Health and Justice (Reconnect) Practitioner

at  Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Are you a qualified practitioner who holds professional registration, looking for something new? This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of the expanding Health and Justice Reconnect Service in Sussex.
The post holder will be responsible for working in the Health and Justice service. This post will be within the Reconnect team in the Sussex area, the base for this post will be HMP Lewes with the flexibility of working across Sussex dependent on skill and service need if required to support the community team (travel will be a requirement of this role, having a vehicle is recommended)
The post holder will be responsible for specialist assessments to people with a diverse range of needs of people who are due for release from a prison environment or have been released in the past 28 days.
The role will involve assessing; accessing; and implementing a wide and, at times, complex range of care services for people over the age of 18 with increasingly complex needs.
The post holder will act as an experienced and largely independent practitioner within the role, assessing, formulating, implementing, and agreeing plans for a person’s release and what support is required.
W ill provide support and supervision to others including Students, Navigators, STR workers, Lived Experience workers and Admin if required.
Will require additional vetting from His Majesty’s Prison Service for roles based within the Prison Settings and clearance of enhanced level 1 vetting will be required.
Take responsibility for specialist assessment (within service specification) in Reconnect in conjunction with service user and carer, helping to promote self-determination, choice, and autonomy.
Responsible for participating in the setting of quality standards, including the auditing, monitoring, and reviewing of practice in line with current clinical guidance practice and policy.
Assess patient’s individual care needs, agree, and refer on to appropriate agency.
Complete and contribute, where appropriate to robust risk assessments and risk management plans. Deliver and promote positive risk taking, where appropriate, to improve quality of life and maximise occupational performance/independence.
Maintain an effective reporting system by observing and reporting verbally and in writing on patient condition
Utilise agreed outcome measures to review the effectiveness of process, as part of the Health and Justice system.
Participate in the development of the service to ensure clinical governance processes are actively implemented at team level.
Assist in ensuring that the aims and objectives of the service (as set by the Team Leader) are fulfilled and to identify factors which may inhibit these from being achieved.
The candidate must be able to drive and have access to a car with business insurance – service users may need transporting as part of the Reconnect release plan
By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by;
Supporting your career development and progression
Excellent NHS Pension scheme
Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
Options for flexible working
Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
Free car parking at all trust sites
Free flu vaccinations every year
Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)
And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information. In summary:
In addition to the responsibilities already listed -
Research and Service Development
Identify and highlight to the Team Leader relevant issues in relation to the needs for people and their carers; assessed using best practice evidence, in order that these are reflected in service planning, development and future provision.
Actively engage in the organisation’s clinical governance initiatives, for example to participate and lead in audit, clinical supervision and bringing critically evaluated evidence and research into practice.
Participate and lead on research within area of clinical expertise.
Participate in the development of the service to ensure clinical governance processes are actively implemented at team level.
Human Resources and Training
As required, supervise junior staff; provide clinical advice/supervision support, leadership, and professional supervision, in line with Trust Policies.
Support in the provision of formal and informal training of pre/post registration students, staff members, carers, and service users.
Participate in staff appraisal and performance reviews as identified.
To participate, when required, in the recruitment, selection and induction of junior/support staff.
Provide a learning environment to support students (multidisciplinary) undergoing training and assist new and junior members of staff, peers, and other disciplines to develop professional competence.
Lead on the development and delivery of specialist Mental Health Nursing education and training to clients, carers, families’ staff, students and other relevant organisations.
Promote mental health education to reduce stigma within the community and support relatives of sufferers of all types of Mental illness.
Systems and equipment
Maintain timely data collection and regular inputting of information through the use of data collection systems e.g., daily diaries/RIO, Safeguard, ensuring that confidentiality is maintained at all times in accordance with legislation and Trust policy.
To work in partnership with other service providers to access and provide equipment and opportunities for service users to maximise functioning where possible.
Responsible for ensuring actions are carried out where safety alerts are issued regarding equipment.
Decisions and judgements
Undertake specialist assessments of patients with complex mental health, physical health and social problems to ensure appropriate treatment support and management.
Undertake a comprehensive and specialist nursing mental health assessment resulting in an individualised resettlement plan.
Facilitate the discharge or transfer of the patient to other services where appropriate.
Ensure that practice is evidence-based paying particular attention to the Trusts guidelines, policies, protocols, and pathways.
Be available for individual supervision with agreed clinical supervisor in line with Trust policies.
Implement, review, and maintain Trust Policies and Procedures and propose changes to working practices within the ward area.
Communication and relationships
Communicate sensitive diagnosis and treatment related information with patients, utilising highly developed communication skills to overcome barriers to understanding.
Establish therapeutic relationships with service users, and implement evidence based therapeutic interventions with appropriate boundaries in accordance with professional code of conduct.
Ensure that all members of the multi-disciplinary team, their colleagues, service users and appropriate others are informed/updated of changes involving current care plans, progress, mental state and psychosocial factors in line with best practice.
Liaise with and advise service users and carers, local authority, and other statutory bodies and third sector agencies.
Communicate sensitive information to carers and relatives.
Use a range of communication styles and channels as appropriate to the task.
General
Responsible for the promotion of carer and service user involvement within the service and for its provision.
Responsible for participation in the Trust appraisal process, identifying own/others mandatory professional, supervisory, personal development, and training needs and in supporting the provision of induction, mentorship, appraisal and clinical supervision to colleagues as appropriate.
Responsible for the effective utilisation of clinical/financial resources to ensure adequate clinical care is provided with a requirement that all incidents, which may compromise care, are reported immediately to a senior manager, and clinicians involved in their care as appropriate.
Responsible for accessing and participating in clinical, managerial and caseload supervision.
Responsible for understanding and meeting own professional responsibilities under Child Protection legislation and Adult Safeguarding policies.
Physical demands of the job
Be aware of physical effort regarding sitting for long periods.
Be aware of the prolonged exposure to Visual Display Units (VDU) and the associated health and safety risks.
Most challenging/difficult parts of the job
The nature of the client group is such that the post holder will be required to concentrate when assessing / implementing programmes of care.
The post holder will be frequently exposed to emotional or distressing circumstances.
The post holder will frequently be exposed to potential incidents of physical and non-physical assault

Please refer the Job description for details