Mental Health Practitioner

• Undertake comprehensive and complex mental health assessments, identifying appropriate interventions, support and onward referral.
• Provide evidence-based interventions to people experiencing a range of mental health problems and serious mental illness.
• Review patients and consider appropriate treatment options, liaising with GPs and the GPimhs/MHICs team.
• Act as a professional point of contact for GPs, providing advice, support and signposting.
• Manage an autonomous clinical caseload and take responsibility for the quality of care delivered.
• Communicate sensitively and empathetically with patients experiencing distress or complex circumstances.
• Work collaboratively with GPs, practice staff, mental health services and external agencies.
• Liaise with relevant resources including Welfare Rights, Housing Agencies, voluntary organisations and Day Services.
• Maintain accurate and timely patient records in line with practice policies, professional standards and NICE guidance.
• Undertake relevant caseload administration and participate in multidisciplinary and professional meetings.
• Contribute to safeguarding, risk management and serious concern processes as required.
• Maintain effective communication with the GPimhs/MHICs team to support safe, coordinated patient care.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of mental health provision within primary care and support the continued development of services at Oakley Health Group.

• Assess and review patients presenting with a range of mental health needs.
• Undertake complex assessments and identify appropriate interventions, support and onward referral.
• Provide evidence-based interventions to people experiencing mental health problems and serious mental illness.
• Provide professional advice and support to GPs and practice colleagues.
• Manage an allocated clinical caseload effectively and autonomously.
• Assess and manage risk appropriately, escalating concerns where required.
• Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, carers and professionals, including in situations that may be highly emotive or complex.
• Develop effective working relationships with colleagues across primary care, mental health services and external agencies.
• Support collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches to patient care.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential clinical records.
• Work within relevant professional standards, practice policies and evidence-based guidance, including NICE guidance.
• Liaise with external organisations and community resources where appropriate.
• Participate in safeguarding, risk management and serious concern processes as required.
• Contribute to professional and multidisciplinary meetings.
• Support the continued development and improvement of mental health services within primary care.
• Maintain professional competence and participate in continuing professional development.

Essential

• Post-registration experience of providing a range of evidence-based interventions to people experiencing a variety of mental health problems and serious mental illness.
• Demonstrable expertise in the complex assessment of people with mental health issues.
• Experience of managing a clinical caseload.
• Experience of working autonomously.
• Experience of working collaboratively with other professionals and services.
• Experience of, or a good understanding of, working within a primary care setting.

Desirable

• Experience of working within primary care.
• Experience of working with GPimhs/MHICs or similar primary care mental health services.
• Experience of multidisciplinary working.
• Experience of prescribing or working within a prescribing role.
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries.

Essential

• Ability to undertake complex mental health assessments.
• Ability to assess and manage risk appropriately.
• Ability to provide evidence-based interventions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate sensitively and empathetically with patients experiencing distress or complex circumstances.
• Ability to work independently and manage an appropriate clinical caseload.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organisational and workload-management skills.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with a range of professionals and external agencies.
• Commitment to evidence-based practice.
• Commitment to continuing professional development

Essential

• Be proactive and committed to delivering high-quality patient care.
• Take a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing.
• Demonstrate compassion and empathy.
• Be confident working with complexity.
• Be adaptable and able to work effectively within a changing primary care environment.
• Demonstrate a collaborative approach to working with colleagues and partner organisations.
• Be passionate about improving mental health provision within primary care.
• Demonstrate a commitment to patient-centred care.
• Be committed to professional development and maintaining high standards of practice.

Desirable

• Prescribing Development
• Prescribing experience or an existing prescribing qualification would be desirable.
• We recognise that practitioners may be at different stages of their professional development. Candidates who do not currently hold a prescribing qualification but demonstrate a willingness to undertake appropriate further training and develop their prescribing skills will be considered.
• This provides an opportunity for the successful candidate to broaden their clinical practice while working within a supportive primary care environment.
• Additional Requirements
• Subject to reasonable adjustments in respect of any disability, the post holder must:
• Hold a valid driving licence.
• Be able to drive.
• Have the unrestricted use of a car or motorcycle for work purposes at all times.

Essential

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent in Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Social Work.
• Current professional registration with the relevant professional regulatory body.