Band 6 Specialist Practitioner - Weston-Super-Mare

Job overview

The Early Intervention for Psychosis Service provides help and support to young people over 14 years old (14 – 18yrs -  the lead care coordination sits with the CAMHS team) and up to 64 years old, for 3 years following a first episode psychosis, or for a limited period where there may be a possible psychosis.

The team is multidisciplinary, consisting of Physical Health Worker, Mental Health Support Workers, Individual Placement Support Worker, Keyworkers with Occupational Therapy, Nursing, or Social work registrations, Administrator, Consultant Psychiatrist, Team Manager, Senior Practitioners, Non Medical Prescriber, Psychologist, Cognitive Behaviour Therapist in Psychosis and many of the team are trained in Family Intervention for Psychosis.

The team act as a resource to the adult mental health community, CAMHS and inpatient services, by raising awareness of the needs of this client group, providing information and consultation about psychosis. It provides care coordination to individuals presenting with signs of a first episode of psychosis in line with local and national guidelines on Early Intervention, namely the Access and Waiting Time Standards for Early Intervention Services.

The team develop close links with other agencies in the locality such as CAMHS, Off the Record, Youth Offending teams, Colleges and the universities, and the Social Services 16 – 18 team, along with the adult social services.

Main duties of the job

To provide comprehensive and specialist assessment of young people from 14 years up to the age of 64 years referred to the service with a first episode psychosis or possibly emerging psychosis. This will include the use of formal psychiatric and psychological rating scales, as well as liaison with carers and staff from other agencies that may be involved with the person.

To plan, prioritise and deliver specialist programmes of care to people aged 14 years up to 64 years, for a three year period following a first episode of psychosis, or for a period of up to six months where there is a possibly emerging psychosis. This will include case formulation, design of intervention, delivery and evaluation.

To contribute to the development of a culture where the personal and positive aspirations of service users are the primary focus of the care plan, while developing and maintaining individual skills in delivering a range of therapeutic interventions. This must be achieved whilst respecting the dimensions of personal choice, diversity and culture and the benefits which these bring to the therapeutic relationship.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To assess people with psychosis or possible psychosis.

2. To plan and implement specialist programmes of care for young people following the first appearance of psychosis or for a limited period where psychosis is suspected, including carrying a specialist caseload of clients and acting as keyworker.

3. To liaise and work in collaboration with other agencies in planning and assessing programmes of care.

4. To provide specialist advice to young people, carers and professionals.

5. To develop awareness sessions around psychosis and early intervention to be delivered within education and youth services.

6. To provide clinical supervision to junior staff, students and support workers.

7. To undertake audit, research and development activities.

Please see job description for further details.