Associate Mental Health Practitioner

• To support Mental Health colleagues in designing and preparing low intensity mental health interventions, both group and individual. To co-facilitate time-limited low intensity mental health groups and, when appropriate, time-limited individual interventions.
• - To help deliver initiatives promoting mental wellbeing across primary care and the prison.
• To work in a highly emotive atmosphere with clients with offending histories and / or mental health problems on a regular basis, and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information, whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times.
• To work closely with senior colleagues to ensure information in relation to risk is collected and communicated sensitively and comprehensively.

• To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific patient group and mental health.

• - To provide low intensity mental health interventions to clients under the supervision of a qualified nurse (and supported by the Clinical Psychologist).
• To support other members of the Mental Health team in the delivery of clinical care within the prison.
• To support the mental health team in liaising with primary care and the prison to deliver mental wellbeing initiatives
• To work independently according to a plan agreed within supervision and within the overall framework of the clinics policies and procedures.
• To liaise with other professional services (resettlement workers, probation, CMHT) sharing information where appropriate.
• To assist in clinically related administration and conduct of audits or project work.

Essential

• Achieved or working towards an upper second class honours degree in relevant subject.

Desirable

• Second class honours degree in psychology or nursing. Further training in relevant areas of mental health practice.

Essential

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or offending behaviour problems and/or other disabilities

Desirable

• Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
• Experience of working in prisons or secure settings.
• Experience of co-facilitating psychosocial groups.
• Experience of working within a team

Essential

• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to establish and sustain engagement with people who have mental health problems and severely challenging behaviours including violence and sexually harmful behaviours.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
• Knowledge of our business and how it supports patient care.

Desirable

• An interest in working with people with forensic histories, mental health problems.

Essential

• Ability to accept and use clinical supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Ability to work in a secure environment, in line with HMPS policy and procedure - to obtain and maintain enhanced security clearance.
• Application must be clearly tailored to the post and Person Specification

Essential

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses service user's particular needs.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.

Desirable

• High standard of report writing skills
• Knowledge and experience of using SPSS for windows