Community Connector – Mental Health Professional, East Guildford, Full time

Service General Practice Integrated Mental Health Service (GPIMHS) and Mental Health Integrated Community Services (MHICS)

Charity Catalyst is a non‑profit organisation working with people who are dealing with issues associated with their mental health and wellbeing, and/or drug and alcohol use. We believe in peoples’ ability to change and are proud of our non‑judgmental ethos.

Project NHS England recently announced a new transformation fund to be allocated to pilot sites within 12 Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships/ Integrated Care Systems across the country to test new and integrated models of primary and community mental health care. Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership is one of these successful pilot sites.

Extended appointments with mental health experts from the NHS, social care and specialist third sector organisations, plus access to therapies, physical health checks and pharmacists, are just some of the wider expertise patients will be able to access in their local GP practice and in the community under new ways of working. Patients will be able to explore the situation affecting their wellbeing – whether that is an ongoing mental or physical health problem, loneliness, debt, or other issues. They can then be guided to appropriate resources that may help, including talking therapies, benefits advice, or an introduction to a local community group.

The role of the Community Connector is fundamental to the development of these innovative new teams and mental health services based within networks of GP Practices (Primary Care Networks – PCNs). The role will support the ongoing development and mobilisation of integrated primary care mental health services.

Purpose of Job

• Providing a primary care mental health service within this context refers to:
• First level of intervention
• Ease of access
• A multidisciplinary approach working with a range of professionals across PCN’s inclusive of GP’s, Practice nurses, Mental Health Practitioners, Pharmacists and Clinical Psychologists
• Coordinating and supporting patients to access a wide range of community services and resources including social care, housing, family, debt and employment counselling that support maintaining good health and wellbeing

Overall, the primary care mental health service will:

• Be the first port of call for GPs in seeking support for managing their patients with mental health presentations
• Provide and promote early triage, assessment and formulation of need and care plans, to inform treatment and/or onward bridging to community resources
• Support and improve access to evidence based interventions for people with serious mental illness
• Help people to focus on achievable goals and access local community resources
• Provide brief therapeutic interventions
• Support completion and delivery of actions identified in physical health checks for people with serious mental illness

This post is subject to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level. Please note past drug and/or alcohol or criminality history will not necessarily discount you from undertaking this role.

Key Activities

• Work jointly with the Mental Health Practitioner in conducting assessments, including risk assessment, and to work with patients to support them in identifying their socially determined needs and goals, provide self‑management tools and facilitate the development of personal support plans.
• Provide a range of motivational and structured psycho‑social interventions.
• Promote independence through an enabling asset based approach that draws on individuals’ strengths, preferences and ‘natural’ support networks.
• Establish effective working relationships with a range of agencies to facilitate a joined up approach to support plans.
• Liaise with, develop and maintain good relations with GPs, practice managers and other health practitioners across mental health and physical health pathways and wider support networks.
• Provide continuity throughout recovery; engaging the patient with key services such as Safe Havens, accessing CMHRS, and providing support for those engaged with and leaving CMHRS, and linking into local wellbeing services and activities.
• Co‑ordinate and support patients to access a range of community services such as wellbeing services, housing providers, family and carer support services, debt and employer advisors where appropriate.
• Assist with community resource mapping exercises and maintain a database of community resources; map where there are gaps in provision across the PCN and wider geography and work with other VCS organisations to develop resources where most needed.
• Promote and support (where necessary) advised follow up actions from physical health checks for people with serious mental illness.
• Support patients to engage with local peer support workers and volunteering services.
• Support and supervise any peer support workers linked to PCN.
• Work with the service to identify opportunities to expand provision particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision identified.
• Broker and establish new partnerships between public and voluntary sector agencies to enhance service delivery and access to services.
• Develop and sustain professional relationships with service users, partner agencies and appropriate external agencies.
• Complete locally agreed quality outcome measures, with patients and to undertake regular reviews.

General terms of reference

• Work flexibly across operational sites as required which may include evening and weekend work.
• Work within the policies and procedures of the GP practices/PCN the worker will be based in.
• To accept responsibility for their own personal safety and to encourage the patients to adopt safe practices both for themselves and others with whom they associate.
• Work to Surrey Safeguarding policy and practice.
• Ensure all records are maintained in line with all Governance arrangements and GDPR.
• Work within the organisation’s policies and procedures at all times, paying particular attention to Information Governance, confidentiality and health and safety.
• Seek to improve personal performance, outcomes, contribution, knowledge and skills.
• Participate in team meetings, appraisal, workforce development and supervision processes.
• Keep abreast of developments in services, legislation and practice where appropriate.
• Represent the organisation at external agencies and support the values, workings and ethics of the organisation approach to client work.
• Have the ability to travel to and from a number of different locations on a daily basis.

Person Specification

• A minimum of 2 years community experience of mental health work.
• Experience of delivering brief interventions for mental health needs.
• Experience of drug and alcohol work.
• A diploma or degree in appropriate subject i.e. counselling, psychology, social work, probation, mental health, Health and Social Care (level 3).

Registration

• If holding a professional qualification to maintain up‑to‑date professional registration i.e. BACP, HCP, BPS (or recognised equivalent).

Knowledge and skills

• Understanding and ability to work to the confidentiality, consent, information sharing and safeguarding policies of the integrated service.
• Good communication and written skills and a commitment to accurate and confidential record keeping.
• Ability to interact effectively with the client group, colleagues and other professionals whilst retaining clear boundaries.
• Ability to break down stigma and barriers associated with working with the client group.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues and needs of the client group.
• Knowledge and understanding of community working, lone working, and ability to maintain safety whilst working in the community.

Person Specification (continued)

• Ability to work to all the policies, procedures and standards of the Service and joint working arrangements with key partners.
• A good understanding of personal limitations, ability to identify when to seek advice and support, and deal with issues which may provoke strong emotions in an objective and professional manner e.g. child protection.
• Ability to manage any challenging behaviour, anger and verbal aggression from patients.
• Ability to work co‑operatively as part of a multidisciplinary team (statutory and voluntary) from a service hub.

Information Technology

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, use of email, Outlook, and basic Excel skills.
• Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the Service.

General

• Ability to travel to and from a number of different locations on a daily basis.
• Ability to work flexibly across operational hours and evenings and weekends, where required.

Equal opportunities statement

We acknowledge the unique contribution that all Catalyst employees and clients can bring to our organisation in terms of their culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, age, religion or belief and any physical disability or history of mental health or additional problems. All appointments and promotions are based on merit and no job applicant or employee will be treated unfairly or discriminated against. All staff have equal access to staff development. Any member of staff who breaches this policy may be subject of grievance and/or disciplinary procedures.

Administrative Note: This job description may be varied from time to time as agreed by the post holder and line manager. This job description is subject to annual review.