Mental Health Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP)

• Work collaboratively with GPs, Practice Nurses, Social Prescribers, Pharmacists, First Contact Practitioners and wider practice staff.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Coordinate care for patients with complex mental health needs.
• Support seamless transitions between primary, community and secondary care services.
• Advocate for patients requiring access to specialist mental health services.

• Build therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
• Communicate sensitive and complex information compassionately.
• Liaise effectively with external agencies including Community Mental Health Teams, CAMHS, safeguarding teams, social care and voluntary organisations.

• Identify safeguarding concerns affecting adults and children.
• Follow local safeguarding procedures.
• Participate in safeguarding supervision where required.

• Contribute to service development and transformation within Primary Care.
• Participate in clinical audit, governance and quality improvement initiatives.
• Support evaluation of patient outcomes and service effectiveness.

• Maintain professional registration.
• Work within professional code of conduct and ACP framework.
• Maintain continuing professional development.
• Participate in clinical supervision and appraisal.
• Maintain mandatory training requirements.

• General Practitioners
• Practice Nurses
• Physician Associates
• Clinical Pharmacists
• Social Prescribers
• First Contact Practitioners
• Community Mental Health Teams
• Talking Therapies
• CAMHS
• Crisis Resolution Teams
• Social Care
• Voluntary and Third Sector Organisations
• PCN Clinical Leads

Essential

• 1.Knowledge of common mental health disorders
• 2.Knowledge of severe and enduring mental illness
• 3.Understanding of safeguarding legislation
• 4.Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act
• 5.Understanding of risk assessment and crisis management
• 6.Knowledge of local mental health pathways
• 7.Understanding of integrated care models

Desirable

• 1.Knowledge of BSOL mental health pathways
• 2.Awareness of community and voluntary sector services across Birmingham and Solihull

Essential

• 1.Delivering safe, effective, high-quality care
• 2.Respect and dignity for all patients
• 3.Collaborative multidisciplinary working
• 4.Continuous quality improvement
• 5.Evidence-based practice
• 6.Health promotion and prevention
• 7.Equality, diversity and inclusion

Essential

• 1.Compassionate and patient centred
• 2.Professional and accountable
• 3.Flexible and adaptable
• 4.Calm under pressure
• 5.Excellent team player
• 6.Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• 7.Commitment to lifelong learning

Essential

• 1.Experience undertaking autonomous mental health assessments
• 2.Experience of managing clinical risk
• 3.Experience of multidisciplinary working
• 4.Experience of referral and care navigation across health and social care services
• 5.Experience maintaining accurate electronic clinical records

Desirable

• 1.Minimum two years' post-registration experience working within mental health services
• 2.Experience working within GP practices or Primary Care Networks
• 3.Experience assessing both adult and child/adolescent mental health presentations
• 4.Experience providing brief counselling or biopsychologically informed interventions
• 5.Experience delivering virtual consultations

Essential

• 1.Ability to travel across GP practices within the PCN locality if required
• 2.Flexibility to meet service needs
• 3.Enhanced DBS clearance

Essential

• 1.Registered healthcare professional (NMC, HCPC or equivalent professional registration
• 2.Master's level qualification or equivalent experience in Advanced Clinical Practice
• 3.Evidence of advanced mental health assessment skills
• 4.Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development
• 5.Safeguarding Level 3 Adults and Children

Desirable

• 1.Independent Prescribing qualification (desirable but not essential depending on profession)
• 2.Advanced Clinical Practice qualification meeting national ACP framework
• 3.Counselling or psychological intervention qualification

Essential

• 1.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• 2.Advanced clinical assessment skills
• 3.Ability to work autonomously
• 4.Excellent risk assessment and decision-making abilities
• 5.Ability to prioritise competing clinical demands
• 6.Effective documentation skills
• 7.Competent IT skills including electronic patient record systems
• 8.Ability to deliver both face-to-face and virtual consultations

Desirable

• 1.Strong organisational and time management skills
• 2.Counselling skills
• 3.Motivational interviewing
• 4.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy informed practice
• 5.Training or mentoring experience