Advanced First Contact Mental Health Practitioner
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Advanced First Contact Mental Health Practitioner to work within primary care within the Heart of Harrogate PCN.
After the successful introduction of our initial first contact mental health practitioners, we aspire to expand the service with a further innovative offer.
In this attractive, flexible role, the post holder has the opportunity of working within primary care, with non-working weekends and the benefit of bank holidays!
This role is fundamental to the development of inclusive & integrated mental health services.
NMC Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers (England), HCPC Occupational Therapists are encouraged to apply.
Main duties of the job
Heart of Harrogate PCN, together with TEWV, are working together to transform local community mental health services for people with significant mental health problems. New funding has enabled the PCN and local GP surgeries to create a multi-disciplinary team that will work in close collaboration with a wide range of organisations. By working co-operatively, we will be able to provide meaningful support for people with mental health difficulties, in a way that meets their needs closer to their communities and their homes.
The successful post-holder will become part of the PCNs clinical leadership team, joining an ambitious locality network that is committed to developing a strong, caring, and compassionate multidisciplinary workforce.
As a valued team member, you will develop close working relationships with all our friendly Clinical staff. Your role will involve offering specialist mental health advice and providing expert clinical care for people with a range of mental health needs, ensuring that those with complex mental illness do not fall between gaps in services.
You will improve access by being an 'Advanced first contact mental health worker', undertaking triage, assessments, brief interventions, and reviews. You will contribute to the clinical supervision structure within the PCN and will contribute networking and navigation expertise.
About us
Heart of Harrogate PCN comprises of 4 practices, Dr Moss and Partners, Kingswood, Leeds Road Practice and Church Avenue, all of whom are situated within the boundaries of the beautiful spa town of Harrogate. Harrogate is situated between Leeds and York and is on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. With swathes of green space within the town, the historical and modern setting make it a lovely place to live and work.
The Practices have a strong history of collaborative working with many shared teams and innovative systems. As practices, we work closely together to provide safe, effective, high-quality care to improve the health and wellbeing of our local population.
The PCN would welcome enthusiastic innovators with strong leadership characteristics and skills, who are willing to develop this role and make the service the very best it can be for local people. We want individuals able to work systemically across the local community system to support people holistically.
The successful candidate will be well-supported and guided by the PCN and the clinical team. You will be supported to work autonomously, having day-to-day responsibility for your clinics and workload. Primary Care experience is not essential; however, a good understanding of how Primary Care works would be beneficial.
Job responsibilities
This is a new, exciting, and innovative post to support the needs of the local population living with mental health difficulties. The role holder will fulfil an Advanced first contact specialist mental health role within GP Practices across the Primary Care Network (PCN), seeing patients who would otherwise have traditionally seen a GP. Within the primary care setting, the role holder will work in a collaborative and multi-agency way. This will contribute to the safe and effective day-to-day operation of the PCN and the efficient and timely management of clinical enquiries and decision-making.
The post will sit within the GP Practices and will facilitate the interface between Primary Care and Secondary Mental Health Services to provide specialist advice and support, assessment, treatment, education and solution-focused approaches to the local Primary Care Teams, for patients and carers.
The post-holder will manage their daily clinics and act as a specialist advisor to GPs, such as specialist opinion or prescribing support (within the parameters of the Non-medical prescribing/NMP framework) and providing supervision and oversight of First Contact Mental Health Practitioners.
You will be a non-medical prescriber, be willing to study towards this accreditation, or experience of cognitive behavioural therapy would be advantageous.
You will assume an active leadership role in the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN and the wider mental health care system. To offer specialist advice to, or obtain advice for, the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and ongoing patient care management.
To lead on the creation and development of links and a culture of partnership between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services, promoting clear communication and access to specialist knowledge and advice. This ensures that each person, once assessed, receives the best possible care in the right place at the right time and by the right supporting service.
To take a leading role in the facilitation of joint working relationships across PCN, Secondary Care providers, and the Voluntary Care Sector to increase the range of services/interventions available to the communities served.
To facilitate others in the team to develop competence by providing clinical advice and clinical supervision to practice-based First Contact Mental Health Practitioners and other practice staff as appropriate, including other less experienced practice-based mental health workers and students.
To attend PCN meetings and work with PCN members to develop and implement joint governance and clinical multidisciplinary forums.
To promote, develop and manage clear links, pathways and information sharing processes between existing services, and when appropriate, advise the GPs on alternative approaches to improve case management.
To provide support, education and guidance of common mental health problems and their management to colleagues across the multi-disciplinary team(s), so they develop their skills and confidence in assessment and treatment of mental health needs.
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).
To facilitate signposting to other appropriate services and occasionally undertake very short-term interventions for clients with mild to moderate mental health difficulties (average length of time expected to be 6 weeks). Working alongside the PCN staff, which could include a care coordination team and social prescribing link worker.
To be professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, providing brief, time-limited therapeutic interventions in GP surgeries, patients' homes and other primary care settings.
In line with the principles for community transformation, you will ensure systems/pathways are in place to enable smooth transition between primary care and secondary mental health services.
Most importantly, the right candidate will have a strong desire to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients and have the motivation and flexibility to help develop our services as the teams evolve to meet the needs of their population. If you are a qualified Occupational Therapist, Mental Health Nurse or Social Worker, with a determination for supporting local people with mental health problems and their families, and are looking for an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the development of an innovative and new way of working - then we look forward to hearing from you!
Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or social work - HCPC registration, NMC registration or Social Work England Registration
* Ability to evidence Continuing Professional Development since registration
* Certificate in mentoring, teaching & assessing in clinical practice as appropriate to own profession
* Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area (or willingness to work towards within an agreed timescale)
* Clinical Supervisor
* Recognised sign-off mentor (or equivalent) for students or must be achieved within agreed timescale
* Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
* NMP (or willing to work towards within an agreed timescale, if relevant to professional registration).
Experience
* Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting.
* Demonstrable leadership or management experience in a senior clinical role.
* Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
* Experience working in primary care.
* Providing clinical supervision.
* Mentoring students on practice placement experience.
* Working in a multi-disciplinary team.
* Quality improvement activities.
* Experience working in a multi-agency setting.
Knowledge
* Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field.
* Ability to evidence an advanced level of clinical competence in one area of specialty practice.
* Knowledge of Stepped Care model.
* Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
* Care Programme Approach and its application in practice.
* Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice.
* Understanding of the physical healthcare needs and impact of patients with a LD or mental health problem.
* Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
* Clinical Governance and its application in practice.
* Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment.
* Demonstrable knowledge and experience of delivering psycho-social interventions and approaches.
* Contemporaneous knowledge and understanding of recent health and social care policy guidance and implications on practice.
Skills
* Communicate highly complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
* Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional responsibilities.
* Work effectively across complex organisations, pathways and services.
* Demonstrable management and leadership skills.
* Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
* Write reports.
* Use multimedia materials for presentations in professional settings.
Personal Attributes
* Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
* Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers.
* Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in distressing and challenging circumstances.
* Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team.
* Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently.
* Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
* Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
* Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
* Committed to promoting a positive image of the service.
Other Requirements
* Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need.
* This post is subject to a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure.
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.
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
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