Associate Practitioner FIRST

The role of FIRST is to prevent acute psychiatric hospital admissions for older adults aged 70 years and over who are presenting in acute crisis which may be complex in nature where their mental health and related physical health conditions can be managed within the community between the operational hours of 8am-8pm. FIRST provides responsive assessments and proactive home treatment. This includes joint working with the MDT, Older adult CMHT’s, Home treatment teams, GP’s, inpatient wards and all other partner agencies including the voluntary sector.

FIRST will gate keep all Mental Health inpatient admissions and facilitate early discharge should a hospital stay be no longer required and treatment can be continued safely in their place of residence.

FIRST is a community based team and it is essential that you are able to drive a car and have a vehicle for work purposes with valid UK driving license.

You will be working as an Associate Practitioner to assist the multidisciplinary clinical team, working in one specified pathway or across pathways in accordance with area / locality structures, You will be working with Service users in the community in their own homes or place of residence across the MID locality covering Chelmsford, Maldon and Braintree. Your role will include providing physical health care checks including EGG recording and phlebotomy, emotional support, carer support and signposting to other organizations.

You will be expected to work collaboratively with key partner organizations, service users, careers, clinicians and other practitioners within the multi-disciplinary team in delivering services; providing a 7-day a week, 24-hours a day service for 365 days a year, working shifts where appropriate and operationally required

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

• Student Associate Practitioners (band 3), be prepared to undertake study or have relevant experience.
• Good communication ability to develop therapeutic relationships
• Ability to work with limited direct supervision
• Record keeping / good IT skills and has knowledge of systems
• Undertake physical health checks of services users and act on the findings appropriately / Phlebotomy trained ( the trust offers training)
• Effective multidisciplinary working and liaison with other care providers
• Ability to travel across Mid Essex

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Open, Compassionate and Empowering.

The post holder will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Student Associate Practitioners (band 3), be prepared to undertake study or have relevant experience
• Literate in IT/Computer Skills
• Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
• Ability to work with limited direct supervision
• Effective organisational and time management skills

On 9th November 2021 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) formally announced that individuals undertaking CQC regulated activities in England must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than 1st April 2022. The purpose of this is to protect all those that use health and social care services, as well as to protect colleagues, and to help reduce the amount of COVID-19 related sickness absences.

Please note that for all roles at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust that fall into the regulated activity criteria, evidence of vaccination status (first and second dose) will become a condition of employment from 1st April 2022. Therefore, please note that if you are successfully appointed at EPUT for one of these roles, your vaccination status will form part of your pre-employment checks.