PCN First Contact Mental Health Worker

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Delivery

First Contact Assessment

• Provide same-day/week mental health assessments (45-minute appointments)
• Work autonomously to assess, diagnose, and treat common mental health presentations
• Deliver brief interventions (maximum 3 follow-up sessions per patient)
• Make clear decisions: treat, signpost, or refer

Direct Patient Care

• See 8 patients per day across practice sites
• Manage anxiety, depression, stress, and life crises
• Provide evidence-based brief psychological interventions
• Support self-management and resilience building
• Issue fit notes where clinically appropriate

Clinical Decision Making

• Identify and manage risk appropriately
• Recognize physical health red flags requiring GP input
• Make appropriate onward referrals when needed
• Provide clear signposting to community resources
• Maintain professional boundaries and scope of practice

Service Delivery

Practice Integration

• Work flexibly across PCN practices based on demand
• Participate in practice meetings as required
• Build effective relationships with practice teams
• Provide cross-cover for colleague absences
• Support reception staff with booking queries

Data & Quality

• Complete timely clinical records in practice systems (EMIS/SystmOne)
• Collect required activity and outcome data
• Participate in service evaluation
• Maintain professional registration and competencies
• Engage in clinical supervision and peer support

Service Development

• Contribute to service improvements
• Share learning across the PCN team
• Support new staff induction
• Participate in CPD activities
• Promote the service within practices

Essential Criteria

Professional Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Occupational Therapist OR Registered Social Worker
• Current professional registration (HCPC/Social Work England)
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Mental health assessment and intervention training

Experience

• Minimum 3 years post-qualification mental health experience
• Experience of autonomous clinical decision-making
• Evidence of working with common mental health conditions
• Experience of brief intervention approaches
• Understanding of primary care context (desirable)

Clinical Skills

• Comprehensive mental health assessment skills
• Risk assessment and management
• Brief psychological intervention skills
• Knowledge of local services and referral pathways
• Ability to recognize physical health concerns

Personal Qualities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work autonomously and manage own caseload
• Flexible and adaptable approach
• Strong team player for cross-practice working
• Resilient and able to work at pace
• Professional and approachable manner

Technical Skills

• Competent in using clinical IT systems
• Ability to learn new systems quickly
• Basic Microsoft Office skills
• Experience with outcome measures

Key Competencies

Clinical Practice

• Delivers high-quality, evidence-based care
• Makes sound clinical decisions independently
• Manages clinical risk appropriately
• Maintains clear professional boundaries

Communication

• Builds rapport quickly with patients
• Explains complex issues simply
• Writes clear, concise clinical notes
• Collaborates effectively with practice teams

Service Delivery

• Manages time efficiently
• Adapts to different practice environments
• Responds flexibly to service demands
• Maintains high productivity standards

Professional

• Takes responsibility for own practice
• Seeks supervision appropriately
• Maintains professional standards
• Commits to continuous improvement

What We Offer

• NHS pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Dedicated CPD time and budget
• Regular clinical supervision
• Supportive team environment
• Opportunity to shape innovative service
• Flexible working across practices
• Professional autonomy

Working Pattern

• Monday to Friday (core hours 8am-6pm)
• Possible Enhanced Access (6:30pm to 8pm and Weekend)
• Flexibility required to meet practice needs
• Cross-practice working on agreed rota
• Protected admin time daily

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

The post-holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

Special Working Conditions

The post-holder is required to travel independently between practice sites (where applicable), and to attend meetings etc. hosted by other agencies.

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account development within the PCN. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of the PCN.

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Qualifications
• 1. Registered Mental Health Occupational Therapist OR Registered Social Worker
• 2. Current professional registration (HCPC/Social Work England)
• Evidence of continued professional development
• 3. Mental health assessment and intervention training
• Experience
• 1. Minimum 3 years post-qualification mental health experience
• 2. Experience of autonomous clinical decision-making
• 3. Evidence of working with common mental health conditions
• 4. Experience of brief intervention approaches
• Clinical Skills
• 1. Comprehensive mental health assessment skills
• 2. Risk assessment and management
• 3. Brief psychological intervention skills
• 4. Knowledge of local services and referral pathways
• 5. Ability to recognise physical health concerns
• Personal Qualities
• 1. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• 2. Ability to work autonomously and manage own caseload
• 3. Flexible and adaptable approach
• 4. Strong team player for cross-practice working
• 5. Resilient and able to work at pace
• 6. Professional and approachable manner

Desirable

• Clinical Practice
• 1. Delivers high-quality, evidence-based care
• 2. Makes sound clinical decisions independently
• 3. Manages clinical risk appropriately
• 4. Maintains clear professional boundaries
• Communication
• 1. Builds rapport quickly with patients
• 2. Explains complex issues simply
• 3. Writes clear, concise clinical notes
• 4. Collaborates effectively with practice teams
• Service Delivery
• 1. Manages time efficiently
• 2. Adapts to different practice environments
• 3. Responds flexibly to service demands
• 4. Maintains high productivity standards
• Professional
• 1. Takes responsibility for own practice
• 2. Seeks supervision appropriately
• 3. Maintains professional standards
• 4. Commits to continuous improvement

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).