Community Connector – Mental Health Professional, Walton-on-Thames, Part 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 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 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.

Purpose of Job

The Community Connector will provide a primary care mental health service that serves as the first level of intervention, offers ease of access and works in a multidisciplinary approach with GP’s, practice nurses, mental health practitioners, pharmacists and clinical psychologists. The role involves coordinating and supporting patients to access a wide range of community services and resources including social care, housing, family, debt and employment counselling to maintain good health and wellbeing.

Key Activities

• Work jointly with the Mental Health Practitioner in conducting assessments, including risk assessment, and support patients to identify 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; engage the patient with key services such as Safe Havens, accessing CMHRS, and support those engaged with and leaving CMHRS, 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 gaps in provision across the PCN and wider geography and work with other VCS organisations to develop resources where most needed.
• Promote and support 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; supervise any peer support workers linked to PCN.
• Identify opportunities to expand provision, particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision.
• 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 undertake regular reviews.

General Terms of Reference

• Work flexibly across operational sites, including evenings and weekends.
• Work within the policies and procedures of the GP practices/PCN the worker will be based in.
• Accept responsibility for personal safety and encourage patients to adopt safe practices.
• Work to Surrey Safeguarding policy and practice.
• Ensure all records are maintained in line with all Governance arrangements and GDPR.
• Participate in team meetings, appraisal, workforce development and supervision processes.
• Stay abreast of developments in services, legislation and practice where appropriate.
• Represent the organisation at external agencies and support the values, ethics and approach to client work.
• Have the ability to travel to and from a number of different locations on a daily basis.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

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

Registration

• Professional qualification with up‑to‑date registration such as BACP, HCP, BPS or recognised equivalent.

Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of confidentiality, consent, information sharing and safeguarding policies; good communication and written skills; ability to interact effectively with the client group, colleagues and other professionals while retaining clear boundaries; ability to break down stigma and barriers; knowledge of community working and lone working; ability to manage challenging behaviour, anger and verbal aggression from patients; ability to work co‑operatively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Information Technology

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, email, Outlook and basic Excel; ability to enter data onto a database as required by the Service.

General

• Ability to travel to and from multiple locations and to work flexibly across operational hours including evenings and weekends.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We acknowledge that all Catalyst employees and clients can bring a unique contribution 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.

Disclosure

This post is subject to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level. Past drug and/or alcohol or criminality history may not necessarily disqualify an applicant.

Notes

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