Clinical Nurse Specialist

We are currently seeking to recruit to the post of Clinical Nurse Specialist in the CRHTT for North West Sussex. The role is an additional senior clinical role that would provide clinical leadership to the multi-disciplinary team Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team within the urgent care services in North West Sussex.

This role ideal for an experienced clinician who would like to expand their knowledge and expertise in a leadership role and who has an interest in supporting those with complex care needs. The successful candidate will be someone who is proactive, able to think outside of the box/consider new ways of working and be passionate about improving our services for those patients and their loved ones that use our acute mental health services. The post holder will be able to work to tight deadlines and be able to manage/make use of existing resources to achieve the expected outcomes. There are specific objectives and outcomes to the post which are measurable and regularly reviewed.

Main duties of the job

CRHTT forms the core of urgent care services, working closely with acute hospitals and community teams to support clients in mental health crisis. It offers clients care and support in their own homes, together with a day service group programme based at Langley Green Hospital, as an alternative to hospital admission. CRHTT are able to offer all the benefits of a hospital admission while remaining at home including home visits, support from doctors and psychology. We also facilitate supportive discharge from hospital, managing the transition back to community.

You will be an integral part of CRHTT by:

• Providing strong clinical leadership


• Contributing to service development and maintenance of high clinical standards


• Utilising extensive clinical experience and being guided by NICE recommendations


• Ensuring a culture of effective risk management in the team


• As a role model to the team, you will provide expert clinical leadership and advice, support and guidance where required to the MDT


• The team will look to you for expertise in leading Quality Improvement Projects and to provide regular clinical supervision, implement and deliver education and training for your team


• You will be instrumental in developing and establishing systems and protocols, wider service developments, to ensure the delivery of safe and effective care to those presenting in mental health crisis


• This role is all about driving positive change and sharing your specialist experience with others, The post holder will provide senior/management support for staff in line with local escalation policy


The post holder will participate in the review of local and Trust wide clinical policies and guidelines relevant to the area and support, implement and embed these within the urgent care services

They will liaise with other organisations and professionals to promote communication and good practice and be required to attend MDT and multiagency professionals' meetings on behalf of the service.

The post holder will undertake audit activity and provide supervision to other staff in service area/care group. They will have an understanding of psychosocial interventions to include psycho-education, wellness recovery action plans and crisis interventions.

The post holder will be required to work shifts including weekends

Will form part of the CRHTT Leadership Team including Band 7, Band 8a and Band 8b staff, in the management of staff and operational tasks as required.

Please see full JD

Scope & Authority

To take a lead on clinical matters and policy development relating to practice.

To provide clinical leadership.

To be part of recruitment and selection process of staff.

To be aware of care group and Trust policies and protocols within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and local policies within the urgent care services and North West Sussex CDS

To develop and participate in the delivery of a supervision structure for team members.

To monitor and develop the practice of clinical staff and others in Team.

To ensure staff within service area are compliant with professional regulations.

To lead on quality audits within the team

To ensure staff are undertaking mandatory training as indicated.

Support the delivery of training to the team specific to the care group.

To take the lead in Team Meetings as required

Key Result Areas:

Clinical Practice, including own Professional Development

To provide comprehensive assessment of mental health, specific to needs of service area.

Offer clinical and professional leadership with clients across all age groups over a 7 day period.

Undertake comprehensive risk assessment and triage these assessments appropriately as required., To work in partnership with other agencies to gain the best person-centred outcomes for the individual.

Practice Development, including Professional Development of Others

To utilise specialist care group knowledge to provide specialist training and advice to other professionals, students and agencies.

To manage and supervise other members of the team.

To chair meetings and provide cover for the Team Leads as needed.

To organise consultation groups and to facilitate reflective practice for staff to promote skills and development of team.

To support registered staff and students through preceptorship/mentorship.

Research & Development

To develop teaching and training sessions for staff and professionals on specialist subject areas relevant to care group.

To develop service pathways for clients in care group and contribute to ongoing development of service.

To undertake research, service evaluation and clinical audits.

To use research in practice and developing research work from ones own practice

Governance including Quality, Standards, Documentation & Ethics

To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist reports relevant to practice setting.

To keep accurate and timely electronic records of each contact, using Carenotes and other software programmes used by the Trust. Complete outcome measures as required.

To adhere to appropriate professional standards and ethics and comply with local and national standards of practice.


• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these


• To contribute in the Trust and professional clinical and social care governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.


• To be aware of and work to the policies and procedures within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


• To apply national guidelines/ legislation relating to health and social care in mental health service


• To participate in clinical and social care governance care group forums


• To ensure performance targets and standards are met


• To complete clinical outcome measures as required


• To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained within the clinical setting.


• To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained amongst junior


• To seek and attend monthly clinical supervision


Staff Leadership and Management

• To provide effective leadership and management to staff which promotes high performance standards both individually and as a team, in the achievement of the Trusts objectives and priorities. The Trusts success will be dependent on all managers playing an active role to make sure the existing areas of good employment practice are universally embedded within the organisation. Managers will be expected to:

+ Understand the Trusts key priorities and those of your care group and translate these into key priorities for your care group
+ Ensure clarity and effectiveness in developing and designing roles
+ Ensure management of staff is consistent with Trusts HR Policies to the achievement of equality, equity and optimum
+ Complete annual Appraisals for all staff which reflect these priorities and ensure staff have access to appropriate training and development
+ Communicate regularly through meetings with teams and individuals and provide opportunity for two-way feedback
+ Promote an effective team
+ Promote equality, diversity and rights, and treat others with dignity and respect ensuring services are developed, managed and delivered to meet the specific needs of those belonging to protected
+ Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices by developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and contributing to developing equality of opportunity and outcomes in working practices.
+ Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are
+ Ensure that colleagues are treated fairly. Behave in a non-discriminatory way and challenge the discriminatory behaviour of others. Be supportive of colleagues or service users who wish to raise issues about discriminatory practice or experience

To be able to communicate with and meet the needs of families and carers as appropriate to the care group and the individual client.

To have experience of and specialist knowledge on comprehensive risk assessment /interventions to be able to lead in the clinical area as required.

To receive management supervision from Service Manager or equivalent.

To demonstrate excellent communication skills.

To establish professional links with other care groups and professionals.,
• Registered RMN or Allied Health Professional with current registration and relevant mental health experience appropriate to the job role.


• Degree/diploma level supplemented by specialist qualification, training, experience, courses to masters level equivalent relevant to the care group


• Evidence of post registration training in relevant service area


• Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent, Extensive post qualifying experience in relevant service area


• Experience of supervising staff and students


• Able to assess / risk assess patients with complex mental health needs


• Comprehensive knowledge of interventions specific to service area


• Awareness of Trust policies and service specification, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.


So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team., Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.

Working in Sussex:

• Travel easily between coast and countryside and enjoy the natural beauty the county has to offer. With a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns, there's always somewhere new to visit


• Embrace the city life and visit Brighton, or even travel to London in 90 minutes


As a mental health trust Sussex Partnership places a huge focus on the wellbeing of our staff, as well as ensuring our reward packages reflect the immensely important work they do.

You can expect:

• Access to full psychological support, via our internal wellbeing team


• Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development


• Free parking on-site


• Access to a host of discount schemes


• A position within a trust rated as 'Outstanding' for caring and 'Good' overall by the CQC


• Excellent NHS Pension


• Generous holiday entitlement (starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays)


We encourage flexible working. We know that a positive work/ life balance brings about huge health-related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, home-working, part time hours, flexible start/ finish times or anything else. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.