your skills
• Strong Supportive Management committed to providing 1-2-1 support to advance personal development
• Car Lease Scheme open to all staff
• Staff discounts for employees and their families

Person specification

Training, Qualifications and registration

Essential criteria

• A degree or equivalent qualification/experience at post registration level
• Further training relevant to role
• Register or equivalent and membership of a professional body.

Desirable criteria

• Talking MATS training or equivalent
• Training in Autism

Experience

Essential criteria

• Ability to travel across a wide geographical area in a timely and flexible manner in accordance with the needs of the job
• Experience of mental health care within the criminal justice system and/or forensic mental health
• Extensive clinical experience including both individual and group work

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in an autism setting
• Experience working in an inpatient and community setting
• Experience of Multi- -disciplinary and multiagency working.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

• Experience of liaison with a variety of stakeholders both internal and external to the Trust.
• A demonstrable understanding of the Mental Health Act- including a working knowledge of the sections applied in a forensic setting.
• Understanding and expertise in the principles of risk assessment and risk management
• Ability to respond efficiently to complex information within tight deadlines and prioritise accordingly.

Desirable criteria

• Good IT skill, Computer literate
• An ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing

Important Information:
In cases where we receive a high volume of applications for a post, it may be necessary to bring the closing date forward. Please submit your completed application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Due to the high volume of applications received, it is not possible to respond individually to your application. Should you not hear from us within six weeks of the vacancy closing, please assume that your application has not been successful.

Probation Period. New employees external to the trust are subject to a six-month probationary period.
To deliver an effective service it is essential in some of our roles that you are able to travel between work bases in a timely manner.
Production of false or forged documents/qualifications in order to obtain employment is a criminal offence and will be reported to the Police.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
Certain roles are subject to criminal record checks called Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Therefore, you will be required to submit a completed Disclosure form to the Disclosure an