The NHS111 Mental Health “Press 2” service is a nationally mandated program delivered locally through the South London Partnership (SLP) with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) as lead provider. Operating 24/7, the service provides Triage, support and advice for individuals in mental health crisis, aiming to reduce unnecessary 999 calls, A&E attendances, and primary care referrals.
The Assistant Practitioner conducts same-day remote screening for service users, carers, and professionals, ensuring safety through risk assessment, signposting, and referral. The role supports registered clinicians and may supervise junior staff.
The Assistant Practitioner will demonstrate robust assessment, risk assessment and management skills and possess sound decision-making skills for people in a mental health crisis, managing professional boundaries and knowing when and if to escalate to enable formulation of complex triage forward plans under the guidance of registered clinicians. The role requires to be able to work flexibly around a 24/7 shift pattern as part of a team.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training. The Trust employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, it provides inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich. By coming to work at our Trust, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. The Trust delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014: providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels. In addition, our working relationship with King's Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical:
Triage incoming calls and assess mental health needs.
Escalate concerns to senior clinicians as required.
Signpost or refer to appropriate services, including emergency care for physical health needs.
Ensure all calls are handled professionally and confidentially in line with SOPs.
Professional:
Adhere to Trust policies and relevant legislation.
Complete accurate documentation and risk assessments.
Participate in clinical supervision and ongoing training.
Administration & Quality:
Maintain call logs and required documentation.
Ensure 95% of calls are answered within 60 seconds.
Use telephony and IT systems effectively to support service delivery.
Education and training
Engage in regular clinical and managerial supervision.
Attend mandatory training and maintain a professional development portfolio.
Communication and Information
Communicate clearly, sensitively and compassionately with service users, carers, and colleagues.
Maintain accurate records and share information appropriately across teams.
Service Development
Contribute to audits, policy reviews, and service improvement initiatives.
