Single Point of Access Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview

This new role will work collaboratively between Primary Care and Access Wellbeing Services as part of an Integrated Model of Care.

The intention is to focus services on local communities and local GP practices to help rebuild and reconnect healthcare teams across the communities they serve. This practitioner role will provide screening, triage and referral advice and guidance for the Bournemouth and Christchurch Locality.

This role will work across an identified Locality covering a number of Primary care Networks to provide screening and triage for all referrals into the Access Wellbeing model in the Locality.

This role will also provide oversight of the patient pathway from the SPOA into the virtual MDT to help support the identification and progress of the patients intervention and pathway.

The role will provide supervision, support and oversight for the Single Point of Access model in the Locality.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.  Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

Main duties of the job

Work collaboratively with Primary Care within identified Locality to undertake screening, triage of referrals into the Access Wellbeing offer, and to provide advice and guidance around referrals, interventions and treatment pathways.

Take a person-centred care approach to enable collective decision-making with patients.

Proactively and effectively engage with virtual MDT meetings to provide clinical updates.

Work closely and creatively with colleagues in Mental Health Services to determine the most appropriate service for a patient whose needs exceed those which can be met in a primary care setting.

Work closely with local Community Mental Health Teams by attending Team meetings, jointly meeting patients, and generally integrating with the team to help form a seamless care pathway for patients

Use complex decision-making to inform, formulate plans and manage episodes of care within a broad scope of practice.

Screen and triage patients, including same-day triage and undertake urgent or emergency assessment if required.

Offer advice, guidance, support and supervision to other colleagues within the SPOA.

Make necessary referrals to other members of the primary care team or other mental health services as required.

To be responsible for organising and prioritising own workload in the day-to-day allocation of work

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

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. Please note that we are seeking applications from experienced practitioners that can demonstrate their knowledge of working within, and across, adult mental health services with a proven history of screening and triaging complex referrals.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application.  However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience.  If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety.  If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, 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 [email protected]