Job summary This position is an exciting and innovative role, which will help to provide mental health support to Primary Care Networks in Knowsley. Youwill primarily work in primary care but also work across the interface between Primary Care and Mental Health Services to provide advice, support and assessment to the Local Primary Care Teams, Service Users and Carers. The role aims to improve the experience for our patients with mental health needs who would otherwise have seen a GP and the post holder will see new presentations of primary care mental health problems. Main duties of the job To be based within a number of GP practices across Knowsley West, supporting Primary Mental Health Care, with experienced nursing screening and assessment skills, being able to signpost to communities, safeguard, raise risks and refer into secondary care when required. About us Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities. At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles. Date posted 23 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Compressed hours Reference number 350-MHC7141130 Job locations Knowsley Primary Care Networks Knowsley Primary Care Networks Knowsley L36 7YT Job description Job responsibilities Clinical To provide a safe and effective day to day operation of the service, including the handling of clinical enquiries. The role holder may be required to undertake telephone triage screening assessments in order to assess the level of risk/priority with that patient, so they can be treated, signposted, or referred on to agencies as appropriate. To undertake assessments of individual clients difficulties, establishing risk and determining the appropriate course of action taking into consideration all possible options. The relationship should adopt a partnership approach, engaging service users in the positive management of their health and wellbeing. Work with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments, monitoring mental health medication, taking into consideration interactions with physical needs. To maintain an individual case load providing short term interventions and support, under the guidance of the GP and ensure that the caseload is well managed, and care and treatment is provided in line with practice standards. Provide and receive information, some of which may be contentious, sensitive, and complex to and from individuals and their families/carers and actively support as appropriate. 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). Facilitate sign posting to other appropriate services and occasionally undertake very short-term interventions for clients with mild to moderate mental health difficulties 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 Quality Outcome Framework data. Undertake joint assessment work (as required) with PCN colleagues. Offer advice to or obtain advice for the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on-going Service User care management. Ensure systems/ pathways are in place to enable smooth transition between primary care and secondary mental health services. Regularly be involved in quality improvement activity/audit/significant event review and clinical meetings. Clinical Partnership Support the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN/ secondary mental health care system. Develop links and foster a culture of partnership between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services. Facilitate joint work with PCN, Secondary Care providers and Voluntary Sector (VCSO) to increase range of services / interventions available to the communities. Attend PCN meetings and work with PCN members to develop and implement joint governance and clinical forums. MANAGERIAL Effective Planning: Effective personal planning and organisation of daily workload. Flexible working and self-management of working time effectively and accordingly to service demands. Communication: Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment and ensure the patients /carers have a voice about the services they will receive and how these are developed. This may include engagement of advocacy services. Recognise the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background, and preferred ways of communicating. Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication. Provide high standards of written, verbal and non- verbal communication skills to impart sensitive information to patients that is clear to patients and in line with professional documentation standards. Estimate and maintain effective communication with individuals and groups within the practice environment and with external stakeholders. Adopt a coaching style of communication to empower patients to take responsibility. Facilitate fair access to social care services and promote social inclusion regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Delivering a quality service: Every employee is personally responsible for the quality of the work, and standard of care, which they individually provide. It is their duty to seek to attain the highest standards achievable both individually and collectively within their knowledge, skills, and resources available to them in furtherance of the Practices philosophy of pursuing quality in all of its services. Produce timely, accurate, contemporaneous, and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies, and procedures. Prioritise, organise, and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality. Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines, and evidence-based care. Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking, and formal evaluation. Participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the practice. Collaborate on improving the quality of health care in partnership with other clinical teams, responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate. Participate in the performance monitoring review of the team as appropriate, providing feedback. Management of risk: Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients. Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines. Apply policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all. Participate in the local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice. Job description Job responsibilities Clinical To provide a safe and effective day to day operation of the service, including the handling of clinical enquiries. The role holder may be required to undertake telephone triage screening assessments in order to assess the level of risk/priority with that patient, so they can be treated, signposted, or referred on to agencies as appropriate. To undertake assessments of individual clients difficulties, establishing risk and determining the appropriate course of action taking into consideration all possible options. The relationship should adopt a partnership approach, engaging service users in the positive management of their health and wellbeing. Work with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments, monitoring mental health medication, taking into consideration interactions with physical needs. To maintain an individual case load providing short term interventions and support, under the guidance of the GP and ensure that the caseload is well managed, and care and treatment is provided in line with practice standards. Provide and receive information, some of which may be contentious, sensitive, and complex to and from individuals and their families/carers and actively support as appropriate. 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). Facilitate sign posting to other appropriate services and occasionally undertake very short-term interventions for clients with mild to moderate mental health difficulties 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 Quality Outcome Framework data. Undertake joint assessment work (as required) with PCN colleagues. Offer advice to or obtain advice for the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on-going Service User care management. Ensure systems/ pathways are in place to enable smooth transition between primary care and secondary mental health services. Regularly be involved in quality improvement activity/audit/significant event review and clinical meetings. Clinical Partnership Support the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN/ secondary mental health care system. Develop links and foster a culture of partnership between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services. Facilitate joint work with PCN, Secondary Care providers and Voluntary Sector (VCSO) to increase range of services / interventions available to the communities. Attend PCN meetings and work with PCN members to develop and implement joint governance and clinical forums. MANAGERIAL Effective Planning: Effective personal planning and organisation of daily workload. Flexible working and self-management of working time effectively and accordingly to service demands. Communication: Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment and ensure the patients /carers have a voice about the services they will receive and how these are developed. This may include engagement of advocacy services. Recognise the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background, and preferred ways of communicating. Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication. Provide high standards of written, verbal and non- verbal communication skills to impart sensitive information to patients that is clear to patients and in line with professional documentation standards. Estimate and maintain effective communication with individuals and groups within the practice environment and with external stakeholders. Adopt a coaching style of communication to empower patients to take responsibility. Facilitate fair access to social care services and promote social inclusion regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Delivering a quality service: Every employee is personally responsible for the quality of the work, and standard of care, which they individually provide. It is their duty to seek to attain the highest standards achievable both individually and collectively within their knowledge, skills, and resources available to them in furtherance of the Practices philosophy of pursuing quality in all of its services. Produce timely, accurate, contemporaneous, and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies, and procedures. Prioritise, organise, and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality. Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines, and evidence-based care. Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking, and formal evaluation. Participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the practice. Collaborate on improving the quality of health care in partnership with other clinical teams, responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate. Participate in the performance monitoring review of the team as appropriate, providing feedback. Management of risk: Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients. Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines. Apply policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all. Participate in the local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Appropriate professional qualification or experience at Degree Level e.g. RMN, AHP, Social Worker Evidence of post registration study / continuing professional development e.g. Mentorship in Practice Desirable Working towards master level education Knowledge/Experience Essential Significant demonstrable post registration experience in mental health. Evidence of leadership and management skills Evidence of experience of managing cases & case loads Evidence of supervising staff. Ability to work autonomously across the organisation/boundaries and with other agencies Experience of working in partnership with other agencies and service users and carers Experience of audit/research and working knowledge of clinical governance. Experience in change management and policy formulation. Experience of using Incident Reporting Systems e.g. DATIX Experience of undertaking and involvement in Serious Untoward Incident Reviews Evidence of experience of working with a range of people with mental health problems in a variety of health care settings. A demonstrated understanding of Equality and Human Rights Skills Essential Able to communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally. Being responsive and flexible, seeing change as an opportunity to improve services Ability to lead the process of standard setting and audit Leadership Skills Ability to work within a CBU management team, be able to generate own workload and ability to work to strict deadlines Ability to build purposeful relationships with a range of both internal and external to the organisation. Proven knowledge of relevant mental health legislation. Demonstrate knowledge of ECC guidelines. Demonstrate knowledge in the concepts of mentorship, preceptorship and supervision and ability to provide education and supervision to junior staff Demonstrate a good knowledge of professional Codes of Conduct and Staffs' responsibility to identify gaps in their knowledge base. Professional attitude. Possess excellent listening and negotiation skills and leadership skills. Excellent oral and written skills Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills The ability to lead change management Ability to contribute to developing care excellence within the ward / team area VALUES Essential Continuous Improvement Accountability Respectfulness Enthusiasm Support High professional standards Responsive to service users Engaging leadership style Strong customer service belief Transparency and honesty Discreet Change oriented Person Specification Qualifications Essential Appropriate professional qualification or experience at Degree Level e.g. RMN, AHP, Social Worker Evidence of post registration study / continuing professional development e.g. Mentorship in Practice Desirable Working towards master level education Knowledge/Experience Essential Significant demonstrable post registration experience in mental health. Evidence of leadership and management skills Evidence of experience of managing cases & case loads Evidence of supervising staff. Ability to work autonomously across the organisation/boundaries and with other agencies Experience of working in partnership with other agencies and service users and carers Experience of audit/research and working knowledge of clinical governance. Experience in change management and policy formulation. Experience of using Incident Reporting Systems e.g. DATIX Experience of undertaking and involvement in Serious Untoward Incident Reviews Evidence of experience of working with a range of people with mental health problems in a variety of health care settings. A demonstrated understanding of Equality and Human Rights Skills Essential Able to communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally. Being responsive and flexible, seeing change as an opportunity to improve services Ability to lead the process of standard setting and audit Leadership Skills Ability to work within a CBU management team, be able to generate own workload and ability to work to strict deadlines Ability to build purposeful relationships with a range of both internal and external to the organisation. Proven knowledge of relevant mental health legislation. Demonstrate knowledge of ECC guidelines. Demonstrate knowledge in the concepts of mentorship, preceptorship and supervision and ability to provide education and supervision to junior staff Demonstrate a good knowledge of professional Codes of Conduct and Staffs' responsibility to identify gaps in their knowledge base. Professional attitude. Possess excellent listening and negotiation skills and leadership skills. Excellent oral and written skills Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills The ability to lead change management Ability to contribute to developing care excellence within the ward / team area VALUES Essential Continuous Improvement Accountability Respectfulness Enthusiasm Support High professional standards Responsive to service users Engaging leadership style Strong customer service belief Transparency and honesty Discreet Change oriented 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Address Knowsley Primary Care Networks Knowsley Primary Care Networks Knowsley L36 7YT Employer's website https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)