Job Summary To perform as an autonomous practitioner working independently and with other health care and non-health care professionals to assess, diagnose, and treat patients with a range of mental health conditions, initiating direct referrals as appropriate. Additionally, utilising knowledge gained from the MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice to enhance clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice, and multidisciplinary collaboration in the management of patients. Job Purpose To perform as an autonomous practitioner working independently and with other healthcare and non-healthcare professionals to assess, diagnose, and treat patients with a range of mental health conditions. Initiate direct referrals as appropriate. Manage daily surgeries comprising face-to-face consultations and telephone triage work. There may also be a requirement for home or care home visits. Collaborate with GPs, nursing staff, and non-clinical support staff to make a positive contribution to the organisation and foster a One Team approach. Be actively involved in implementing new working methods designed to manage the increasing demand in primary care. Undertake research as required. Contribute to the development of the PCN for the overall benefit of its patients. Assess and triage patients, including same-day triage, and, as appropriate, provide definitive treatment (including prescribing medications following policy, patient group directives, NICE (national) and local clinical guidelines, and local care pathways) or make necessary referrals to other members of the primary care team. Manage undifferentiated, undiagnosed conditions, identify red flags, and underlying serious pathology, and take appropriate action. Use complex decision-making to inform diagnosis, investigations, and the complete management of episodes of care within a broad scope of practice. Actively take a personalised care approach and population-centred care approach to enable shared decision-making with the presenting person. Complete relevant training to provide multi-professional clinical practice and CPD supervision to other roles within primary care, such as first contact practitioners and personalised care roles. Main Duties and Responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities Work autonomously and be accountable for professional actions, managing patients with common mental health problems in primary care. Deliver holistic care to patients by undertaking clinical nursing practice. Assess undifferentiated patients with mental health conditions in surgery or home visits, take histories, perform physical and mental health examinations, formulate differential diagnoses, and create management plans. Complete assessment tools, therapeutic interventions, and CBT-based approaches to meet individual care needs. Monitor outcomes using appropriate measures to provide evidence-based care. Refer patients to other health professionals in primary and secondary care when necessary. Undertake home visits as required. Provide area-of-special-interest clinics across other PCN sites when necessary. Prescribe medications under the Independent Nurse Prescribing Scheme (NMP). Attend NMP updates and Protected Learning Time (PLT) training. Maintain accurate records using the PCN/practice clinical system (e.g., EMIS Web). Conduct regular medication reviews and manage medicine requests. Order and interpret tests to meet patients needs. Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Meetings Actively participate in regular MDT meetings to discuss caseloads with the wider PCN and practice teams. Share insights on complex cases, collaborate on care plans, and ensure coordinated care across the team. Work with other healthcare professionals, including GPs, pharmacists, social workers, and secondary care services, to develop integrated approaches to patient care. Contribute to case discussions to identify opportunities for preventative interventions and early escalation of care where necessary. Demand Management Actively engage in, and contribute to, evolving services in response to increasing general practice demand, ensuring safe and equitable service delivery. Communication Communicate effectively with all PCN/practice team members and external organisations for the benefit of patient care. Participate in annual individual performance reviews and maintain a record of personal and professional development. Manage own workload, time, and resources efficiently. Actively contribute to clinical and PCN meetings. Operate with high standards of probity and engage in significant event reporting and clinical governance activities. Confidentiality Adhere to the PCN and practice policies for confidentiality when dealing with patient information both within and outside the workplace. Health and Safety Promote and maintain health, safety, and security within the workplace, adhering to the PCN Health and Safety Policy. Use personal security systems in the workplace, identify risks in work activities, and undertake activities to manage these risks effectively. Attend relevant training to keep knowledge and skills up-to-date. Follow appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in a tidy and safe condition. Equality and Diversity Promote equality, diversity, and rights of patients, carers, and colleagues. Behave in a non-judgmental and respectful manner towards patients and colleagues, considering their circumstances, feelings, priorities, and rights. General Clause This job description reflects the current needs of the PCN and may be subject to review and updates as service requirements evolve. It is not designed to be exhaustive but serves as a reasonably accurate specification of duties. A flexible approach to service delivery is essential in providing efficient and modern care for patients. Note: Applicants who are registered patients with a member practice of the PCN must be prepared to register with a different GP practice outside of the PCN if successful.