Primary Care Mental Health Triage Practitioner

Job overview

You will be working within Bournemouth East Collaborative Primary Care Network (PCN) as a first contact Mental Health Triage Practitioner, to triage Patients who contact their Practice with Mental Health as a primary concern.

The purpose is to offer a focused telephone triage assessment to determine the next steps for the patient and provide facilitated access to the relevant service and, where relevant, connect the patient to valued community resources.

You will work as an integral part of the PCN Mental Health team alongside the Mental Health Practitioners and MH lead GPs and develop close working relationships with Reception teams, GP’s and other staff within the PCN, and be a valued member of the primary care team.

The aim of the role is to reduce response times for the patient, to reduce inappropriate referrals and to reduce pressures on GPs. You will accurately and efficiently manage all administrative processes in a timely manner, using PCN systems.

We would consider part time working from 24 hours per week up to fulltime 37.5 hours per week.

This role is based at Southbourne Surgery . However, you may be required to travel between PCN/DHC sites.

Main duties of the job

To act as a ‘first contact mental health triage worker’, using a person centred approach, undertake focused assessments, where appropriate, and utilising the PCN Mental Health pathway. This is a telephone based role.

To support people in primary care settings, working in a collaborative and multi-agency way to meet the needs of people with a range of mental health needs.

Collaborate with other healthcare professionals, both internal to, and external from, the PCN where appropriate.

To offer mental health signposting for people presenting to their practices with a range of mild to moderate mental health needs.

To offer navigation to a range of specialist mental health support across the community system to ensure that, once assessed, each person receives the best possible care in the right place at the right time by the right supporting service (Access Wellbeing, Help and Care, Steps2wellbeing, Dorset Mind services, Counselling, GP, etc).

Ensure that patients have high quality information and are signposted to interventions and appropriate clinicians/organisations to support them in their health and wellbeing and to motivate them to engage with their recovery.

To promote the concept of social inclusion, early intervention and recovery and ensure this underpins the direction of well-being activities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate’s individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.