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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To provide information, proportional assessment and sign posting to patients and their family and carers presenting with mental health problems/needs in community settings.

2. To foster strong collaborative and trusting working relationships with the referring agent/Primary Care Health Care Professionals underpinned by an educative and solutions focussed philosophy whilst providing them with credible clinical expertise.

This may include:

The promotion and use of additional standardised assessment tools

Promoting the importance of working with, strengths and aspirations of the person referred

The provision of succinct formulations and recommendations (inclusive of risk management advice)

Assessment of or advice on the impact of culture and diversity

Consideration of the respective Primary Care HCP’s confidence and capability in relation to The 10 Essential Shared Capabilities (best practice in Mental Health Care).

Best practice advice and support in a broad range of conditions for people with both functional or organic mental health needs

Promotion and recognition of the needs of family and carer/s, including various support networks and third sector agencies

Advice and support on evaluating risk from a positive risk taking perspective

Support and clarity on formulations within a bio-psycho-social model, including people with medically unexplained symptoms

Identifying and ensuring specialist involvement where required

Advice on interventions and treatments required to enable positive change

Support and advice within Safeguarding and public protection procedures where the issues are complicated by mental health problems

Second opinion on complex capacity assessments

To facilitate the development of safe and effective mental health care practice within the primary care setting.

3. To assist the primary care and secondary mental health teams in the delivery of safe and appropriate care planning processes.

4. To provide a prompt response to all referrals following jointly agreed procedures and within agreed time frames.

5. To provide concise and effective liaison and feedback to clinical staff within secondary mental health services and Primary Care teams including advice on effective and appropriate management strategies for those patients referred to the service

6. To ensure where needed that people experience a seamless transfer into AWP provider/treatment services

7. To make effective use of the standard liaison approach and structure for assessments according to the SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) format

8. Following assessment, to provide short- term follow up of patients where appropriate.

9. To contribute evidence based expertise to multi-disciplinary team care planning processes

10. To provide effective communication with service users, relatives and carers, Primary Care and Secondary health services.

11. To advise on medication management issues

12. To ensure the active involvement of carers during all stages of the assessment process

13. To provide a prompt response to requests for information and advice.

14. To ensure appropriate communication, both verbal and written, at all stages of the consultation process.

15. To promote positive attitudes, mutual understanding and collaboration between non mental health staff and mental health services, users, carers, voluntary agencies, primary care and social services

16. To provide evidence-based specialist advice on how best to meet the mental health needs of the population for staff of other agencies, service users and carers.

17. To raise awareness of the effects of physical conditions on the mental health of service users.

18. To assist and participate in appropriate service development forums.

19. To provide mentoring/ training for others in relevant practice areas, according to professional requirements, taking a collaborative approach to practice development and evidence-based care.

20. Demonstrate responsibility for developing own practice in line with professional qualifications and for contributing to the development of others, by making use of and providing, effective feedback, supervision, coaching and appraisal.

21. To adhere to the relevant professional code of conduct ensuring required skills and competencies required are maintained.

22. Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others, undertaking assessments and taking appropriate action where required.

23. Develop own knowledge and practice, and contribute to the development of others, making use of available feedback, supervision and appraisal to identify appropriate areas of development for this work role, taking responsibility for accessing identified learning and training opportunities.

24. Lead, maintain and participate in practices which enable team working

25. To maintain the single health and social care record, ensuring both paper and electronic records are kept up to date in accordance with professional and organisational standards.

26. To assist in the development and implementation of appropriate systems aimed at ensuring a consistent approach to assessment, communication and follow-up

27. To make appropriate use of time and resources

28. To participate in clinical audit and service evaluation programmes as required.

29. To participate in local arrangements where required to manage unexpected staff absences

30. To be able to complete assessments across a largely rural area and have access to a vehicle to use during the working day in order to facilitate this.