Lead Mental Health Practitioner - Primary Care Network

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 30 April 2025

Job summary

**We offer a relocation package of up to £8,000**

Opportunity for a full time Mental Health Practitioner to join our wonderful PCN team that emphasises patient care and staff training. Your role will support four practice teams.

You would work to ensure a high level of care is delivered to all patients. The PCN is supportive of any development opportunities and you will have regular Supervision and access to the PCN Clinical Education Lead. Join a PCN that prioritises staff well-being and patients whilst offering a brilliant work/life balance.

We are made up of four GP Practices - in Congleton and Holmes Chapel. As a PCN we have a patient list size of approximately 48,000, for whom we provide General Practice services.

We are committed to working together to deliver high quality care for our patients. We aim to bring together collaborative working for health, social care and the voluntary sector, enabling increased time to deliver improved patient care. Our mission is to place the patient at the heart of everything we do.

The successful candidate will join a growing PCN Team, (including Clinical Pharmacists, Paramedic Practitioners, First Contact Physios, Physician Associate, Social Prescribing Link Workers and Advanced Nurse Practitioners) and will be supported by the PCN Leadership Team. Regular development sessions, clinical supervision, teaching, training and opportunities to upskill will be provided, linking in with the PCN Clinical Educational Lead.

Main duties of the job

This role will work across the GP practices within Congleton and Holmes Chapel to provide triage, early assessment, brief intervention / treatment and improved access to appropriate care pathways and provide evidence-based interventions to people experiencing first symptoms of mental un-wellness to those with more longer-term conditions. Ideally, we are looking for a candidate with extensive experience of providing mental health care and interventions.

The successful candidate will access and link with secondary mental health services acting as a "bridge" between primary and secondary care. This will make it easier for people accessing services and get the help that they need.

The practitioner will also develop and implement specialist mental health training across the PCN as well as, potentially, supervise junior colleagues and social prescribers.

About us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton and Liverpool. We also provide specialist services for the North West as a whole.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.We also offer up to three weeks' induction, with our Prepare to Care programme for all new starters. This aims to give you all the knowledge and guidance to help you hit the ground running with CWP.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Date posted

16 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

373-SMH2322-A RR

Job locations

CHOC PCN - Readesmoor Medical Centre, Lawton House Surgery, Meadowside Medical Centre & Holmes Chapel Health Centre

Mountbatten Way

Congleton

CW12 1DY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWPvery soon!

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWPvery soon!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Mental Health Professional, with professional qualification relating to Health (e.g. current registered RMN, Occupational Therapist)
  • Educated to degree level in relevant field / equivalent level of experience of working in the specialist area
  • Masters level qualification in relevant field / or equivalent post qualifying short courses and / or equivalent experience
  • Recent evidence of post-qualifying continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Teaching qualification or significant experience
  • Post graduate Psychological therapy qualification / or equivalent

Knowledge & Expertise

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills: working with staff, working with patients and carers, working with general practice, presentations, written reports, understanding and ability to interpret, research and facilitate staff to implement evidence-based practice
  • Proven ability to challenge current practices and freedom to make change in light of evidence-based recommendations
  • Knowledge, understanding and the ability to interpret and implement local and national policy direction relevant to practice
  • Proven experience of clinical audit, skill and knowledge required to facilitate staff to undertake clinical audit
  • Empowering staff to manage and support change
  • Demonstrable effective clinical leadership with knowledge, understanding and application of leadership theories
  • Relevant clinical expertise to support and facilitate clinical development and innovation
  • Evidence of sound information technology skills

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of acting as clinical supervisor
  • Experience in the development of professional roles
  • Successfully managed projects that demonstrate ability to communicate and implement change
  • Demonstrable and proven understanding and experience of the clinical and corporate governance agenda
  • Knowledge and experience of facilitation of reflective practice for staff and personal reflective practice
  • Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive or contentious information in potentially highly emotive situations
  • Significant experience of the direct delivery of a clinical, technical or social care service
  • Significant experience of delivering specialist programmes of care / care packages
  • Demonstrable ability and experience in motivating and empowering others to change roles and in leading practice development
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Mental Health Professional, with professional qualification relating to Health (e.g. current registered RMN, Occupational Therapist)
  • Educated to degree level in relevant field / equivalent level of experience of working in the specialist area
  • Masters level qualification in relevant field / or equivalent post qualifying short courses and / or equivalent experience
  • Recent evidence of post-qualifying continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Teaching qualification or significant experience
  • Post graduate Psychological therapy qualification / or equivalent

Knowledge & Expertise

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills: working with staff, working with patients and carers, working with general practice, presentations, written reports, understanding and ability to interpret, research and facilitate staff to implement evidence-based practice
  • Proven ability to challenge current practices and freedom to make change in light of evidence-based recommendations
  • Knowledge, understanding and the ability to interpret and implement local and national policy direction relevant to practice
  • Proven experience of clinical audit, skill and knowledge required to facilitate staff to undertake clinical audit
  • Empowering staff to manage and support change
  • Demonstrable effective clinical leadership with knowledge, understanding and application of leadership theories
  • Relevant clinical expertise to support and facilitate clinical development and innovation
  • Evidence of sound information technology skills

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of acting as clinical supervisor
  • Experience in the development of professional roles
  • Successfully managed projects that demonstrate ability to communicate and implement change
  • Demonstrable and proven understanding and experience of the clinical and corporate governance agenda
  • Knowledge and experience of facilitation of reflective practice for staff and personal reflective practice
  • Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive or contentious information in potentially highly emotive situations
  • Significant experience of the direct delivery of a clinical, technical or social care service
  • Significant experience of delivering specialist programmes of care / care packages
  • Demonstrable ability and experience in motivating and empowering others to change roles and in leading practice development

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

CHOC PCN - Readesmoor Medical Centre, Lawton House Surgery, Meadowside Medical Centre & Holmes Chapel Health Centre

Mountbatten Way

Congleton

CW12 1DY


Employer's website

https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

CHOC PCN - Readesmoor Medical Centre, Lawton House Surgery, Meadowside Medical Centre & Holmes Chapel Health Centre

Mountbatten Way

Congleton

CW12 1DY


Employer's website

https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

PCN Operational Manager

Juliet Thomson

julietthomson@nhs.net

07946031404

Date posted

16 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

373-SMH2322-A RR

Job locations

CHOC PCN - Readesmoor Medical Centre, Lawton House Surgery, Meadowside Medical Centre & Holmes Chapel Health Centre

Mountbatten Way

Congleton

CW12 1DY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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