Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

Provide clinical expertise and support to GPs and practice clinicians to manage patients with mental health problems in primary care. From urgent presentations to longer term management, including the review of pre-existing mental health plans and medication to the formulation of diagnosis, treatment planning and prescribing. You will work in collaboration with a range of practice clinicians, fellow mental health practitioners, social prescribers, community health and wellbeing workers, secondary care, talking therapies and third sector organisations.

The post holder will always work to promote the safety and the wellbeing of these patients and their families/carers.

Support to undertake non-medical prescribing is available. The role may evolve to include education and training of clinical and non-clinical staff and trainees as a leadership role.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties and responsibilities of the post holder are detailed below, although the precise accountabilities of any job may be expected to change over time. Job holders would be contacted over any proposed changes before implementation.

• Triage and assessment of patients presenting with mental health problems
• Proactive follow-up of adult patients with low level and serious mental illness both in terms of mental and physical health
• Annual medication reviews for those on longer term antidepressants and antipsychotics
• Non-medical prescriber or opportunities to undertake prescribing course or other education programmes
• Active signposting to third sector organisations/ engage with in-house social prescribing team
• Attend fortnightly mental health meetings with local CMHT and Cornwall Talking Therapies.
• Help where appropriate to co-ordinate support for the more vulnerable groups of patients experiencing mental health problems e.g. the homeless, substance misuse, learning difficulties
• Consultations to be undertaken with patients both in surgery, over the telephone, video or home visits.
• Capable of working independently and proactively
• Active management of flexible caseload with awareness of dependency
• Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults. To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Develop links and foster a culture of partnership between the practice and CPFT Adult Mental Health Services
• Promote and follow treatment protocols and care pathways leading to increased integration of service users within the primary care setting
• Takes professional responsibility with high-level decision making and clinical reasoning skills to assess, diagnose and triage of patients
• Manages and contributes to service delivery and the development of the practice
• Accountable for decisions and actions supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice
• Streamlines pathway of care by providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care
• Ensures care is proactive, preventive in focus and population based, with an emphasis on early intervention
• Energetic individual capable of working effectively within MDT
• Provides care which is tailored to the individual needs. This would include, appraising the impact of individuals' clinical status on their general health, well-being, employment status
• Supports patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management
• Communicates effectively and appropriately with patients and carers complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology and prognosis.
• Provides learning opportunities for the whole multi professional team within primary care.
• Works with MDT to develop more effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services
• Exercises professional judgement, making, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information
• Manages interactions in complex situations, including with individuals with particular psychosocial and mental health needs and with colleagues across the primary care team, sectors and settings

• To follow the operational systems and procedures required by the organisation.
• To represent the organisation in a positive and professional manner at all times.

Leadership

• Operate as a full member of the primary care team, including contributing to leadership, service evaluation/improvement and research activity
• Manage and co-ordinate the care that individual patients receive, including through liaising with other members of the MDT and with patients' carers
• Contribute to the use of healthcare technologies to optimise the integration of service delivery (across teams, sectors and settings) and patients access and continuity of care
• Contribute to the development of primary care teams, including through contributing to others' learning

Engagement with Patients, Internal and External Stakeholders

• Initiate, develop and maintain excellent third party relationships

Person Specification

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, ability to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions.
• Ability to adapt communication style appropriately and dependant on situation.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development

Desirable

• Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and/or service
• Establish and maintain communication with individuals, families, carers and groups about difficult or complex matters overcoming any differences in communication

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse with current registration [mental health/LD/Adult], appropriate to the job role
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

• Non-medical Prescriber
• Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Significant post qualifying experience in the relevant care group
• Experience of working alongside people with complex health problems in the designated care group
• Experience of managing a caseload
• Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
• Experience of working consultatively with professionals
• Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments
• Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies
• Understanding of clinical governance

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in the community
• Contribute to the implementation of services.
• Lived experience of mental health issues

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).

Employer details

Employer name

North Kerrier West Primary Care Network

Address

Pool Health Centre

Station Road

Pool

Cornwall

TR15 3DU

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.carntocoast.co.uk/info.aspx?p=10 (Opens in a new tab)