Mental Health Practitioner - Primary Care

• Assess, triage and manage patients presenting with mental health concerns within primary care.
• Provide evidence-based interventions, ongoing reviews and care planning for individuals with complex and severe mental illness.
• Work closely with GPs, Social Prescribers, Community Health & Wellbeing Workers and secondary care colleagues to deliver joined-up, person-centred care.
• Support proactive management of patients at risk of deterioration, crisis or health inequalities.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary discussions and collaborative decision-making across organisational boundaries.
• Help shape and improve innovative mental health pathways and models of care.
• Promote prevention, self-management and recovery-focused approaches.
• Contribute to teaching, learning and service development activities within the PCN.

• Triage and assessment of patients presenting with mental health problems
• Proactive follow-up of adult patients with low level and serious mental illness both in terms of mental and physical health
• Annual medication reviews for those on longer term antidepressants and antipsychotics
• Non-medical prescriber or opportunities to undertake prescribing course or other education programmes
• Active signposting to third sector organisations/ engage with in-house social prescribing team
• Attend fortnightly mental health meetings with local CMHT and Cornwall Talking Therapies.
• Help where appropriate to co-ordinate support for the more vulnerable groups of patients experiencing mental health problems e.g. the homeless, substance misuse, learning difficulties
• Consultations to be undertaken with patients both in surgery, over the telephone, video or home visits.
• Capable of working independently and proactively
• Active management of flexible caseload with awareness of dependency
• Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults. To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Develop links and foster a culture of partnership between the practice and CPFT Adult Mental Health Services
• Promote and follow treatment protocols and care pathways leading to increased integration of service users within the primary care setting
• Takes professional responsibility with high-level decision making and clinical reasoning skills to assess, diagnose and triage of patients
• Manages and contributes to service delivery and the development of the practice
• Accountable for decisions and actions supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice
• Streamlines pathway of care by providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care
• Ensures care is proactive, preventive in focus and population based, with an emphasis on early intervention
• Energetic individual capable of working effectively within MDT
• Provides care which is tailored to the individual needs. This would include, appraising the impact of individuals' clinical status on their general health, well-being, employment status
• Supports patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management
• Communicates effectively and appropriately with patients and carers complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology and prognosis.
• Provides learning opportunities for the whole multi professional team within primary care.
• Works with MDT to develop more effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services
• Exercises professional judgement, making, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information
• Manages interactions in complex situations, including with individuals with particular psychosocial and mental health needs and with colleagues across the primary care team, sectors and settings
• To follow the operational systems and procedures required by the organisation.
• To represent the organisation in a positive and professional manner at all times.

• Operate as a full member of the primary care team, including contributing to leadership, service evaluation/improvement and research activity
• Manage and co-ordinate the care that individual patients receive, including through liaising with other members of the MDT and with patients' carers
• Contribute to the use of healthcare technologies to optimise the integration of service delivery (across teams, sectors and settings) and patients access and continuity of care
• Contribute to the development of primary care teams, including through contributing to others' learning

• Initiate, develop and maintain excellent third party relationships

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, ability to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions.
• Ability to adapt communication style appropriately and dependant on situation.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development

Desirable

• Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and/or service
• Establish and maintain communication with individuals, families, carers and groups about difficult or complex matters overcoming any differences in communication

Essential

• Significant post qualifying experience in the relevant care group
• Experience of working alongside people with complex health problems in the designated care group
• Experience of managing a caseload
• Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
• Experience of working consultatively with professionals
• Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments
• Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies
• Understanding of clinical governance