Community Mental Health Practitioner for Adults with a Learning Disabilities

Job/Role Summary

My role as mental health practitioner is multifaceted but ultimately aims to improve the mental health of adults with learning disabilities by:

• Offering a robust person centred mental health assessment to people who are experiencing difficulties coping with day to day life as a result of ailing mental health.
• Promoting/facilitating access to general mental health services; Personality disorder service, community addictions and RAID (Rapid assessment in A&E), through joint working and provision of awareness training.
• Tailoring and delivering psychological and recovery based interventions to meet the needs of the individual including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) group, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Wellness and Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
• Providing a multi-disciplinary/multi agency approach making effective use of community facilities and opportunities.
• When the person’s mental health is deteriorating in line with the stepped care model, using the least restrictive interventions to co-ordinate the application of either in home intensive support or access to the assessment and intervention bed, to prevent unnecessary hospital admission.
• Being involved in the risk assessment and management processes.

Specific qualifications and experience required

I commenced my career as a Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities (RNLD) in 1993. Since then I have worked as a staff nurse in various care settings within both the private and public sectors. I have also been a community nursing sister and was involved in the development and introduction of the newly developed Health Facilitator service within the NHSCT. All of the experience gained from my various posts has been invaluable in my current role. I have obtained a diploma with commendation in nurse education and a BSc Hons in Specialist Practice in Community Nursing.

Career Milestones

The highlight of my career has to be the progression of roles and the learning that has ensued as a result of practising in those roles. The satisfaction that is felt when a person with learning disabilities is supported to improve their quality of life as a result of your intervention is priceless and extremely rewarding.

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

The most enjoyable aspect of my job is working with people with learning    disabilities. Every day brings something new and the challenges that are faced provide endless learning opportunities.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

For anyone with a particular interest in mental health and learning disabilities this job offers you the opportunity to expand your already robust skill base and provides endless training opportunities in psychological interventions.

Career Profiles