Job responsibilities
Clinical practice
Act
as a first-contact mental health professional, providing timely
assessment, diagnosis, care planning, and evaluation of interventions for
patients with a wide range of mental health presentations including those
with undifferentiated symptoms, complex trauma histories, long-term conditions,
and comorbid mental or physical health needs.
Independently
manage a clinical caseload,
demonstrating a high level of autonomy while working collaboratively across
organisational, professional, and system boundaries to enhance service delivery
and drive continuous improvement in care.
Make
effective use of limited resources and consultation time, exercising clinical judgment in
determining when onward signposting to the GP or another appropriate clinician
is required.
Conduct
thorough physiological and psychological assessments, including for
complex cases, and formulate tailored care plans that are responsive to
individual patient needs.
Where
appropriately qualified, prescribe and review medication in line with
evidence-based practice, current clinical guidelines, and within the scope of
professional practice.
Undertake
specialist assessments to evaluate functional performance and its impact
on a patients mental and physical well-being.
Deliver
brief psychological interventions, where trained and appropriate, to
support recovery and improve mental health outcomes.
Provide
expert mental health advice to colleagues within the multidisciplinary
team, including recommendations on prescribing practices and safe
de-prescribing where indicated.
Facilitate
shared decision-making with patients, offering clear and accessible
information about treatment options and supporting adherence to agreed care
plans.
Involve
and educate family members, carers, and support networks as appropriate,
ensuring a holistic and inclusive approach to care.
Respond
effectively to urgent or emergency mental health situations, using sound
clinical judgment and escalation procedures where necessary.
Promote
self-care and health improvement, encouraging patients to adopt healthy
behaviours and supporting engagement with community-based resources and wider
social support systems.
Support
the delivery of annual health reviews for adults on the practices
Mental Health Registers, contributing clinical insight and continuity of care.
Quality Assurance
Effectively
prioritise, organise, and manage own workload in a way that promotes safe,
high-quality patient care.
Deliver
care aligned with national and local clinical priorities, including those of
Devon Partnership Trust (DPT), Primary Care, and NICE guidelines.
Actively
contribute to the development of clinical protocols and care pathways, ensuring
alignment with PCN goals and best practices.
Operate
within professional scope of practice and regulatory standards (NMC/HCPC or
other relevant body), recognising personal limitations and seeking guidance
where necessary.
Maintain
comprehensive, timely, and accurate records of all patient interactions,
consistent with legal, professional, and organisational standards.
Evaluate
the effectiveness of care through self-assessment, peer review, and audit
processes, contributing to ongoing quality improvement and governance across
primary care.
Work
collaboratively with other clinical teams to enhance care quality in response
to local needs and national initiatives.
Promote
and engage in shared learning across the PCN and wider healthcare system.
Participate
in the structured analysis and learning from patient feedback, complaints,
incidents, and near misses, using this to improve safety and service delivery.
Work
with clinical leaders to monitor team performance and support continuous
professional development.
Help
to build the skills and confidence of the wider primary care team in supporting
patients with mental health needs.
Communication Skills and relationship building
Use compassionate and effective communication styles to ensure
patients are fully informed and empowered in decisions about their care.
Convey complex and sensitive clinical information clearly and
appropriately to:
'Patients and their families/carers regarding assessment, treatment, and recovery plans
'Primary care and multidisciplinary teams to ensure seamless,
coordinated care
'External agencies (e.g., social services, voluntary sector,
police, housing, employment) involved in patient support
'Service user and carer groups
Deliver sensitive or distressing information with empathy and
professionalism.
Adjust communication methods to meet diverse needs, considering
cultural background, communication preferences, and cognitive or emotional
barriers.
Maintain strong communication across primary care teams, DPT
(including through MAT meetings), and PCN leadership.
Act as a visible advocate for patients and colleagues, promoting
dignity, respect, and access to appropriate care and support.
Provide information in accessible formats, recognising limitations
in understanding and signposting to appropriate support.
Communicate effectively with commissioning bodies and senior
stakeholders, including PCN Leadership and DPT representatives.
Uphold professional boundaries at all times.
Attend and contribute to clinical meetings focused on patient
progress and recovery planning.
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for
alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of
understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.
Maintain
effective communication with all members in the primary care team, DPT
(particularly the MAT meetings) and the PCN management team.
Act as an advocate
for patients and colleagues.
Ensure
awareness of sources of support and guidance and provide information in an
acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring
where appropriate.
Maintain
effective communication with those responsible for the overall commissioning
and procurement process e.g DPT and PCN Leadership
To maintain
professional boundaries at all times with
patients.
To
attend clinical meetings to discuss progress and recovery plans for patients.
Analytical and Judgement
Proactively
identify and manage clinical risk within your area of responsibility, ensuring
safe and responsive care.
Maintain
safe working environments by monitoring compliance with health, safety, and
infection prevention policies.
Promote
policies and practices that reduce environmental and health inequalities,
enhance accessibility, and are culturally sensitive.
Demonstrate
sound clinical reasoning and judgement in everyday practice.
Apply
activity analysis when planning and delivering patient interventions to ensure
maximum therapeutic benefit.
Use
initiative and problem-solving in complex clinical situations.
Conduct
specialised assessments focused on patients functional performance and its
impact on mental well-being.
Analyse
complex clinical information to design person-centred treatment plans, considering
multiple options and patient preferences.
Continuously
review and adjust care plans in response to clinical changes or emerging risks.
Proactively
identify and manage clinical risk within your area of responsibility, ensuring
safe and responsive care.
Maintain
safe working environments by monitoring compliance with health, safety, and
infection prevention policies.
Promote
policies and practices that reduce environmental and health inequalities,
enhance accessibility, and are culturally sensitive.
Demonstrate
sound clinical reasoning and judgement in everyday practice.
Apply
activity analysis when planning and delivering patient interventions to ensure
maximum therapeutic benefit.
Use
initiative and problem-solving in complex clinical situations.
Conduct
specialised assessments focused on patients functional performance and its
impact on mental well-being.
Analyse
complex clinical information to design person-centred treatment plans,
considering multiple options and patient preferences.
Continuously
review and adjust care plans in response to clinical changes or emerging risks.
Planning & Organisation
Understand and take ownership of your evolving role
within the team and wider PCN.
Collaborate effectively with colleagues to deliver
innovative, patient-centred services.
Delegate tasks responsibly, with regard to competence,
safety, and best practice.
Establish clear referral pathways to ensure patients
receive the right care at the right time.
Prioritise tasks and manage time effectively to
support high-quality, responsive care.
Engage in collaborative service planning, helping to
shape direction, values, and policies that affect clinical care.
Take the lead on specific service initiatives or
projects as agreed with management, utilising Quality Improvement (QI) methods.
Agree measurable outcomes and benchmarks for success.
Organise and facilitate complex professional or
risk-focused meetings as needed.