Mental Health Practitioner in Sutton Coldfield

We are seeking to recruit to a Mental Health Practitioner vacancy in Sutton Primary Care Networks. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Registered Mental Health Nurse to join the Sutton PCN providing a combined consultation, advice, triage or assessment, and liaison function in a primary care setting.

We are looking to fill a full-time position, 37.5 hours a week over 5 days typically Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm; flexibility can be discussed at interview. The successful candidate will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, receiving referrals from GP surgeries and supporting patient transition from secondary care to primary care by providing up to three step-down sessions and vice-versa i.e. from primary care to secondary care (when more specialist or intensive support is required).

We offer a supportive working environment, with a visible and accessible management team. Supervision is a priority as we pride ourselves in supporting staff to meet the needs of the patient and we are committed to delivering an exemplary service with a strong culture of training and education.

In this role you will work as part of the primary care team in specified Primary Care Networks, providing support to GP practices for patients presenting with mental health problems. This support will include provision of advice, education, support and interventions to patients and carers through bookable appointments.

• To provide medicine education and adherence advice and lifestyle advice for patients and their carers, presenting with mental health problems.
• Assist in supporting early intervention and supporting shared decision-making around self-management.
• To carry out triage and comprehensive assessments as required.
• To work with patients and team members to support engagement with appropriate services and treatment which may include onward referral to secondary mental health services or signposting to other mental health services, social prescribers, voluntary services and community-based support groups.
• To support patients to transition from secondary care to primary care by providing up to three step-down sessions at the point of step down from secondary care services.
• To provide ongoing specialist support to patients to transition from primary care to secondary care when more specialist or intensive support is required.
• To support patients to stay well within their local communities, including the re-enforcement of newly learned psychology techniques.
• To develop a close relationship with Primary Care practices, attending practice meetings and having regular informal contact.
• To work closely and in partnership with colleagues within primary care and local NHS trust in a collaborative way, ensuring that decisions are made that ensure the best care for service users and that there is a seamless pathway.
• To adhere to the NMC Code of Conduct at all times.

Sutton Primary Care Networks is the collaborative vehicle for the four Sutton PCNs and the former Sutton GP Federation working together as a single entity. We are a Community Interest Company that aims to reinvest surpluses back into general practice and primary care for the benefit of our practices and the people who form the communities we serve.

Sutton has four PCNs whose boundaries are based on historical relationships and groupings of organisations. There are some similarities of residents' health and care needs unique to a particular PCN, and many more needs that are shared across all four PCNs.

Our four PCNs represent all 21 GP surgeries in Sutton. Their collective footprints cover all of the London Borough of Sutton and its residents who are able to access and benefit from the services and improvements offered by Primary Care Networks.

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan, with all general practices being required to be in a network by June 2019, and CCGs/Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) being required to commit recurrent funding to develop and maintain them.

The networks will have expanded neighbourhood teams which will comprise a range of staff such as GPs, pharmacists, district nurses, community geriatricians, dementia workers and Allied Health Professionals such as physiotherapists and podiatrists/chiropodists, joined by social care and the voluntary sector.

• To provide medicine education and adherence advice and lifestyle advice for patients and their carers, presenting with mental health problems.
• Assist in supporting early intervention and supporting shared decision-making around self-management.
• To carry out triage and comprehensive assessments as required.
• To work with patients and team members to support engagement with appropriate services and treatment which may include onward referral to secondary mental health services or signposting to other mental health services, social prescribers, voluntary services and community-based support groups.
• To support patients to transition from secondary care to primary care by providing up to three step-down sessions at the point of step down from secondary care services.
• To provide ongoing specialist support to patients to transition from primary care to secondary care when more specialist or intensive support is required.
• To support patients to stay well within their local communities, including the re-enforcement of newly learned psychology techniques.
• Work at all times to promote the safety and the well-being of service users and their families/carers.
• To develop a close relationship with Primary Care practices, attending practice meetings and having regular informal contact.
• To work closely and in partnership with colleagues within primary care and local NHS trust in a collaborative way, ensuring that decisions are made that ensure the best care for service users and that there is a seamless pathway.
• To effectively communicate with team members, primary care colleagues, patients and carers, recognising the importance and potential need for alternative communication methods.
• To support patients on the SMI register to access annual physical health checks and to carry out these checks and physical health monitoring for those patients with complex needs.
• To provide clinical supervision to junior colleagues.
• To maintain accurate, contemporaneous healthcare records appropriate to the consultation.
• To adhere to the NMC Code of Conduct at all times.

• To contribute to the improvement of pathways between primary and secondary care and where practicable, to standardise processes across the PCN.
• To support primary care initiatives which improve the physical health outcomes of those with a long-term mental health condition and the mental health outcomes of those with a long-term physical health condition.
• To support and contribute to policy and service development as appropriate.

• To provide specialist mental health specific training and shared learning for staff across the primary care network, including providing specialist advice relating to mental health.
• To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Sutton PCN policy, identifying individual training needs.
• To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual Development Review/appraisal.
• To undertake personal development as identified in the Personal Development Plan (PDP).

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager. This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the postholder.

The postholder is expected to comply with all relevant Sutton PCN policies, procedures and guidelines. The postholder is responsible for ensuring that the work that they undertake is conducted in a manner which is safe to themselves and others, and for adhering to the advice and instructions on Health and Safety matters given by Managers. If postholders consider that a hazard to Health and Safety exists, it is their responsibility to report this to their managers.

The postholder is expected to comply with the appropriate Code of Conduct associated with this post.

• Ability to provide quality care that is responsive to service user needs, without close supervision.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Good organisational skills.
• Resilient: able to cope in difficult interpersonal situations.
• Ability to complete comprehensive assessments where required.
• Approachable.
• Self-aware, self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to motivate others.

• Ability to provide quality care.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems.
• Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physical).
• Loyal and able to advocate and show pride in the work area and organisation and demonstrate values of both Sutton PCNs and the NHS.

• Registered Mental Health Nurse.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

• Demonstrable experience of working clinically at Band 5 and/or Band 6.
• Experience of working with people who have experienced serious ongoing mental health problems.
• Experience of research-based/reflective practice e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence-based practice.
• Experience as a preceptor or mentor.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and audit.
• Knowledge of relevant professional and clinical legislation.
• Ability to proactively and independently manage a workload.
• Previous experience of working within primary care.
• Experience of working consultatively with professionals.
• Evidencing of completing and/or supporting clinical research projects and audits.

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.

£44,900 to £54,254 a year depending on experience.