Mental Health Support Practitioner / Call handler | Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Provide and maintain the highest level of care and safety of children and young people under direct/indirect supervision.

The duties are a mixture of call handling and taking referral details; inputting straight onto the electronic record system, as well as some support worker shifts, working directly with children, young people and their families/carers.

To assist in the deliverance of therapeutic interventions that meets the needs of children, young people and families, including planning and implementing a package of care directly to the child, young person and family under indirect supervision from Extended Scope Practitioners and IST Clinical Coordinator.

Attend different sites to participate in direct assessments with qualified staff where indicated and on a rota basis.

Assist and contribute to the holistic assessment of children, young people and families including contributing to individual care plans, monitoring individuals and working clinically autonomously giving 1:1 contact on a regular basis.

To assist with the mental health assessment of children and young people who have been admitted to the wards or are in A&E following a suicide attempt or self harming behaviours on the self harm rota, and assist in the follow up as needed with other professionals involved in the initial assessment.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

We are seeking a well-motivated Support Practitioners to join our outstanding service within the Intensive Support Team (Child and Adolescent Mental Health). These posts will support to children and young people with mental health difficulties within East Lancashire.

You will assist in delivering therapeutic care to children/young people under the direct supervision of qualified staff as well as delivering some of your role by call handling telephone calls from young people, families and referrers. Your main aim will be to provide care to families and young people with severe and complex mental health.

You will ideally have experience of working in a children's mental health environment. You will have effective communication/written skills in English, be a team player and be able to develop therapeutic relationships with children, families and the team. I.T skills are essential.

Access to private transport for work purposes is essential.

Mental Health Support Practitioner / Call handler | Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.