Advanced First Contact Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Advanced First Contact Mental Health Practitioner to work within primary care within the Mowbray Square PCN.

After the successful introduction of our initial first contact mental health practitioner, we aspire to expand the service with a further innovative offer.

In this attractive, flexible, role the post holder the has opportunity of working within primary care, with non-working weekends and the benefit of bank holidays!

This role is fundamental to the development of inclusive & integrated mental health services.

NMC Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers (England), HCPC Occupational Therapist encouraged to apply.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

The successful post-holder will become part of the PCNs clinical leadership team, joining an ambitious locality network that is committed to developing a strong, caring and compassionate multidisciplinary workforce.

As a valued team member, you will develop close working relationships with all our friendly Clinical staff, including our existing Mental Health Practitioner. 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 also contribute to safe and effective transitions in care between Adult Mental Health services, where appropriate. You will improve access by being an ‘ Advanced first contact mental health worker’, undertaking triage, assessments, brief interventions, and reviews, with managerial supervision provided by a B7 Mental Health Practitioner. You will contribute to the clinical supervision structure within the PCN and will contribute networking and navigation expertise, enabling access to a range of appropriate mental health support across the community system.

Detailed job description and main 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 an ‘Advanced 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 post-holder will manage their daily clinics and act as a specialist advisor to GP’s, such as specialist opinion or prescribing support (within the parameters of the Non-medical prescribing/NMP framework) and providing supervision and oversight of First Contact Mental Health Practitioners.    You will be a non-medical prescriber or be willing to study towards this accreditation. Experience of cognitive behavioural therapy would be advantageous.    You will assume an active leadership role in the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN and the wider mental health care system. To offer specialist advice to, or obtain advice for, the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on-going patient care management.    To lead on the creation and development of links and a culture of ‘partnership’ between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services, promoting clear communication and access to specialist knowledge and advice. 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.    To take a leading role in the facilitation of joint working relationships across PCN, Secondary Care providers, and the Voluntary Care Sector to increase the range of services/interventions available to the communities served.    To facilitate others in the team to develop competence by providing clinical advice and clinical supervision to practice based First Contact Mental Health Practitioners and other practice staff as appropriate, including other less experienced practice based mental health workers and students.    To provide specialist clinical advice, consultation, and support to other care providers within primary, secondary, voluntary and statutory services as required.    To attend PCN meetings and work with PCN members to develop and implement joint governance and clinical multidisciplinary forums.    To assume a leadership role and responsibility within the existing Mental Health multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings across the PCN.    To promote, develop and manage clear links, pathways and information sharing processes between existing services, and when appropriate, advise the GP’s on alternative approaches to improve case management.    To provide support, education and guidance of common mental health problems and their management to colleagues across the multi-disciplinary team(s), so they develop their skills and confidence in assessment and treatment of mental health needs.   To collate and organise contemporaneous information about opportunities and resources in the local area which may be of benefit to clients referred to the service (e.g. voluntary and community organisations, educational and recreational opportunities).    To facilitate ‘sign posting’ to other appropriate services and occasionally undertake very short-term interventions for clients 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 social prescribing link worker.    To be professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, providing brief, time-limited therapeutic interventions in GP surgeries, patients’ homes and other primary care settings.    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.    To work closely with Primary Care Network, GP’s and Social Prescribers/other practice-based mental health workers within the locality regarding the mental health needs of their adult practice population.

Additional contact details - Laura Wright - FCMHP Team Manager

[email protected]