ARRS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner for Primary Care

at  Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

ARRS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner for Primary Care – Elm Park PCN (Western Elms Surgery and Circuit Lane Surgery) – Part Time and Full Time considered.
We are looking for a qualified and experienced Mental Health Nurse to join us in a Specialist Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner role, Monday to Friday based within the Elm Park PCN (Reading), supporting GPs with on the day Mental Health support for patients and working alongside another Specialist Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner already in post. The successful candidate will have sufficient experience to support the GPs in medication decision making through their comprehensive assessment and documentation skills. They will also be required to undertake Fit Note training.
If you are proactive and passionate about innovation and providing a high-quality holistic approach to the care of people who have been identified as in need of mental health support in a primary care setting, we want to hear from you.
We are excited to be developing these community services and look forward to applicants specifically interested in working for:
Elm Park PCN – 22.5 hours to 37.5 hours considered. This role requires working a weekly pattern between 8am and 8pm, to be negotiated.
Please make contact with the Recruiting Manager or the PCN directly if you have any questions prior to submitting an application.
To provide a lead in supporting the PCN in triaging mental health concerns raised by on the day patient requests, providing specialist advice and support within GP surgeries
To review patients presenting with mental health issues, consider a range of support and treatment interventions, providing them with highly specialised advice and signposting when appropriate and liaising with GPs and MH teams
To offer brief interventions as needed e.g. problem solving, decision making, building resilience, building on personal strengths, risk de-escalation, medication advice and prescribing if a registered NMP
Working as a member of the primary Care MDT and taking responsibility for the development and implementation of specialist mental health training to the PCN
To provide a navigation role to help GP’s make appropriate referrals to the relevant community and secondary care services – bridging the gap between primary care services such as IAPT and secondary care, working in partnership across the system.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

WORKING PATTERN + SERVICE OPERATING HOURS:

Service operates Monday to Friday. Hours worked will match the GP surgeries you are assigned to and will be worked within 8am-8pm. Typical shifts are 9am – 5pm, 8am – 4pm, 10am-6pm (subject to negotiation). You may be asked to do a combination of these shifts each week depending on the GP surgery hours. You will usually be assigned to 2-3 surgeries within your PCN.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Samantha Danesh-Pour on 07500 783606 or email: samantha.daneshpour@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible

1. Current professional registration: Registered Mental Health Nurse.
2. A strong desire to work within and a good understanding of primary care health provision.
3. Community or Primary Care experience in mental health services for adults and older age adults with severe / significant mental illness, with a very good understanding of psychiatric medication.
4. Experience of providing a range of evidence-based interventions to people with a variety of mental health problems and serious mental illness