Advanced Nurse Practitioner - Mental Health in Workington

To provide expert mental health care within a primary care setting, working autonomously and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team. The Mental Health ANP will assess, diagnose, and manage patients with common and complex mental health needs who would traditionally be seen by the General Practitioner, contributing to improved access, continuity, and quality of care. The role is underpinned by the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research. The Mental Health ANP will be able to demonstrate advanced level critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process. They will work with the practice team to meet the needs of the service users and provide clinical professional leadership to the team.

Main duties of the job

• The Mental Health ANP will demonstrate an expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills, and competences for expanded scope of advanced clinical practice ensuring they are able to meet the competencies as set out in NHSE England Mental Health Curriculum and Capabilities Framework (2020).
• The specific characteristics of the advanced practitioner role are shaped by the clinical context that the individual practices. They are part of the multi-professional team.

About us

North Cumbria Primary Care Limited is an innovative not-for-profit social enterprise, established to create a network of practices which sustains and supports the development of general practices across the local area. In Workington we are a one Practice PCN, meaning we are able to work effectively to address the needs of our local population. We are a cohesive practice with a friendly working environment. We work clinically across three sites, closely situated in the middle of Workington. This includes our recently extended site of Orchard House with its 10 new state-of-the-art clinical rooms, our chronic disease hub site, and ANP-led Primary Care Centre. We operate a total triage system to provide better access for our patients and are committed to continuous improvement. We also have an ANP-led minor injuries service. Our home visiting service is well established, working closely with our frail and elderly assessment team, personalised care team, and our partner across the healthcare system. As a training practice we support Trainee ACPs, Student Nurses, and GP Trainees and would be very keen to support an incoming GP to develop as a GP trainer. The practice serves a population of over 33,000 patients and have a committed clinical and non-clinical team.

Job responsibilities

• Clinical Practice

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, including risk assessments and formulation. Making diagnostic decisions based on consultation, history, presentation & pathology.
• Diagnose and manage a range of common mental health conditions, including Depression, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic disorder, Phobias, Obsessive compulsive disorder.
• Develop and implement evidence-based care plans in partnership with patients, families, and carers.
• Initiate, prescribe and monitor the impact and outcome of treatments and medication including efficacy, side effects, contraindications, and risk in line with local formulary and NICE Guidance.
• Screen patients for early signs of disease and risk factors and relapse indicators. Identifying and signposting concerns with physical illness.
• Draw on a diverse range of knowledge in their decision-making to determine evidence based therapeutic interventions, which will include prescribing medication where legally allowed and actively monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.
• Carry out where appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with due regard to mental capacity and advance decisions.
• Plan and manage complete episodes of care, working in partnership with others, delegating and referring as appropriate to optimise health outcomes and resource use, and provide direct support to patients and clients.
• Refer to and liaise with secondary care services, substance misuse services, and voluntary sector services as appropriate.
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests and investigations.
• Manage and proactively identify patients at risk of relapse or deterioration, supporting their ongoing wellbeing and preventing crisis where possible.
• Review patient annually on the SMI register to ensure they receive appropriate care and treatment.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous, and complete patient records consistent with legal and professional guidelines.
• Ensure dignity, privacy and cultural and religious beliefs are always respected.
• Adheres to professional code of conduct, works within the boundaries of their scope of practice and always manage associated clinical risk effectively.

• Act as a clinical leader within the practice, promoting mental health awareness and best practice. To be a positive role model within the MDT, fostering a collaborative working environment.
• Support service development and transformation aligned with local population needs.
• Contribute to workforce planning and service evaluation.
• Participate in clinical governance activities, including complaints, audit and quality improvement initiatives.
• Manage own workload effectively, prioritising demands in a busy primary care environment.
• Diffuse potential complaints and hostile situations with staff, patients and carers using highly developed negotiation and interprofessional skills.
• Provide representation, as appropriate at various local and national meetings, providing feedback to the practice on clinical and professional issues which have an impact on care and standards of practice within their sphere of responsibility.
• Develop formal and informal links outside the organisation, sharing good practice, innovative ideas, and promote staff and service development.
• Establish and maintain a regional and national network of contacts relevant to the service.

• Has obtained the theoretical knowledge; MSc in Advanced Practice or equivalent, in conjunction with practical experience; evidenced in a supporting portfolio, to a level that allows the job responsibilities to be delivered at a high standard.
• Has obtained non-medical prescribing, if appropriate to registered profession.
• Provide supervision, mentorship and specialist clinical advice to GPs, practice nurses and other allied health care professionals on mental health issues.
• Deliver mental health training and education to practice staff and wider primary care teams.
• Promote mental health literacy and self-care strategies among patients and carers.
• Take responsibility for own professional development and lifelong learning, maintaining a professional portfolio.
• Maintain competencies and attend mandatory training as required by the Practice.
• Receive clinical supervision to clinically improve knowledge and the quality of care delivered to patients.
• Utilises professional knowledge and skills, underpinned by theoretical and relevant practical experience to teach, motivate, and support junior staff on a range of clinical practices.
• Undertake clinical supervision for trainee advanced practitioners.

• Maintain up to date knowledge in the specialist field, using information to affect change in practice and ensuring effective dissemination of new knowledge.
• Participate in service development. Writes protocols, guidelines, and procedures for own remit which impact on other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Engage in service evaluation and contribute to research projects relevant to mental health in primary care.
• Apply evidence-based practice and contribute to the development of clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Liaise with the MDT, including consultants, senior nursing colleagues and management in the development of services, contribute ideas and make recommendations for service improvements.
• Implement policies informing members of the multidisciplinary team of any changes.
• In collaboration with the MDT ensure that clinical practice is patient centred and research based, in accordance with professional practice, guidelines, and national and local benchmarks.
• Support relevant audit activity in the specialties to evaluate the effectiveness of care interventions and disseminates outcomes with any potential changes to clinical practice which improves health outcomes.
• Continue to develop and promote the Advanced Practitioner role through professional publications and conference papers.

Person Specification

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Masters level qualification in Advanced Clinical Practice (Mental Health) or equivalent.
• Extensive post-registration experience in mental health, ideally in both primary and secondary care.
• Demonstrated competence across all four pillars of advanced practice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Experience in assessing and managing clinical risk according to local policies.
• Experience in service development or transformation.
• Knowledge of local mental health pathways and resources.
• Experience in teaching, supervision, or research.
• Formal training in specific psychological therapies (e.g. CBT).
• Evidence of audit experience.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.