The role of the Associate Practitioner encompasses two roles - supporting the care coordinator in planning and delivering a care plan (80% of job plan) and secondly the delivery of psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified psychological practitioner (20% of job plan).,

• Main duties: The post holder will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary Community Team providing a high quality care co-ordination service to adults (and their carers) of all ages experiencing or recovering from mental health difficulties.
• The core functions are to undertake integrated health and social care assessments, supporting the care coordinator in delivering a care plan within a framework of recovery which embraces each individual's right to choice and control.
• Ensuring that carers are effectively assessed and supported is a key component of this role. The role requires skills in assessing, planning, organising, reviewing and delivering recovery oriented and evidence based interventions to support the recovery of service users, as agreed with supervising clinician(s).
• This work will be in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards. The post holder will utilise their skills and knowledge to undertake assessments, identify desired social care outcomes and carry out treatment both in inpatient areas and community areas.
• Psychologically-informed evidence based interventions will be offered to clients under the supervision of an experienced clinical / counselling psychologist.
• To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade which may be required., The successful candidate will:
• The post holder will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary Community Team providing a high quality care co-ordination service to adults (and their carers) of all ages experiencing or recovering from mental health difficulties.
• The core functions are to undertake integrated health and social care assessments, supporting the care coordinator in delivering a care plan within a framework of recovery which embraces each individual's right to choice and control.
• Ensuring that carers are effectively assessed and supported is a key component of this role. The role requires skills in assessing, planning, organising, reviewing and delivering recovery oriented and evidence based interventions to support the recovery of service users, as agreed with supervising clinician(s).
• This work will be in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards. The post holder will utilise their skills and knowledge to undertake assessments, identify desired social care outcomes and carry out treatment both in inpatient areas and community areas.
• Psychologically-informed evidence based interventions will be offered to clients under the supervision of an experienced clinical / counselling psychologist.
• To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade which may be required.
• , + You will be responsible for the assessment of health and social care needs, and risk assessment of service users presenting with a wide variety of clinical conditions - including first episode psychosis.
+ Following this, you will be responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, with direct supervision. + You will also where appropriate and in keeping with the social care eligibility criteria enable the client or carer to access a personal budget to meet their needs. + You will provide a range of clinical interventions and treatments appropriate to the individuals needs. + You will participate fully in providing quality care in line with local and national guidelines. + You will respond to any crisis that a patient may advise of, with the aim of promoting appropriate independent living in the community. + You will act as a role model in providing a service for people with mental health problems. + You will ensure that commissioned services allow choice to service users and carers, and focus on people living in the community with appropriate support and access to universal services. For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.


• Upper second class honours degree in psychology, or other higher degree in psychology, or equivalent undergraduate qualification.
Desirable criteria
• Masters level training in relevant Psychological or Mental Health area
• Post-graduate training in relevant mental-health / psychological / recovery discipline, Experience of working with people with moderate to severe mental health problems including psychosis, Significant experience of work with people with moderate to severe mental health problems including Psychosis - preferably those with a first episode.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience in psychological interventions - CBT or interpersonal therapy / dialectical behaviour therapy interventions or other evidence based approaches, Knowledge of legislation related to mental health and social care e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Care Programme Approach etc
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
• Ability to manage distressing and challenging situations
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Desirable criteria
• Knowledge and understanding of the new Social Outcomes Criteria, 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 service users, cares and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• Ability to feedback and discuss cases within the multi- disciplinary team.
• Ability to interact sensitively with people with mental health problems
Desirable criteria
• Experience using computers for databases or dataanalysis. Competence using IT and media equipment
  
  Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission
Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional. About us - Hertfordshire NHS Partnership Trust Heard. Respected. Included. Together, we help people with mental ill-health, learning disabilities and autism to live life to the fullest. We work throughout Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk..., Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an Outstanding provider of mental health and learning disability services. In 2021, we won the prestigious Health Service Journal award for Mental Health Trust of the Year, with the judges saying they were "blown away" by our people's achievements and that everything they saw "sings and hums". This year, our staff rated us the 4^th best mental health and learning disability trust to work for out of all 52 trusts in the country. Our staff tell us that they are proud to be part of the HPFT team, proud of the standard of care we provide and proud that service users are our top priority. Our people tell us they feel supported though a great development, wellbeing and work-life balance offer and a highly compassionate, values-driven culture. We are equally proud of our staff, who live our values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional