Community Connector - Mental Health Professional in Guildford

Working within a multi-disciplinary team, the Community Connector provides a first-point-of-contact mental health service within GP practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs). The role includes assessments and brief psychosocial interventions, as well as coordinating access to community resources that support mental, physical, and social wellbeing.

Key responsibilities

• 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 psychosocial 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.

About you

• A minimum of 2 years community experience of mental health work.
• Experience of delivering brief interventions for mental health needs.
• An 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.
• 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 i.e. child protection.
• Ability to manage any challenging behaviour, anger and verbal aggression from patients.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, use of email, Outlook, and basic excel skills.
• Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the Service.
• 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.
• Ability to work co-operatively as part of a multidisciplinary team (statutory and voluntary) from a service hub.

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service).
• Pension scheme and access to Simply Health (including optical, dental, counselling sessions).
• Birthday leave, employee discounts, and flexible working where possible.
• Supportive probation, sick pay after probation, and wellbeing/EAP resources.

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check. A past history of drug/alcohol issues or criminality will not necessarily exclude you from this role; we encourage applications from people with lived experience where appropriate. All applicants must have a valid right to work in the UK.

Catalyst Support is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate difference and are committed to fairness, accessibility, and inclusion throughout recruitment and employment. We welcome requests for reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process.

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.