Mental Health Practitioner- (maternity cover) Primary Care

Job description

Job responsibilities

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 capable and 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Qualification Degree Level qualification and professional registration via the NMC or equivalent registering professional body (social work, occupational therapist). 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.

Experience

Essential

• a)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.
• b)Suitably trained and experienced in the delivery of short term, focussed evidence-based interventions.
• c)Experience and in-depth awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
• d)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.
• e)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.
• f)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.
• g)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).
• h)Have a general knowledge of the voluntary sector and charities that are available in Cornwall that aid bio/psycho/social wellbeing.
• i)Have a good understanding of medication, physiological comorbidities, and the effects of these on a persons presentation.
• j)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.
• k)An ability to feel comfortable in times of change and uncertainty in a working environment.
• l)IT skills (training will be provided on the GP patient record system and that of secondary care).

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