First Contact Mental Health Practitioner

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for 2 full time enthusiastic, motivated and caring first contact mental health practitioners to work within primary care, as part of a growing multidisciplinary team within our Filey & Scarborough Healthier Communities Primary Care Network (PCN).

Applicants must hold a relevant health or social care qualification - RMN, OT or mental health SW, and be able to work independently to assess a wide range of mental health conditions, manage risk and deliver psychological wellbeing interventions.

This new role is fundamental to the development and leadership of innovative and integrated mental health services. Together with Tees Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust, the PCN is working to transform local community mental health services for people with significant mental health problems.

About Filey & Scarborough PCN

Filey and Scarborough HCN has a vision of achieving safe, effective "quality improvements in healthcare provision and supporting people to make healthier choices." To achieve this vision, the PCN collaborates to develop and share new and innovative approaches to providing care. To proactively manage the community's health and wellbeing, we seek to develop strong partnerships that empower patients and optimise care. The successful post-holder will become part of an ambitious locality network, which is committed to developing a strong, caring and compassionate multi-disciplinary workforce.

Main duties of the job

You will work as an autonomous practitioner within friendly teams of GP's, ANPs, Practice Nurses, and Pharmacists. You will develop close working relationships and be a valued member of the Primary Care Team. You will collaborate with other professionals, both internal to, and external from, the PCN. Your role will involve offering specialist mental health advice and providing expert clinical care for people with a range of mental health needs, ensuring that those with complex mental illness do not fall between gaps in services. You will improve access by being a 'first contact mental health worker', undertaking triage, assessments, brief interventions, and reviews. You will contribute networking and navigation expertise, enabling access to a range of appropriate mental health support across the community system. You will ensure that, once assessed, each person receives the best possible care in the right place at the right time by the right supporting service.

Please do not hesitate to make contact for further information:

Filey and Scarborough HCN

Dr Catherine Chapman catherine.chapman8@nhs.net

TEWV

Verity Burton (Senior Project Manager) verity.burton@nhs.net

About us

As a valued member of our team, you will work across 4 practices of the PCN: Filey Surgery, Hackness Road Surgery, Hunmanby Surgery & Scarborough Medical Group. The PCN looks after the needs of 31,000 people across their life course. The pandemic has led to an increase in the local population's emotional and mental health needs and the PCN is committed to developing an innovative approach to improving access to mental health care for its local communities. We would welcome applications from candidates with experience of working with adults 18 and over. Additionally, because the PCN has a higher-than-average older population, we would further welcome any applicants with experience of delivering mental health care to meet the complex needs of older adults.

We would welcome enthusiastic innovators who are willing to develop this role. Primary Care experience is not essential; however, a good understanding of how Primary Care works would be beneficial. The right candidate will have a strong desire to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients, will display passion and understanding for working with individuals with mental health needs in the community, and have the motivation and flexibility to help develop our services, as the practices evolve to meet the needs of their population.

Date posted

19 January 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£33,706 to £40,588 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

346-NYA-311-22-C

Job locations

Filey & Scarborough PCN

Scarborough

YO12 5SD


Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a new, exciting and innovative post to support the needs of the local population living with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The role holder will fulfil a first contact specialist mental health role within GP Practices across the Primary Care Network (PCN), seeing patients who would otherwise have traditionally seen a GP. Within the primary care setting, the role holder will work in a collaborative and multi-agency way. This will contribute to the safe and effective day to day operation of the PCN and the efficient and timely management of clinical enquiries and decision-making.

The post will sit within the GP practices and will facilitate the interface between Primary Care and Secondary Mental Health Services to provide specialist advice and support, assessment, treatment, education and solution-focused approaches to the local Primary Care Teams, for patients and carers.

The role will offer expertise in networking and navigation to promote ease of access to a range of specialist mental health support services. This ensures that each person, once assessed, receives the best possible care in the right place at the right time and by the right supporting service.

The post holder will be an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team. They will be professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, undertaking initial assessment with signposting to appropriate services, or providing time-limited psycho-social therapeutic interventions directly, in e.g. GP surgeries, patients homes and other primary care settings. This will include providing clinical advice to GPs such as specialist opinion or prescribing support (within the parameters of the Non-medical prescribing/NMP framework).

The post-holder will manage their daily clinics and act as a specialist advisor to GPs, fulfilling a pathway management function and providing short term interventions and support, in collaboration with GPs and other practice based mental health workers.

You will support the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN and the wider mental health care system. You will offer advice to, or obtain advice for, the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on-going patient care management.

You will develop links and foster a culture of partnership between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services, promoting clear communication and access to specialist knowledge and advice. This will include the facilitation of joint working with PCN, Secondary Care providers, and Voluntary Care Sector to increase the range of services/interventions available to the communities served.

You will provide clinical advice, consultation, and support to other care providers within primary, secondary, voluntary and statutory services as required.

In line with the principles for community transformation, you will ensure systems/pathways are in place to enable smooth transition between primary care and secondary mental health services.

Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants can travel independently and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a new, exciting and innovative post to support the needs of the local population living with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The role holder will fulfil a first contact specialist mental health role within GP Practices across the Primary Care Network (PCN), seeing patients who would otherwise have traditionally seen a GP. Within the primary care setting, the role holder will work in a collaborative and multi-agency way. This will contribute to the safe and effective day to day operation of the PCN and the efficient and timely management of clinical enquiries and decision-making.

The post will sit within the GP practices and will facilitate the interface between Primary Care and Secondary Mental Health Services to provide specialist advice and support, assessment, treatment, education and solution-focused approaches to the local Primary Care Teams, for patients and carers.

The role will offer expertise in networking and navigation to promote ease of access to a range of specialist mental health support services. This ensures that each person, once assessed, receives the best possible care in the right place at the right time and by the right supporting service.

The post holder will be an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team. They will be professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, undertaking initial assessment with signposting to appropriate services, or providing time-limited psycho-social therapeutic interventions directly, in e.g. GP surgeries, patients homes and other primary care settings. This will include providing clinical advice to GPs such as specialist opinion or prescribing support (within the parameters of the Non-medical prescribing/NMP framework).

The post-holder will manage their daily clinics and act as a specialist advisor to GPs, fulfilling a pathway management function and providing short term interventions and support, in collaboration with GPs and other practice based mental health workers.

You will support the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN and the wider mental health care system. You will offer advice to, or obtain advice for, the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on-going patient care management.

You will develop links and foster a culture of partnership between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services, promoting clear communication and access to specialist knowledge and advice. This will include the facilitation of joint working with PCN, Secondary Care providers, and Voluntary Care Sector to increase the range of services/interventions available to the communities served.

You will provide clinical advice, consultation, and support to other care providers within primary, secondary, voluntary and statutory services as required.

In line with the principles for community transformation, you will ensure systems/pathways are in place to enable smooth transition between primary care and secondary mental health services.

Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants can travel independently and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

  • Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or social work.
  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
  • Certificate in mentorship, teaching & assessing in clinical practice as appropriate to own profession.
  • Clinical Supervisor.
  • Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent).
  • Recognised sign-off mentor (or equivalent) for students or must be achieved within agreed timescale.

Desirable

  • Leadership or management qualification.
  • Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area.
  • If appropriate to professional registration, NMP (or willing to obtain).

Skills

Essential

  • Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
  • Work effectively across complex organisations, pathways and services
  • Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
  • Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional responsibilities.

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting.
  • Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
  • Mentoring students on practice placement experience.
  • Experience and involvement with quality improvement activities.
  • Providing clinical supervision.
  • Working in a multi-disciplinary team.

Desirable

  • Experience working in primary care.
  • Experience working in a multiagency setting.
  • Leadership or management experience.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field.
  • Knowledge of Stepped Care model.
  • Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
  • Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice.
  • Clinical Governance and its application in practice.
  • Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
  • Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment.
  • Demonstrable knowledge and experience of delivering psycho-social interventions and approaches.
  • Contemporaneous knowledge of recent health and social care policy and guidance on implications for practice
Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

  • Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or social work.
  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
  • Certificate in mentorship, teaching & assessing in clinical practice as appropriate to own profession.
  • Clinical Supervisor.
  • Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent).
  • Recognised sign-off mentor (or equivalent) for students or must be achieved within agreed timescale.

Desirable

  • Leadership or management qualification.
  • Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area.
  • If appropriate to professional registration, NMP (or willing to obtain).

Skills

Essential

  • Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
  • Work effectively across complex organisations, pathways and services
  • Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
  • Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional responsibilities.

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting.
  • Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
  • Mentoring students on practice placement experience.
  • Experience and involvement with quality improvement activities.
  • Providing clinical supervision.
  • Working in a multi-disciplinary team.

Desirable

  • Experience working in primary care.
  • Experience working in a multiagency setting.
  • Leadership or management experience.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field.
  • Knowledge of Stepped Care model.
  • Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
  • Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice.
  • Clinical Governance and its application in practice.
  • Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
  • Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment.
  • Demonstrable knowledge and experience of delivering psycho-social interventions and approaches.
  • Contemporaneous knowledge of recent health and social care policy and guidance on implications for practice

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Filey & Scarborough PCN

Scarborough

YO12 5SD


Employer's website

https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Filey & Scarborough PCN

Scarborough

YO12 5SD


Employer's website

https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Project Manager

Stacey Pollington

stacey.pollington@nhs.net

Date posted

19 January 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£33,706 to £40,588 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

346-NYA-311-22-C

Job locations

Filey & Scarborough PCN

Scarborough

YO12 5SD


Supporting documents

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