Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner

SWLStG; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust is recruiting an Assistant Psychologist to join our Wandsworth Primary Care Network Mental Health Practitioner Team. The role provides supervised clinical contact, assessments and brief interventions within GP practices, with opportunities for remote work and ongoing CPD.

You will work closely with GPs and other clinicians to support motivation and functioning, navigate care pathways, and offer evidence‑informed support to service users

Qualifications

• Relevant clinical experience.
• At least twelve months experience of working with people who have experienced serious ongoing mental health problems.
• Experience of supervision and/or mentoring of junior staff and students.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Complete assessments and, where appropriate, provide brief, psychologically informed interventions.
• Support clients whilst waiting for escalation of treatment into mental health services.
• Monitor and support clients between GP appointments.
• Provide medicine education and adherence advice for clients and their carers.
• Support early intervention and shared decision‑making around self-management.
• Work with Primary Care practices, attend practice meetings and maintain regular contact with GP surgeries.
• Deliver direct clinical work in GP surgeries during open hours, with some remote opportunities.

Skills

Clinical contact

Liaison with GP

Case assessment

Communication skills

Education

Upper second class honours in psychology

Job description

Site Springfield University Hospital Town Tooting Salary £38,488 - £46,852 per annum Inclusive of inner London HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 11/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 25/11/2026

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for one experienced and enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist to join our Wandsworth Primary Care Network (PCN) Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) Team. We are an innovative project aiming to support GPs work with people presenting with mental health related difficulties. The successful candidates will provide supervised, direct clinical work to clients in GP practices by offering brief psychologically informed interventions to support motivation and improve functioning and if applicable, help people navigate the care system, access the right service and where possible, work with them to overcome barriers to engagement. The role requires working closely with GPs and other professionals in a dynamic and changing environment.

We are committed to get the very best out of our staff and support staff in their career aspirations. We have career pathways available, where you will be able to develop your skills and build on your experience. For this role, we offer the option of attending continuing professional development sessions specifically for aspiring clinical psychologists working at the Trust in various roles and being part of that community

Main duties of the job

The role requires a range of clinical, liaison and administrative skills. The post holder will provide supervised, direct clinical contact, attend weekly meetings and frequently, liaise with professionals and/or services integrated within the mental health pathway within Wandsworth (including GPs and other clinicians situated within the PCN, IAPT and secondary mental health services, other community/third sector resources etc.).

The day-to-day responsibilities for the post holder will include completing assessments and collaboratively developing person-centred plans. At times, this will involve offering follow-up sessions to provide brief psychologically informed interventions and at other times making onward referrals.

The post holder will work collaboratively with both clients and/or other professionals to problem-solve and facilitate the referral process so the person can access the right type of support. Therefore, a flexible and proactive approach, as well as a candidate who feels comfortable working independently.

The postholder will be asked to deliver direct clinical work in person from GP surgeries within surgery open hours, usually Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in the time frames from 9am to 5pm, with Thursdays kept for supervision, team meetings and CPD. However, there are some opportunities for remote working when you are not required at your GP base.

Working for our organisation

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 varietybenefits 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.

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To complete assessments and where appropriate, provide brief, psychologically informed interventions.
• To support clients whilst waiting for escalation of treatment into mental health services
• To monitor and support clients in between their GP appointments
• To provide medicine education and adherence advice and lifestyle advice for clients and their carers, presenting with mental health problems
• Assist in supporting early intervention and supporting shared decision-making around self-management
• To work with clients and team members to support engagement with appropriate services and treatment which may include onward referral to secondary mental health services or signposting to other mental health services, social prescribers, voluntary services and community-based support groups
• To support clients to transition from primary care to secondary care when more specialist or intensive support is required
• To support clients to stay well within their local communities, including the re-enforcement of newly learned psychology techniques
• Work always to promote the safety and the wellbeing of service users and their families/carers
• To develop a close relationship with Primary Care practices, attending practice meetings and having regular informal contact.
• To work closely and in partnership with colleagues within primary care and the Trust in a collaborative way, ensuring that decisions are made that ensure the best care for service users and that there is a seamless pathway.

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 their 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.

Person specification

Experience

• Relevant clinical experience
• At least twelve months experience of working with people who have experienced serious ongoing mental health problems
• Experience of research based/reflective practice e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence-based practice.
• Experience of supervision and/or mentoring of junior staff and students
• Experience of working as a Recovery Support Worker in Mental Health

Training & Qualifications

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society Evidence of continuing professional development
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology and mental health practice, such as delivery of evidence based psychological therapies for severe mental health problems
• Training in support of people with mental health problems
• Training in recovery approaches in mental health

Knowledge & Skills

• Able to proactively and independently manage workload
• Ability to provide quality care that is responsive to service user needs, without close supervision
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3 rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. The contact details published on our official website are the Trust’s authorised contact channels and should be used for all recruitment communications, job applications, and verification of employment offers.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Dr Litza Head-Krause, Job title Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07 955 312 590

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Springfield University Hospital,
61 Glenburnie Rd,
London SW17 7DJ
Telephone [phone]