Practice Nurse - Mental Health
Penwith Primary Care Network
This job is now closed
Job summary
We are looking for a senior nurse to complete our mental health and wellbeing primary care team in West Penwith. The successful candidate will enjoy a varied and exciting role within a fun, supportive and close knit team. We are proud to provide care in a truly person centred way. Our service is designed around the ethos of 'what matters to you' not 'what is the matter with you'. Our new team member will enjoy working across Penzance, Hayle and St Ives and occasionally from home using a bio-psycho-social model.
Main duties of the job
The role requires the nurse to understand the whole person, any indicated treatment and/or onward bridging to community resources. You will deliver access to evidence-based interventions for people with serious mental illness (or those at risk of becoming mentally unwell). As a practitioner you will consider alternative ways forward based on the needs and wishes of each person. The service will be for people over 18 years old who are not under secondary care provision (including carers) with a specific focus on:
People whose mental health needs that do not meet the access criteria for NHS Talking Therapies or secondary care.
People with serious mental illness who are in recovery and stable in secondary care mental health services who could be cared for within Primary Care.
People who present frequently in primary care who experience difficulty coping with their emotions.
About us
Working for Health and Wellbeing West you will be supported by an experienced service lead, 7 GP practices and also a team of mental health and wellbeing coaches. We operate a predominantly flat hierarchy which produces a whole team approach to patient care. As a senior nurse you will supervise and be accountable for your coaching team and help run the service, particularly in the absence of the service lead. There is also the opportunity to take part in weekly wellbeing time and you are encouraged to do so.
Date posted
08 July 2024
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£43,742 to £50,056 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
A5500-24-0005
Job locations
The Lescudjack Centre
Penmere Close
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 3PE
Hayle Day Care Centre
Commercial Road
Hayle
Cornwall
TR27 4DE
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a holistic and person-centred primary care mental health service, which delivers better access to a broader range of care options, reduced referral to specialist services and provides an improved patient experience. The service aims to include evidence informed approaches that are known to improve both mental and physical wellbeing.
The role requires understanding of the whole person, treatment and/or onward bridging to community resources. We deliver access to evidence-based interventions for people with serious mental illness (or those at risk of becoming mentally unwell). As a practitioner you will consider alternative ways forward based on the needs and wishes of each person. The service will be for people over 18 years old who are not under secondary care provision (including carers) with a specific focus on:
People whose mental health needs that do not meet the access criteria for NHS Talking Therapies or secondary care.
People with serious mental illness who are in recovery and stable in secondary care mental health services who could be cared for within Primary Care.
People who present frequently in primary care who experience difficulty coping with their emotions.
Duties and Responsibilities
a) Works as part of a MDT within the PCN
b) Consults with patients, their family, and the multi-professional team to undertake assessments of patient need and devise and evaluate complex care plans
c) Evaluates and analyses problems using their clinical knowledge, seeking out and applying relevant evidence, enhanced techniques, interventions, and equipment to make clinical decisions
d) Delivers enhanced clinical care in the context of continual change, challenging environments, different models of care delivery, innovation and rapidly evolving technologies using analysis and their underpinning knowledge to manage complex interventions
e) Teaches and advises patients and their families on how to manage their condition or support the multi-disciplinary team to do so
f) Participates in clinical audits and research projects and implements changes as required, including the development, and updating of practice protocols /guidelines and procedures locally
g) Works within national and local protocols where these exist
h) Recognises boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred
i) Using the principles of delegation, delegates work to other members of the MDT and take responsibility for the delegated activity as appropriate
j) Demonstrates initiative and are creative in finding solutions to problems
k) Holds responsibility for team performance and service delivery
l) Provides supervision to team members
Key Wider Responsibilities
a) Facilitate and support the development and delivery of innovative training and education to staff, to improve competence and confidence, in line with best practice and guidance related to area of expertise
b) Participate in and/or lead formal training events promoting best practice in area of expertise
c) Provide professional and clinical leadership and mentorship, acting as a clinical role model on the delivery of evidence-based practice
d) Advise and support on the development and delivery of work streams relating to area of expertise as part of the PCNs strategy, where appropriate
e) Work proactively with key local and national stakeholders to develop more integrated care pathways and holistic models of care, through dissemination of specialist skills and knowledge
f) Contribute to the delivery of local policy, procedures and protocols for the PCN to improve identification, assessment, ongoing support for patients and their family carers
g) Practitioners will work alongside general practice teams, providing clinical assistance and expert support to the GPs and other members of the primary care team in managing the mental wellbeing of the practice population.
Management and Personal Development
Multi-disciplinary practice teams, attending practice meetings and having regular informal contact.
Able to document consultations during patient interventions according to Practice guidelines.
Ensures awareness of statutory and local clinical protection procedures, including systems of referral.
To provide clinical supervision on a regular basis in line with relevant professional guidelines and policies to members of your team.
Undertake own clinical supervision on a regular basis with your line manager.
To report on the progress of the role, providing required reports, statistical and qualitative information.
Clinical Activities
To triage, manage risk and communicate patient needs throughout PCN and wider multi-disciplinary team members.
To work closely with mental health and wellbeing coaches as valued staff members of equal worth to formulate, plan and deliver care pathways for each patient.
To take part in daily huddle/safety meetings and oversee other staff member workloads and support them to safely fulfil their roles within their scope of practice. To be sometimes solely accountable for clinical decision making.
To work with adults (18+) with serious mental illness (and their Carers) whose needs are best met within primary care and whose difficulties are best understood within a biopsychosocial model.
Provide brief support and perhaps longer evidence-based interventions, drawing from the guiding principles of trauma informed care.
To work closely with and understand what community resources and assets are available across Penwith.
To collaborate jointly with NHS colleagues reviewing serious incident investigations and identify key areas of learning to create an implement and quality improvement action plan.
Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance.
It is recognised that this job description may be open to development and changes to reflect alterations in the PCN Mental Health Practitioner role.
Essential Qualifications
Professional Qualification Degree Level qualification and professional registration via the NMC in nursing or a registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA). A post graduate qualification (level 7 or above) of a relevant discipline i.e. mental health specific would also be accepted.
Essential Role Specific Experience/Knowledge
Experience of working with people with mental illness and those at risk of becoming unwell. Also experience of liaising/working with GPs and primary care colleagues.
Suitably trained and experienced in the delivery of short term, focussed evidence-based interventions.
Experience and in-depth awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
An in-depth knowledge of prevalent mental illnesses, how and why they may develop, symptoms someone might experience and the subsequent treatments or care pathways that are currently available.
Experience of working with people with a wide range of bio/psycho/social concerns that have led to often challenging presentations including drug and alcohol dependence, self-harm, domestic violence (perpetrators/survivors), historical and present trauma survivors and those who experience difficulty coping with their emotions.
The candidate will always be part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) but must be able to make decisions autonomously and be accountable for these at this level. An ability to run the service in the absence of the service lead is also necessary.
Be able to bring perhaps their own, additional qualities to this role that might aid wellbeing for our patients. This may include enhanced communication skills, complimentary therapeutic approaches, counselling qualifications, work with charitable organisations or health promotion skills (the list is endless).
Have a general knowledge of the voluntary sector and charities that are available in Cornwall that aid bio/psycho/social wellbeing.
Have a good understanding of medication, physiological comorbidities, and the effects of these on a persons presentation would be desirable.
An essential requirement is an understanding of the trauma informed approach together with an understanding of health and social inequalities experienced by the population of Penwith.
An ability to feel comfortable in times of change and uncertainty in a working environment.
IT skills (training will be provided on the GP patient record system and that of secondary care).
Undertake mandatory training online or face to face and be willing to undertake more specialist training. This will include learning to facilitate groups within the centre such as emotional coping skills (ECS).
Ability to travel across Penwith and occasionally work from home.
Desirable
Independent nurse prescriber or willingness to work towards this qualification.
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 with the NMC.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a holistic and person-centred primary care mental health service, which delivers better access to a broader range of care options, reduced referral to specialist services and provides an improved patient experience. The service aims to include evidence informed approaches that are known to improve both mental and physical wellbeing.
The role requires understanding of the whole person, treatment and/or onward bridging to community resources. We deliver access to evidence-based interventions for people with serious mental illness (or those at risk of becoming mentally unwell). As a practitioner you will consider alternative ways forward based on the needs and wishes of each person. The service will be for people over 18 years old who are not under secondary care provision (including carers) with a specific focus on:
People whose mental health needs that do not meet the access criteria for NHS Talking Therapies or secondary care.
People with serious mental illness who are in recovery and stable in secondary care mental health services who could be cared for within Primary Care.
People who present frequently in primary care who experience difficulty coping with their emotions.
Duties and Responsibilities
a) Works as part of a MDT within the PCN
b) Consults with patients, their family, and the multi-professional team to undertake assessments of patient need and devise and evaluate complex care plans
c) Evaluates and analyses problems using their clinical knowledge, seeking out and applying relevant evidence, enhanced techniques, interventions, and equipment to make clinical decisions
d) Delivers enhanced clinical care in the context of continual change, challenging environments, different models of care delivery, innovation and rapidly evolving technologies using analysis and their underpinning knowledge to manage complex interventions
e) Teaches and advises patients and their families on how to manage their condition or support the multi-disciplinary team to do so
f) Participates in clinical audits and research projects and implements changes as required, including the development, and updating of practice protocols /guidelines and procedures locally
g) Works within national and local protocols where these exist
h) Recognises boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred
i) Using the principles of delegation, delegates work to other members of the MDT and take responsibility for the delegated activity as appropriate
j) Demonstrates initiative and are creative in finding solutions to problems
k) Holds responsibility for team performance and service delivery
l) Provides supervision to team members
Key Wider Responsibilities
a) Facilitate and support the development and delivery of innovative training and education to staff, to improve competence and confidence, in line with best practice and guidance related to area of expertise
b) Participate in and/or lead formal training events promoting best practice in area of expertise
c) Provide professional and clinical leadership and mentorship, acting as a clinical role model on the delivery of evidence-based practice
d) Advise and support on the development and delivery of work streams relating to area of expertise as part of the PCNs strategy, where appropriate
e) Work proactively with key local and national stakeholders to develop more integrated care pathways and holistic models of care, through dissemination of specialist skills and knowledge
f) Contribute to the delivery of local policy, procedures and protocols for the PCN to improve identification, assessment, ongoing support for patients and their family carers
g) Practitioners will work alongside general practice teams, providing clinical assistance and expert support to the GPs and other members of the primary care team in managing the mental wellbeing of the practice population.
Management and Personal Development
Multi-disciplinary practice teams, attending practice meetings and having regular informal contact.
Able to document consultations during patient interventions according to Practice guidelines.
Ensures awareness of statutory and local clinical protection procedures, including systems of referral.
To provide clinical supervision on a regular basis in line with relevant professional guidelines and policies to members of your team.
Undertake own clinical supervision on a regular basis with your line manager.
To report on the progress of the role, providing required reports, statistical and qualitative information.
Clinical Activities
To triage, manage risk and communicate patient needs throughout PCN and wider multi-disciplinary team members.
To work closely with mental health and wellbeing coaches as valued staff members of equal worth to formulate, plan and deliver care pathways for each patient.
To take part in daily huddle/safety meetings and oversee other staff member workloads and support them to safely fulfil their roles within their scope of practice. To be sometimes solely accountable for clinical decision making.
To work with adults (18+) with serious mental illness (and their Carers) whose needs are best met within primary care and whose difficulties are best understood within a biopsychosocial model.
Provide brief support and perhaps longer evidence-based interventions, drawing from the guiding principles of trauma informed care.
To work closely with and understand what community resources and assets are available across Penwith.
To collaborate jointly with NHS colleagues reviewing serious incident investigations and identify key areas of learning to create an implement and quality improvement action plan.
Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance.
It is recognised that this job description may be open to development and changes to reflect alterations in the PCN Mental Health Practitioner role.
Essential Qualifications
Professional Qualification Degree Level qualification and professional registration via the NMC in nursing or a registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA). A post graduate qualification (level 7 or above) of a relevant discipline i.e. mental health specific would also be accepted.
Essential Role Specific Experience/Knowledge
Experience of working with people with mental illness and those at risk of becoming unwell. Also experience of liaising/working with GPs and primary care colleagues.
Suitably trained and experienced in the delivery of short term, focussed evidence-based interventions.
Experience and in-depth awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
An in-depth knowledge of prevalent mental illnesses, how and why they may develop, symptoms someone might experience and the subsequent treatments or care pathways that are currently available.
Experience of working with people with a wide range of bio/psycho/social concerns that have led to often challenging presentations including drug and alcohol dependence, self-harm, domestic violence (perpetrators/survivors), historical and present trauma survivors and those who experience difficulty coping with their emotions.
The candidate will always be part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) but must be able to make decisions autonomously and be accountable for these at this level. An ability to run the service in the absence of the service lead is also necessary.
Be able to bring perhaps their own, additional qualities to this role that might aid wellbeing for our patients. This may include enhanced communication skills, complimentary therapeutic approaches, counselling qualifications, work with charitable organisations or health promotion skills (the list is endless).
Have a general knowledge of the voluntary sector and charities that are available in Cornwall that aid bio/psycho/social wellbeing.
Have a good understanding of medication, physiological comorbidities, and the effects of these on a persons presentation would be desirable.
An essential requirement is an understanding of the trauma informed approach together with an understanding of health and social inequalities experienced by the population of Penwith.
An ability to feel comfortable in times of change and uncertainty in a working environment.
IT skills (training will be provided on the GP patient record system and that of secondary care).
Undertake mandatory training online or face to face and be willing to undertake more specialist training. This will include learning to facilitate groups within the centre such as emotional coping skills (ECS).
Ability to travel across Penwith and occasionally work from home.
Desirable
Independent nurse prescriber or willingness to work towards this qualification.
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 with the NMC.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Qualification Degree Level qualification and professional registration via the NMC in nursing or a registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA). A post graduate qualification (level 7 or above) of a relevant discipline i.e. mental health specific would also be accepted.
Desirable
- Nurse independent prescriber
Experience
Essential
- 1)Experience of working with people with mental illness and those at risk of becoming unwell. Also experience of liaising/working with GPs and primary care colleagues.
- 2)Suitably trained and experienced in the delivery of short term, focussed evidence-based interventions.
- 3)Experience and in-depth awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
- 4)An in-depth knowledge of prevalent mental illnesses, how and why they may develop, symptoms someone might experience and the subsequent treatments or care pathways that are currently available.
- 5)Experience of working with people with a wide range of bio/psycho/social concerns that have led to often challenging presentations including drug and alcohol dependence, self-harm, domestic violence (perpetrators/survivors), historical and present trauma survivors and those who experience difficulty coping with their emotions.
- 6)The candidate will always be part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) but must be able to make decisions autonomously and be accountable for these at this level. An ability to run the service in the absence of the service lead is also necessary.
- 7)Be able to bring perhaps their own, additional qualities to this role that might aid wellbeing for our patients. This may include enhanced communication skills, complimentary therapeutic approaches, counselling qualifications, work with charitable organisations or health promotion skills (the list is endless).
- 8)Have a general knowledge of the voluntary sector and charities that are available in Cornwall that aid bio/psycho/social wellbeing.
- 9)Have a good understanding of medication, physiological comorbidities and the effects of these on a persons presentation.
- 10)An essential requirement is an understanding of the trauma informed approach together with an understanding of health and social inequalities experienced by the population of Penwith.
- 11)An ability to feel comfortable in times of change and uncertainty in a working environment.
- 12)IT skills (training will be provided on the GP patient record system and that of secondary care).
- 13)Undertake mandatory training online or face to face and be willing to undertake more specialist training. This will include learning to facilitate groups within the centre such as emotional coping skills (ECS).
- 14)Ability to travel across Penwith and occasionally work from home.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Qualification Degree Level qualification and professional registration via the NMC in nursing or a registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA). A post graduate qualification (level 7 or above) of a relevant discipline i.e. mental health specific would also be accepted.
Desirable
- Nurse independent prescriber
Experience
Essential
- 1)Experience of working with people with mental illness and those at risk of becoming unwell. Also experience of liaising/working with GPs and primary care colleagues.
- 2)Suitably trained and experienced in the delivery of short term, focussed evidence-based interventions.
- 3)Experience and in-depth awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
- 4)An in-depth knowledge of prevalent mental illnesses, how and why they may develop, symptoms someone might experience and the subsequent treatments or care pathways that are currently available.
- 5)Experience of working with people with a wide range of bio/psycho/social concerns that have led to often challenging presentations including drug and alcohol dependence, self-harm, domestic violence (perpetrators/survivors), historical and present trauma survivors and those who experience difficulty coping with their emotions.
- 6)The candidate will always be part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) but must be able to make decisions autonomously and be accountable for these at this level. An ability to run the service in the absence of the service lead is also necessary.
- 7)Be able to bring perhaps their own, additional qualities to this role that might aid wellbeing for our patients. This may include enhanced communication skills, complimentary therapeutic approaches, counselling qualifications, work with charitable organisations or health promotion skills (the list is endless).
- 8)Have a general knowledge of the voluntary sector and charities that are available in Cornwall that aid bio/psycho/social wellbeing.
- 9)Have a good understanding of medication, physiological comorbidities and the effects of these on a persons presentation.
- 10)An essential requirement is an understanding of the trauma informed approach together with an understanding of health and social inequalities experienced by the population of Penwith.
- 11)An ability to feel comfortable in times of change and uncertainty in a working environment.
- 12)IT skills (training will be provided on the GP patient record system and that of secondary care).
- 13)Undertake mandatory training online or face to face and be willing to undertake more specialist training. This will include learning to facilitate groups within the centre such as emotional coping skills (ECS).
- 14)Ability to travel across Penwith and occasionally work from home.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Penwith Primary Care Network
Address
The Lescudjack Centre
Penmere Close
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 3PE
Employer details
Employer name
Penwith Primary Care Network
Address
The Lescudjack Centre
Penmere Close
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 3PE
For questions about the job, contact:
Date posted
08 July 2024
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£43,742 to £50,056 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
A5500-24-0005
Job locations
The Lescudjack Centre
Penmere Close
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 3PE
Hayle Day Care Centre
Commercial Road
Hayle
Cornwall
TR27 4DE
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