ARRS Mental Health Practitioner

Medway Mental Health Nhs Trust; Chatham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is partnering with Medway Valley Primary Care Network (Reach Healthcare) in Kent to deliver an autonomous Mental Health Practitioner role within GP surgeries. The post covers comprehensive assessments, triage, and bridge-building between primary and secondary services, funded through ARRS, at 37.5 hours per week.

The role focuses on early interventions, resource navigation, and multidisciplinary collaboration to support proactive community mental health care and

Qualifications

• Comprehensive clinical assessment and triage within primary care.
• Bridge between GP surgeries and secondary mental health services.
• Deliver brief, evidence-based interventions in primary care.
• Collaborate with the PCN MDT and social prescribers.
• Navigate local health, social care and voluntary sector resources.
• Work autonomously with patient-centred approaches.

Responsibilities

• Conduct robust mental health assessments in primary care to determine appropriate care pathways and manage risk.
• Act as liaison and gatekeeper between GP surgeries and secondary mental health services.
• Provide brief, evidence-based mental health interventions in primary care.
• Work with the PCN MDT, GPs, clinical specialists, and social prescribers.
• Link patients to local community-based resources and services.
• Work independently in a fast-paced setting with patient-centred approaches.

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experiencedMental Health Practitioner (Registered Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist)to join Medway Valley Primary Care Network (PCN) at Reach Healthcare in Kent. Funded through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), this full-time role (37.5 hours per week) places you at the heart of our ambitious transformation of community mental health services. As an embedded member of the PCN Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), you will work directly within primary care GP surgeries, serving as a vital bridge between primary care teams and secondary mental health providers. We are looking for an autonomous, creative, and highly proficient clinical practitioner who can deliver high-quality early interventions, navigate local resources, and act as the gatekeeper and guardian for secondary care referrals. If you are passionate about providing proactive care in a primary care setting and want to make a tangible impact on community health, we encourage you to apply.

• Please note, Visa sponsorship is not available for this role
• Comprehensive Clinical Assessment & Triage:Conduct robust, specialist mental health assessments for patients presenting in primary care to determine appropriate care pathways and manage clinical risk effectively.
• Bridge Primary & Secondary Care:Act as the primary liaison and gatekeeper between GP surgeries and secondary mental health services, ensuring seamless transitions, appropriate referrals, and reduced barriers to specialist support.
• Deliver Focused Interventions:Provide high-quality, evidence-based, brief mental health interventions to patients within primary care settings to improve outcomes and promote self-management.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration:Embed fully into the PCN Multi-Disciplinary Team-working alongside GPs, clinical specialists, and social prescribers-while maintaining active links with community mental health MDTs.
• Resource & Pathway Navigation:Utilize in-depth knowledge of local health, social care, and voluntary sector resources to connect patients with suitable community-based support networks.
• Autonomous & Creative Practice:Work independently in a fast-paced environment, applying flexible, patient-centered approaches to address complex care needs.
  The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
  We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD. Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve. Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident. Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.