Early Intervention Practitioner

Job Overview

An exciting and challenging opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and driven Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner to work within the Early Intervention Team for Psychosis in Liverpool.

The service works with people aged 14‑65 who are experiencing a first episode of psychosis. You will be involved in the patient journey from triage and assessment through to offering interventions that support service users to recover from psychosis over a 3‑year period.

We are looking for a qualified Registered Nurse (Mental Health), Occupational Therapist or Social Worker to join the team as a Key Worker. The role provides high‑quality, evidence‑based care, formulates risk management plans, supervises risk assessments, coordinates care, and directs unqualified staff.

Applicants should hold a professional qualification as a Registered Nurse (MH), Occupational Therapist, or Social Worker and possess the values of Mersey Care NHS Trust.

• Coordinate the care of service users, carrying out assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care under the Care Programme Approach and line‑manager supervision.
• Develop and ensure the care plan meets the assessed needs of each individual, and that unqualified staff deliver care as outlined in the plan.
• Liaise with family members, carers and significant others during assessments and care‑plan development.
• Develop risk management plans, ensuring all relevant parties are aware and actively managing risk.
• Direct unqualified staff to deliver a high standard of care.
• Participate in setting evidence‑based standards for care and in the systematic monitoring and evaluation of service users.
• Communicate with multidisciplinary team members to share relevant information affecting care.
• Use verbal and non‑verbal communication skills to impart sensitive information and to check understanding, especially when barriers such as distress or language issues exist.
• Provide and co‑ordinate a range of therapeutic activities, monitoring their effectiveness.
• Administer medication safely, adhering to Trust policies, procedures and Nursing & Midwifery Council regulations.
• Document all care and treatment information accurately and legibly in the health record, supervising unqualified staff entries.
• Prepare reports in written and verbal format for Mental Health Act tribunals, managers’ hearings, and other required events.
• Contribute to teaching sessions, passing on knowledge and skills to others.
• De‑escalate situations where service users become physically or verbally aggressive.
• Ensure unqualified staff receive appropriate support after violent or untoward incidents.
• Document all incidents or near‑misses per Trust policy and follow up with necessary actions.
• Actively participate in service‑user reviews to ensure needs are met and decisions are well‑informed.
• Develop care plans that enable service users to achieve and maintain optimal health and independence, supporting community living.
• React proactively to crises, putting in place immediate plans with supervision and guidance.
• Assist in the assessment and supervision of nursing and other students.
• Assess and monitor the physical and mental health of service users, seeking medical advice when required.
• Actively participate in team meetings, positively influencing teamwork and fostering research‑based practice.

The service delivers managerial and clinical supervision from specialist staff and offers in‑house training on psychological formulation, Family Interventions, CBT skills and assessment skills. Mersey Care’s Learning and Development team provides personal, clinical and service development opportunities.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

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