Frailty Primary Mental Health Practitioner

South West London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust; North Cheam; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Career development

Benefits package

Job summary

South West London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Proactive Care Mental Health Practitioner to join the Integrated Neighbourhood Team on a 6-month secondment. The role delivers expert mental health assessment and intervention in patients' homes, care homes and communities, bridging primary care, community services and specialist pathways.

You will provide biopsychosocial assessments, manage risk, support care planning for complex frailty cases, and collaborate

Responsibilities

• Deliver comprehensive biopsychosocial mental health assessments within patients' homes, care homes and community settings.
• Assess mood, anxiety, psychosis, cognitive change, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), adjustment, trauma, substance use, sleep, self-neglect, carer stress and the impact of physical illness and frailty.
• Assess and formulate risk relating to suicide, self-harm, self-neglect, vulnerability, exploitation, violence, domestic abuse, falls, medication, carer breakdown and deterioration.
• Develop collaborative safety and crisis plans with the patient, family, carers and relevant professionals.
• Initiate and contribute to safeguarding processes in accordance with legislation and local policy.
• Support PAC care planning (UCP) for patients with the most complex mental health problems associated with frailty e.g. BPSD or psychosis in dementia, or patients on the SMI register with chronic psychosis or severe depression.
• Advise on the use of evidence-based brief interventions including psychoeducation, behavioural activation, anxiety management, sleep support, problem solving, relapse prevention, carer support and psychologically informed approaches.

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Proactive Care Mental Health Practitioner to join our Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) on a 6-month secondment. This is a unique opportunity to help shape and deliver an innovative neighbourhood-based model of care, bringing specialist mental health expertise directly into the homes of people who are unable to access traditional clinic-based services. Working as a core member of the Frailty Integrated Neighbourhood Team, you will provide high-quality mental health assessment, intervention, risk management and care coordination for adults living with frailty, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment and complex psychosocial needs. This senior Band 7 role is designed to bridge the gap between primary care, community services and specialist mental health pathways. The successful post holder will:

• Deliver comprehensive biopsychosocial mental health assessments within patients' homes, care homes and community settings.
• Support individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, complex adjustment difficulties, dementia-related distress, cognitive impairment and other mental health challenges associated with frailty.
• Provide evidence‑based interventions, crisis prevention strategies and relapse prevention planning.
• Work collaboratively with GPs, community nursing teams, social care professionals, pharmacists, voluntary sector organisations and specialist mental health services.
• Facilitate access to Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), Memory Services, Liaison Psychiatry, Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams, and Older Adult Mental Health Services.
• Provide consultation, education and clinical leadership to the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Contribute to service development and the continued evolution of neighbourhood‑based mental health care., Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.

Clinical assessment and formulation

• Undertake, or support others in undertaking, comprehensive biopsychosocial mental health assessments in patients' homes and other community settings.
• Assess mood, anxiety, psychosis, cognitive change, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), adjustment, trauma, substance use, sleep, self-neglect, carer stress and the impact of physical illness and frailty.

Risk, safeguarding and statutory practice

• Assess and formulate risk relating to suicide, self‑harm, self‑neglect, vulnerability, exploitation, violence, domestic abuse, falls, medication, carer breakdown and deterioration.
• Develop collaborative safety and crisis plans with the patient, family, carers and relevant professionals.
• Initiate and contribute to safeguarding processes in accordance with legislation and local policy.

Care planning

• Support PAC care planning (UCP) for patients with the most complex mental health problems associated with frailty e.g. BPSD or psychosis in dementia, or patients on the SMI register with chronic psychosis or severe depression.
• Advice on the use of evidence‑based brief interventions including psychoeducation, behavioural activation, anxiety management, sleep support, problem solving, relapse prevention, carer support and psychologically informed approaches.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form. Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in your own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure. Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience.

Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role. Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'. This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services. We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do. We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive. Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.