Welcome from our Chief Executive - Samantha Allen

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.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Samantha Allen

Chief Executive

Job overview

Set in the beautiful town of Horsham, just a stones' throw from Horsham Park and the mainline train station, you will find our community mental health assessment and treatment service. We work with adults living with mental illness, supporting their recovery and the development of skills and strategies to support them to maintain their wellbeing. We are a lively and friendly team where you will be offered plenty of support along with mentorship and supervision from senior colleagues, active management support and the chance to undertake training courses relevant to your professional practice.

As a Dual Diagnosis Practitioner in our service you will be working as part of a Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) including psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists and medics. You will work with people with severe and enduring mental health problems, providing specialist interventions and acting in the role of Lead Practitioner for a defined caseload of clients. We encourage knowledge sharing and teamwork so all team members are involved with the full range of best practice interventions. You will benefit from regular caseload reviews and we are currently developing family interventions within our service, with plenty of opportunities for you to become involved.

Main duties of the job

As a Dual Diagnosis Practitioner in our service you will be working as part of a Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) including psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists and medics. You will work with people with severe and enduring mental health problems, providing specialist interventions and acting in the role of Lead Practitioner for a defined caseload of clients. We encourage knowledge sharing and teamwork so all team members are involved with the full range of best practice interventions. You will benefit from regular caseload reviews and we are currently developing family interventions within our service, with plenty of opportunities for you to become involved.

Working for our organisation

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.

As a Dual Diagnosis /Mental Health Practitioner in our team we can offer you:

• Access to full psychological and wellbeing 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 (including gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars)
• A position within a trust rated as 'Outstanding' for caring and 'Good' overall by the CQC
• Generous holiday entitlement (starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays)
• A 'Golden Hello' or relocation package of up to £2000 (see attached documentation)

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will provide specialist assessments and evidence based interventions to eligible patients within a care group; participate in review of clinical policies and guidelines relevant to the area and support and implement changes to practice; liaise with other organisations and professionals to promote communication and good practice; be able to undertake audit activity and supervision to other staff in service area/care group. Have Subject Matter Expertise and Train the Trainer ability to disseminate bio-psychosocial interventions including Motivational Interviewing. The post holder will ensure that high standards of assessment and treatment are provided to people with co-existing mental health and substance misuse problems, based on the best available evidence. The post holder will provide education, training, support and supervision to colleagues working with this group of service users. The post holder will engage in direct and indirect client work in a range of statutory and voluntary sector providers across the across the area in line with Making Every Adult Matter principles.

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Core Training (OT, Nursing, Social Work) with current registration 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 if relevant

Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria

• Extensive post qualifying experience in relevant service area
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Able to manage a caseload of patients with complex mental health needs
• Comprehensive knowledge of interventions specific to service area
• Awareness of Trust policies and service specification

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.