Mental Health Practitioner

Sutton is looking to employ a Mental Health Practitioner under the additional roles reimbursement scheme to work directly with its practices to improve the experience for our Adult patients with mental health needs who would otherwise have seen a GP. You will provide an excellent understanding and working knowledge of common mental health problems and their management in primary care, delivering brief therapy interventions where qualified and as part of an individual needs led plan. They will be accountable to the Primary Care Networks, working in individual PCNs and across PCNs to support the multi-disciplinary teams and relevant services required.

Main duties of the job

The role aims to improve the experience for our patients including children and adults with mental health needs who would otherwise have seen a GP. The post holder will see new presentations of primary care mental health problems and manage a caseload. The focus will be providing continuous assessment and treatment to people with mental health difficulties including recovery co ordination and care management functions, liaison with statutory and non statutory organisations.

The post holder will be an effective member of a multi disciplinary team. You will preferably have expertise and the ability to prescribe for depression, anxiety etc. and be able to undertake new assessments and interim reviews with our patients with the possibility of having such as CBT expertise.

The post holder should have their own vehicle available for home visits if required with expenses remunerated in line with contractual terms.

Job responsibilities

• The post holder will be an effective member of a multi disciplinary team. You will preferably have expertise and the ability to prescribe for depression, anxiety etc. and be able to undertake new assessments and interim reviews with our patients.
• To provide a combined consultation, advice, triage and liaison function, supported by the local community mental health provider.
• To work with patients to support shared decision making about self management; facilitate onward access to treatment services; provide brief psychological interventions, where qualified to do so and where appropriate.
• To work closely with other PCN based roles to help address such as the potential range of biopsychosocial needs of patients with mental health problems. This will include the PCNs MDT, including, for example, PCN clinical pharmacists for medication reviews, and social prescribing link workers for access to community based support.
• To operate without the need for formal referral from GPs, including accepting some direct bookings where appropriate, subject to agreement on volumes and the mechanism of booking between the PCN and the provider.
• Be supported through the local community mental health services provider by robust clinical governance structures to maintain quality and safety, including supervision where appropriate.
• To evaluate outcomes and maintain accurate clinical data.
• Have an awareness of your own clinical competencies, knowledge base and experience and ensure that you practice within this and seek support as required.
• To understand and process QOF data.
• Undertake joint assessment work (as required) with PCN colleagues.
• Develop links and foster a culture of partnership between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services.
• Attend PCN meetings and work with PCN members to develop and implement joint governance and clinical forums.
• Offer advice to or obtain advice for the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on going Service User care management.
• Regularly be involved in quality improvement activity/audit/significant event review and clinical meetings.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous healthcare records appropriate to the consultation.
• Assist with the development of local policies and procedures and participate in audit.
• Participate in PCN MDT where appropriate.
• Explore the potential for collaborative working and take opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships.

Liaise with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients, including but not limited to:

• Patients and their representatives
• GP, nurses, AHPs and other practice staff
• Social prescribers, first contact physiotherapists, physician associates and pharmacists
• Community pharmacists and support staff
• End of life care teams
• PCN Clinical Directors and other PCN staff
• Practice managers
• Community nurses and other allied health professionals
• Hospital staff with responsibilities for prescribing and medicines optimisation

Person Specification Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse or other relevant and equivalent qualification or training pathway
• Evidence of mental health training
• Ability to work as an independent autonomous practitioner
• Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Independent prescriber

Experience

• Experience of working with adults and or children in a Mental Health setting.
• Awareness of treatment options used in primary care for mental health presentations.
• Have a good understanding and awareness of medications used for mental health conditions.
• Experience and an awareness of common acute and long term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face.
• Collaborative working and building relationships across a variety of organisations.
• Facilitating change to improve clinical practice.
• Undertaking policy review and clinical audit.
• Working knowledge of Emis / Clinical system.
• Understanding of clinical governance and quality issues.
• In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence based healthcare.
• Experience and understanding of working in primary care.

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.