An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Mental Health Practitioner to join the Waltham Forest Older Adult Mental Health Team as a dedicated B6 Duty Worker.

We are looking for an experienced Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker who can rise to the challenge of working within the busy mental health team and to provide mental health assessments, advice, and support to individuals in need.

This full-time position involves triaging referrals, having oversight of the duty inbox and providing assessments and treatment plans for older individuals with mental health and frailty concerns. Our duty team works collaboratively with primary care, our care home team and hospital colleagues to provide high quality care for patients with functional mental illness and/or dementia.

The successful candidate will be a highly-motivated, dynamic mental health practitioner with a commitment to the well-being of our elderly population. Our service area covers the London Borough of Waltham Forst, and our office is located at Red Oak Lodge in Leytonstone.

Please note: this post does not require the practitioner to carry a caseload.

The applicant will need to have a minimum of one year post-registration clinical experience in mental health where a degree of autonomous working has been required. They should be able to demonstrate the ability to work on their own initiative, have good time management skills and be able to prioritise workload effectively.

To respond to duty referrals on a daily basis and have an ability to prioritise urgent referrals. The duty worker will complete holistic assessments of service users with mental health issues and be able undertake high quality risk assessments. They will need to maintain up-to-date clinical records and documentation in line with agreed local policies and procedures, professional guidelines and NELFT policy.

The duty worker is responsible for decision making and coordination in a crisis situation and liaise with duty seniors as well as other agencies including the Older Adult Home Treatment Team (OAHTT), mental health liaison services etc. They will also need to maintain an effective reporting standard, verbally and in writing on patient conditions.

You will work closely within a multi-disciplinary team and other agencies to deliver high quality care and recovery focused health and social care interventions that includes managing risk and the safeguarding of adults at risk.

The normal working pattern of this role is 09.00-17.00 Monday to Friday but we have a flexible working policy.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,313 to a maximum of £5,436 p.a. pro rata for part time).

High Cost Area Supplement – Fringe

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,192 to a maximum of £2,011 p.a. pro rata for part time).

• Current NMC registration as a Registered Mental Health Nurse, HCPC registered Occupational Therapist or a Social Work England registered Social Worker.
• Demonstrate a clear interest in working with older adults with a mental health condition, including dementia.
• Be able to work autonomously in a safe manner in clients own homes.
• Demonstrate evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
• Experience of working within the context of a multidisciplinary team liaising with other team members and with external agencies.
• Have good time management skills and be able to prioritise and work on own initiative.
• Have excellent communication skills – written & verbal.
• Be able to assess care needs, plan and review them enabling service users to maximise opportunities for recovery.
• To be aware of Government strategies in relation to Mental Health in Older Adults.
• To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of medication used in the treatment of Older Adult Mental Health conditions.
• Be computer literate and have knowledge of data protection.