Senior Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner

at  Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

This is an exciting role for a Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner to lead and shape the way forward in the delivery of Community Mental Health Services. The post will be hosted by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) with day to day management within Primary Care.

As a Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner you will be highly skilled and motivated and be part of the Enhanced Primary Care team, at the forefront of establishing this innovative development in Primary Care Mental Health Services. As a highly competent and proficient practitioner, you will be able to work autonomously and be confident in your ability to provide evidence based Psychological and non-Psychological treatments for common mental health disorders. Use of assessment skills and triaging referrals liaising with your local primary care network. To Proactive in your approach to collaborative working, you will be based in the Braintree Locality. The practitioner will have a clear focus on prevention, early detection and intervention and will be passionate about promoting self-management, through empowerment and partnership working with service users, embracing the person centred approach to recovery. The interventions offered will be outcome focused and time limited, with the overall aim of recovery and self-management being obtained through meaningful engagement.

• Create a single path within the sphere of their responsibility and work closely with other Community Mental Health teams and Inpatient Services to provide a seamless service in order to aid the Patient’s recovery and Well-being plans in the community.
• Work in conjunction with the GP, Primary Care team and Consultant Psychiatrists to ensure that patients are supported in the most appropriate clinical practice environment from a Multi-disciplinary perspective.
• Ensure safe Clinical Practice takes place, maintaining Care Quality Commission standards at all times and in line with the NHS Constitution.
• Triage patients and facilitate them receiving the most appropriate support for their needs ensuring people are not passed around the system.
• Manage and deliver effective and safe services which support the key elements of Clinical/Practice governance.
• As the Primary Care model develops, the post holder will focus on leading the teams to introduce ways of continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding and high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence will flourish.
• Provide and undertake detailed Physical Health investigations such as ECGs and offer basic interpretation of the results.

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
Season Ticket Loans
NHS discounts for staff
Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

• As the Primary Care Mental Health offer increases, the post holder will have responsibility for the day-to-day supervision and management of lower banded staff within their professional group and team locality when appropriate. As required by your Manager – this may include the management of these staff in line with agreed Trust HR processes.
• Establish strong working relationships with other specialist services.
• Provide the enhanced Primary Care team with educational support and training to enhance their knowledge of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• Provide professional clinical leadership at multi-disciplinary meetings i.e. referral/review

/business, professional or safeguarding meetings.

• Adhere to Trust Policies and Procedures in the delivery of care and also contribute to the ongoing review and implementation of new policies, practices and procedures by keeping professionally updated.
• Ensure that professional accountability is maintained by liaising with the Trust Physical Health Lead ensuring that Clinical and Professional supervision is undertaken and opportunities to discuss and disseminate best practice are utilised.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Trust and Government directives within the locality.
• Ensure the delivery of high quality care and treatment within the clinical setting to service users and their carers.
• Work in close co-operation with other mental health professionals, statutory and voluntary organisations and community networks.
• Identify, assess and manage clinical and non-clinical risks/hazards in your area through the completion of the relevant Risk Assessments and the implementation of risk treatment plans for inclusion in the local and Trust’s Risk Registers.
• In delivering your duties you are expected to display behaviours that are aligned with the Trust values and as required in accordance with the NHS Constitution at all times.
• Report and document incidents as required and act upon findings as appropriate.
• Assess and review care and support and supervise lower banded staff in this process as required.
• Be responsible for the administration of medications (nurse applicants), assessment of side effects, review concordance and clinical effectiveness of medication regime in line with Trust policy including:
• Providing education around the medication prescribed, side effects, actions and aids to compliance.
• Providing education and support to develop service user’s understanding of Physical Healthcare and training packages for staff
• Providing practical support, guidance and education for service users, carers and other professionals as required.
• Provide specialist assessment and intervention commensurate with skills and training with colleagues where required.
• Lead and participate in formulation, delivery and review of individualised evidence based care/care packages according to NICE guidance including non-medication strategies.
• Lead in the continuing development of a high quality service and contribute to local emergency plan, team risk assessment etc. that is underpinned by evidence based practice, care pathways/packages and NICE and DH Guidance.
• Create and maintain working relationships with statutory and non-statutory agencies involved in the provision of Physical Healthcare and Mental Health Care.
• Participate with the Team Manager in the recruitment of employees in accordance with Trust Recruitment Policy and NHS Safer Recruitment Guidelines. Ensure that appropriate corporate and departmental Induction is undertaken immediately following appointment and that staff records that are retained are accurate and up-to-date.
• Develop a Primary Care Mental Health Operational Clinical Policy with EPUT and primary care colleagues and stakeholders.
• Work closely with and assist the Team Manager with development and implementation of operational/clinical policies contributing to the formulation and review of appropriate policies as required.
• Deliver training where appropriate for other professionals.
• Complete and return timely and accurate statistics to the Information Department.
• Ensure compliance in meeting agreed Outcomes/KPI’s.
• Identify aspects of the service which need to be improved and implement appropriate changes in conjunction with the MDT, EPUT management and primary care teams.
• In conjunction with the Team Manager, work within the available budget of the service and attend regular Performance Management meetings as required.
• Complete highly complex nursing needs assessments.
• Ensure that the service, through the implementation of performance management, meets all key performance indicators and targets identified by the Trust and adhere to local and government initiatives.
• Be able to use computer systems including Word and E-mail for effective communication of information.
• Provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence and quality of life.

The above is not an exhaustive list of expected clinical or managerial duties to be undertaken. Full training and competencies will be given to ensure that the post holder has the appropriate skills to undertake the above

• As the Primary Care Mental Health offer increases, the post holder will have responsibility for the day-to-day supervision and management of lower banded staff within their professional group and team locality when appropriate. As required by your Manager – this may include the management of these staff in line with agreed Trust HR processes.
• Establish strong working relationships with other specialist services.
• Provide the enhanced Primary Care team with educational support and training to enhance their knowledge of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• Provide professional clinical leadership at multi-disciplinary meetings i.e. referral/revie