Day-to-Day the successful applicant will beemployed by the Trust (BHFT), butbased within GP surgeries,seeing primary carepatientsand working on primary care systems,but with a specific mental health focus.That being so, patients coming into primary care with mental health difficulties – rather than having a 10-minute appointment with a GP – will have a15-30 minuteappointment with a seniorMental Health Practitioner (Nurse, SocialWorkeror Occupational Therapist).
Most ARRSMental Health practitionerssee 14 patientson a normal day. Equally, there is no caseload, nor CPAs, nor funding applications for packages of care, nor management responsibilities – so the ancillary tasksthat come with secondary care roles are certainly less.
The ARRS project has been running for about two years now, and it’s been an enormous success–patients are happy with the service, GP colleagues are happy as mental health needs are dealt with in primary carer more efficiently – and theARRS Mental Health Practitioners who like the role really like it, but equally it’s not for everyone. If you really enjoy patient contact and fast-paced work, thiswouldsuit you down to the ground, but obviously with that comes less flexibility around things like home-working, working hours, managing your own diary etc.
As above, day-to-day the successful applicant will be physically based within GP surgeries. Each Primary Care Network (PCN) has about 4 GP surgeries, and ARRS workers usually spend a day in all the surgeries on rotation.
Your clinics, like GPs’ clinics, are populated bySurgery receptionists. Appointments are split betweeninitialappointments (generally 30mins) and follow-ups (15 mins).Key tasks involve mental state examinations, liaising with secondary servicesand Talking Therapies, making onward referrals.
Ifyou’rea Non-Medical Prescriber and/or have an ‘Advanced History Taking’ qualification, that would be ideal (but is not necessary). Respectively these would enable you toinitiatefirst-line pharmacological treatments for Anxiety and Depression (the most common presentations in primary care;and ascribeformal diagnoses.
Most applicantsdon’thave these qualifications, which isabsolutely fine, but it means a little bit more GPcontact/oversight isrequiredwhen it comes toinitiatingand monitoring treatments in Primary Care.
You’llhave access to all the same training and CPD materials and opportunities as any other clinician involved in the trust, and your line manager and clinical supervisor will be based within BHFT.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.
We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer. We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you’ll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:
• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Benefits of working for us include:
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites
If you share our values and would like to come and work for us, please submit your application as soon as possible as we'll occasionally close roles early that have a high number of applications.
The “must haves” for you to be considered for this role:
• A core qualification (Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist)with current registration.
• At least 2 years’ experience in statutory Mental Health Services in the community,
• Atleast 1 years’ experienceat Band 6 level (or equivalent).
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted. For further application tips – see the help with your application document attached once you click apply.
If you’re someone who shares our passion for excellence and care, you belong at Berkshire Healthcare!
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.
This advert closes on Thursday 28 Nov 2024
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About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .