MHSPA Crisis Care Practitioner( Social Worker)NHS
Job summary
Thank you for your interest in this exciting opportunity at West London NHS Trust.
The West London NHS Trust (WLT) Mental Health Single Point of Access (MH SPA) and NHS111 Option 2 for Mental Health (NHS111*2) provides 24/7 access to mental health services, every day of the year. Both services support people in a mental health crisis and provide a telephone support line for service users, their families and wider support networks. This includes a triage, signposting and referral pathway to appropriate onward care, if indicated. NHS111*2 is a national initiative developed under the NHS Long Term Plan to improve access to crisis services. The key operational difference is that NHS111*2 is open to all ages, whereas MH SPA primarily supports adults aged 18 and over.
Being part of the service, you will be at the forefront of innovation of service delivery in one of the fasted growing parts of community healthcare. The team is highly motivated, diverse, energetic, and has a ready to help attitude to both patients and their carers, and communicate with a variety of other health care providers, 3rdsector organisations and other statutory services.
We believe in embracing the expertise of our staff and making a difference to the lives of our service users. Working in this service places you on the frontline of community mental health care.
Main duties of the job
As a Crisis Care Practitioner, you will provide urgent mental health assessment and intervention for individuals contacting the service in crisis, whether for themselves or others.
The role involves:
- Managing complex and high risk triage calls, undertaking robust mental health and risk assessments in time-sensitive situations
- Completing face to face community assessments for patients requiring urgent in person review
- Formulating risk management and crisis plans to support safe and effective patient care
- Working autonomously to make clinical decisions within a fast paced environment
- Liaising with partner agencies including GP's, police, ambulance services, emergency departments and community mental health teams to coordinate safe care pathways
- Supporting and guiding junior staff with clinical decision making and risk formulation
- Managing referrals effectively to ensure patients access the most appropriate service and unnecessary hospital admissions are avoided
- Maintaining accurate, contemporaneous clinical documentation and records
- Contributing to service improvement and ongoing development of crisis pathways
This role requires clinicians who are resilient, adaptable and able to remain calm and professionally curious under pressure. Successful applicants must be confident managing competing demands, uncertainty and emotionally challenging situations whilst maintaining compassionate, patient centred care.
Job description
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.