Young Adult Mental Health Practitioner

Key Responsibilities of the Post To improve the mental health of the 16-25 age group through the delivery of an integrated and coordinated system of community based mental health care to young adults and their families, providing safe, culturally competent, effective, cost efficient, timely and accessible services that are in accordance with national and local priorities and are responsive to the needs and views of local young adults and their families. To support the delivery of consultation, liaison, and training to staff in targeted services including the VCSE. To also provide clinical input to the team, delivering practice that is evidence based to the highest standard. To contribute to a positive working environment and open learning culture, which supports high morale and commitment within the service promoting wellbeing, personal development and continuous improvement in the standards of business activities and professional practice.

To work alongside young adults/families/carers and professionals working with them, to reduce the stigma associated with mental health. The post holder will be supported to develop the ability to provide specialist and autonomous, culturally competent mental health assessment, formulation of and implementation of specific care plans and review for young adults and their families/carers following a request for involvement. The post holder will have skills that enable them to communicate that assessment in writing to the referrer and the General Practitioner. This information may also be required to be copied to any other relevant parties involved in the young adults care, with their permission where appropriate.

The post holder will need to demonstrate an awareness of interventions that are evidenced based and appropriate for the development needs of the individual. Interventions will need to consider ethnicity, religious and gender requirements and reasonable adjustments when delivering care. Direct intervention by the post holder is undertaken according to the competencies of individuals. A Band 6 clinician is expected to lead and support junior staff with professional development.

The post holder will utilise the PROMS alongside the young adult to develop a personalised plan of care that will be frequently reviewed with the use of outcome measures. The post holder will develop the skills and knowledge enabling to choose an intervention and deliver that from a range of therapeutic modalities including systemic practice, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy. The post holder will be expected to draw upon experience and knowledge gained through training and practice relating to child development, child and adolescent mental health and adult mental health. The post holder will demonstrate effective skills in the assessment and reassessment of risk and communicate concerns accurately in a timely fashion.

The post holder will develop skills and knowledge enabling them to make an autonomous decision about the time of discharge in collaboration with the young adult and those involved in their care. The posy holder is required to maintain high standards in the recording of clinical observations and actions, risk and risk management including child protection in health records. The post holder will work alongside schools/colleges and universities to consider the needs of those that are transitioning into adulthood. The post holder will work with families at their homes, education and community settings and at base as appropriate/required by the young adult and their families.

The post holder will strongly adhere to culturally competent and anti-discriminatory practice, promote equity of opportunity for young adults that are transitioning. The post holder will provide consultation to staff in partner agencies and may be required to support junior staff in attendance at meetings/ EHAT/CP and MAT meetings. Consultation is offered to all professionals to identify the nature and level of the young adults mental health need so that an appropriate response can be defined and actioned. Offer consultation and support to CAMHS and CORE services.

The post holder will promote the mental health and emotional well-being of all young adults and those within their service The post holder will play a major role in encouraging and co-coordinating collaboration between all services working around the young adult. The post holder will be required to have excellent and effective communication skills, applicable to working both with young adults, their families and professional systems. The post holder will be required to contribute to the delivery of education and training to professionals in multi-agency universal services. Contribute to pathway development between CAMHS and AMHS and providers.

Contribute to the development of pathway protocols and clinical practice, and service development. Clear documentation and record keeping is required by the post holder. The post holder will be expected to be available for and make use of clinical supervision, child protection supervision and operational line management. The post holder is responsible for attending clinical supervision a minimum requirement of an hour per month.

The post holder will need to organise their own workload under the support and supervision of their line manager. Maintain health records to the standards required by LSW Contribute to a strong team ethos of enquiry, development and improvement. Contribute to the development of team protocols and clinical practice, proposing changes for discussion. Participate in team meetings, for example allocation, supervision, reflective practice, case discussions and formulation meetings.

The post holder will strongly adhere to anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice, promote equity of opportunity for all. Keep up to date with developments taking place nationally in line with service objectives. To participate in audit and quality and patient safety activity in line with service objectives. Input to the electronic system as appropriate e.g.

child protection supervision coding. To be aware of and operate within LWSW policy and procedures e.g. lone working policy. To maintain high standards of infection prevention and control in everyday practice.

To embed the use of outcome measures in care planning in line with the Personalised Care framework.