First Contact Mental Health Practitioner

Job responsibilities

This is a new, exciting and innovative post to support the needs of the local population living with 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.

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.

You will collate and organise contemporaneous information about opportunities and resources in the local area which may be of benefit to patients referred to the service (e.g. voluntary and community organisations, educational and recreational opportunities).

The role includes facilitating sign posting to other appropriate services and undertaking very short-term interventions for patients with mild to moderate mental health difficulties (average length of time expected to be 6 weeks). Working alongside the PCN staff which could include a care coordination team and a social prescribing link worker.

You will work closely with the Primary Care Network, GPs and Social Prescribers/other practice-based mental health workers within the locality regarding the mental health needs of the practice population.

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 are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Qualifications

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.
• If appropriate to professional registration, recognised sign-off mentor (or equivalent) for students or must be achieved within agreed timescale.
• Clinical Supervisor.
• Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting.
• 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework
• Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
• Providing clinical supervision
• Mentoring students on practice placement experience
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience and involvement with quality improvement activities

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).
• Care Programme Approach and its application in practice.
• Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice.
• Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
• Clinical Governance 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

Skills

Essential

• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional responsibilities.
• Work effectively across complex organisations, pathways and services.
• Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
• Write reports.
• Use multimedia materials for presentations in professional settings.
• Use approved breakaway techniques (within agreed timescale).

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
• Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers.
• Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in distressing and challenging circumstances.
• Able to work flexibly and co- operatively as part of a team.
• Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently.
• Committed to continual quality and service improvement
• Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development.
• Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
• Committed to promoting a positive image of the service.

Other Requirements

Essential

• oAbility to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need.
• oThis post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Baring Service check.

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).