Job summary
'ARRS' stands for 'Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme', which in practice means that Primary Care Networks (small groups of GP surgeries) can combine resources with the NHS Trust to fund specialist positions like this.
Day-to-Day this means that the successful applicant will be employed by the Trust (BHFT), but based within GP surgeries, seeing primary care patients and working on primary care systems, but with a specific mental health focus.
That being so, patients coming into primary care with mental health difficulties - rather than having a 10-minute appointment with a GP - will have a 15-30 minute appointment with a senior Mental Health Practitioner (Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist).
Being employed by the Trust and very much plugged into the wider Mental Health service structure, the idea is that patients can quickly and seamlessly step-up to specialist secondary mental health services when needed, and also step back down to primary care.
Although the successful applicant won't be doing 40 appointments per day like a GP does, these are still very busy roles in fast-paced environments. Most ARRS Mental Health practitioners see 14 patients on a normal day. Equally, there is no caseload, nor CPAs, nor funding applications for packages of care, nor management responsibilities - so the ancillary tasks that come with secondary care roles are certainly less.
Main duties of the job
As above, day-to-day the successful applicant will be physically based within GP surgeries. Each Primary Care Network (PCN) has about 4 GP surgeries, and ARRS workers usually spend a day in all the surgeries on rotation.
Your clinics, like GPs' clinics, are populated by Surgery receptionists. Appointments are split between initial appointments (generally 30 mins) and follow-ups (15 mins). Key tasks involve mental state examinations, liaising with secondary services and Talking Therapies, making onward referrals.
If you're a Non-Medical Prescriber and/or have an 'Advanced History Taking' qualification, that would be ideal (but is not necessary). Respectively these would enable you to initiate first-line pharmacological treatments for Anxiety and Depression (the most common presentations in primary care; and ascribe formal diagnoses.
Most applicants don't have these qualifications, which is absolutely fine, but it means a little bit more GP contact/oversight is required when it comes to initiating and monitoring treatments in Primary Care.
You'll have access to all the same training and CPD materials and opportunities as any other clinician involved in the trust, and your line manager and clinical supervisor will be based within BHFT.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.
We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you'll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
If you share our values and would like to come and work for us, please submit your application as soon as possible as we'll occasionally close roles early that have a high number of applications.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The 3 "must haves" for you to be considered for this role:
- A core qualification (Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist) with current registration and minimum five years experience post qualifying.
- At least 2 years experience in statutory Mental Health Services in the community,
- At least 2 years experience at Band 6 level (or equivalent).
The ARRS project has been running for about two years now, and its been an enormous success patients are happy with the service, GP colleagues are happy as mental health needs are dealt with in primary carer more efficiently and the ARRS Mental Health Practitioners who like the role really like it, but equally its not for everyone. If you really enjoy patient contact and fast-paced work, this would suit you down to the ground, but obviously with that comes less flexibility around things like home-working, working hours, managing your own diary etc.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
Please note the PayScale currently in use is Agenda for Change 2023/2024. We will update the 2024/2025 PayScale once confirmed. Interviews are due to be held on 22 October 2024.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Polite Tshuma on 07890610570 or email: Polite.Tshuma@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The 3 "must haves" for you to be considered for this role:
- A core qualification (Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist) with current registration and minimum five years experience post qualifying.
- At least 2 years experience in statutory Mental Health Services in the community,
- At least 2 years experience at Band 6 level (or equivalent).
The ARRS project has been running for about two years now, and its been an enormous success patients are happy with the service, GP colleagues are happy as mental health needs are dealt with in primary carer more efficiently and the ARRS Mental Health Practitioners who like the role really like it, but equally its not for everyone. If you really enjoy patient contact and fast-paced work, this would suit you down to the ground, but obviously with that comes less flexibility around things like home-working, working hours, managing your own diary etc.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
Please note the PayScale currently in use is Agenda for Change 2023/2024. We will update the 2024/2025 PayScale once confirmed. Interviews are due to be held on 22 October 2024.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Polite Tshuma on 07890610570 or email: Polite.Tshuma@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Current professional registration: Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or equivalent
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Qualification relevant to the role
- Mentor and mentorship training
Desirable
- Independent and supplementary Prescriber
- Recognised Post Graduate clinical or leadership
Previous Experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 years post registration experience in working with people with mental health needs.
- Minimum two years in Community experience in mental health services for adults and older age adults with severe / significant mental illness
- Experience of providing a range of evidence based interventions to people with a variety of mental health problems and serious mental illness
- Considerable experience in the assessment and management of clinical risk. Experience in physical health assessment for people with mental health needs.
- Experience of effective collaborative working in partnership to deliver holistic health and social care outcomes.
- Experience of working in primary and secondary mental health services.
- Evidence of Interdisciplinary / multi-agency working experience including primary care and community/ voluntary sector.
- Experience of leadership and development of junior colleagues
- Experience in the planning and delivery of training and practice developments to staff.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- Possess high level of IT skills including word, outlook, excel and power point.
- Ability to prioritise workload effectively, meeting expected deadlines.
- Excellent analytical and decision-making skills.
- Advanced interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate and work with a wide range of professionals across traditional service interfaces.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure.
- Ability to manage change and deal with conflict / stressful situations.
- Effective negotiation skills.
- Ability to produce and present clear reports
- Advanced understanding of the mental health needs of adults.
- Specialist knowledge of person-centred care and its application.
- Able to demonstrate advanced understanding of health inequalities amongst marginalised groups
- Working knowledge of appropriate assessment tools including risk management.
- Working knowledge of the policies and guidelines pertinent to the planning and delivery of community MH care to adults with mental health needs.
- Recovery focused practitioner able to apply recovery principles to adults and older people, understanding of 'strengths- based' approaches
- Clear understanding of psychotropic medication and the monitoring of effects and side effects.
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge of psycho-social interventions and their appropriate use.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Recognise peoples' right to privacy and dignity, treating every person with respect
- Willingness to embrace integrated model and new ways of working.
- Willingness to be flexible in approach and attitude
- Ability to work flexibly, outside normal working patterns if needed
- Ability to foster good interagency working.
- Ability to represent the team / service / Trust in a professional manner.
- Ability to travel independently.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Current professional registration: Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or equivalent
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Qualification relevant to the role
- Mentor and mentorship training
Desirable
- Independent and supplementary Prescriber
- Recognised Post Graduate clinical or leadership
Previous Experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 years post registration experience in working with people with mental health needs.
- Minimum two years in Community experience in mental health services for adults and older age adults with severe / significant mental illness
- Experience of providing a range of evidence based interventions to people with a variety of mental health problems and serious mental illness
- Considerable experience in the assessment and management of clinical risk. Experience in physical health assessment for people with mental health needs.
- Experience of effective collaborative working in partnership to deliver holistic health and social care outcomes.
- Experience of working in primary and secondary mental health services.
- Evidence of Interdisciplinary / multi-agency working experience including primary care and community/ voluntary sector.
- Experience of leadership and development of junior colleagues
- Experience in the planning and delivery of training and practice developments to staff.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- Possess high level of IT skills including word, outlook, excel and power point.
- Ability to prioritise workload effectively, meeting expected deadlines.
- Excellent analytical and decision-making skills.
- Advanced interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate and work with a wide range of professionals across traditional service interfaces.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure.
- Ability to manage change and deal with conflict / stressful situations.
- Effective negotiation skills.
- Ability to produce and present clear reports
- Advanced understanding of the mental health needs of adults.
- Specialist knowledge of person-centred care and its application.
- Able to demonstrate advanced understanding of health inequalities amongst marginalised groups
- Working knowledge of appropriate assessment tools including risk management.
- Working knowledge of the policies and guidelines pertinent to the planning and delivery of community MH care to adults with mental health needs.
- Recovery focused practitioner able to apply recovery principles to adults and older people, understanding of 'strengths- based' approaches
- Clear understanding of psychotropic medication and the monitoring of effects and side effects.
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge of psycho-social interventions and their appropriate use.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Recognise peoples' right to privacy and dignity, treating every person with respect
- Willingness to embrace integrated model and new ways of working.
- Willingness to be flexible in approach and attitude
- Ability to work flexibly, outside normal working patterns if needed
- Ability to foster good interagency working.
- Ability to represent the team / service / Trust in a professional manner.
- Ability to travel independently.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
