Home Treatment Older Adult Practitioner

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Home Treatment Team. We are expanding our referral criteria to include older adults over the age of 65, with a functional or organic mental health crisis. Rotherham Home Intensive Treatment Service provides an alternative to hospital admission for people experiencing mental health crisis. The team also supports early discharge from the inpatient wards. The team is comprised of Registered Mental Health Nurses, a social worker, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Consultant Psychiatrists, a clinical psychologist, and Occupational Therapist, a support worker and a Team Manager. As this is a new function of the team, we would hope the successful applicant will contribute to the continuous development of the service and take a role in supporting colleagues.

The successful applicant will complement the High Intensity Workers in the Community Older peoples Mental Health Team and work together. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and motivated, with the ability to work well autonomously and within the wider multi-disciplinary team. The post will involve flexible duty rota covering Home Treatment seven days a week 9am-7pm.

Although the post requires experience working with Older Adults, there will also be the expectation that the successful applicant works with adults of working age.

Main duties of the job

To work within a multi-disciplinary team to provide an effective professional and high-quality clinical service that is service user and carer focussed.

The role requires a clinician with skills to assess patient’s needs, provide structured evidence-based treatments and to develop treatment plans within a multidisciplinary framework, specifically relating to older people

To be responsible for the specialist assessment, provision and evaluation of planned clinical interventions and care of older people in the community, encouraging and developing family and community support whenever possible and appropriate.

To use a person-centred and evidenced based approaches to working with older people who may also have cognitive and physical health needs.

To effectively apply a range of clinical skills, approaches and interventions pertinent to the person’s needs, goals, environment and situation

To develop individualised treatment and safety plans for patient’s experiencing a deterioration or crisis in their mental health, including working with other health and social care services and staff to provide advice and input when necessary.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Mental Nursing Certificate (RMN) Registration on NMC
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Clinical supervision qualification
• Mentor/Teaching/Practice Educator (clinical practice) qualification/ certificate or equivalent experience.

Experience

Essential

• Appropriate demonstrable experience of working with older people with mental health problems
• Knowledge of appropriate legislation e.g. current Mental Health Act legislation, safeguarding legislation and other policy related to mental health.
• Excellent assessment and analytical skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Evidence of substantial experience as a qualified clinician.
• Mental health care/treatment relevant to service.
• Multi -agency working /working across service interfaces within a health and social care setting.
• Experience of assessing and managing risk.
• Structured Clinical Management oDialectical Behavioural Therapy oMentalisation Based Therapies

Desirable

• Teaching, training and/or supervision of clinical staff.
• Experience of teaching/ leadership of others.
• Older adult age -related common physical / mental health conditions.
• Demonstrated a preference to work in the intended speciality.
• Specialist knowledge of evidenced based interventions in the treatment of complex emotional needs

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidenced based clinical interventions relevant to the service and role.
• Relevant specialist clinical courses/training.
• Trauma Informed Care Models of care and treatment relevant to working with people in mental health crisis.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• An understanding of current mental health disorder / issues.
• Up to date clinical knowledge including risk assessment, complex health and social care needs

Desirable

• System One Knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework for mental health services, particularly the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
• Knowledge and understanding of the roles of other professionals working within mental health setting across health and social care

Skills

Essential

• Assessing, formulating, and working with people & families presenting in heightened state of distress and trauma.
• Ability to use initiative and work without immediate supervision
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding, empathic approach
• Clinical risk assessment and contingency planning.
• Access to transport and the ability to travel between the required geographical area
• Brief psychological interventions and skills to support emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, high levels of distress and trauma.

Closing Date: 14 July 2026