Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellbeing support

Training and education opportunities

DBS update service fee reimbursement

Research opportunities

Placements and apprenticeships

Job summary

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an autonomous practitioner—a mental health nurse, social worker or occupational therapist—for primary care in Sheffield. Core work includes biopsychosocial assessment and delivering up to 16 sessions with a weekly caseload of 26 appointments.

You will work across on-site and virtual appointments, with a focus on risk management, records, and involvement in service development and governance.

Qualifications

• RMN, social work or occupational therapy qualification.
• Evidence of higher practice skills in mental health care.
• Continuing professional development in mental health.

Responsibilities

• Carry out comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of referred patients and identify their mental health needs to inform treatment plans.
• Formulate and implement care plans and goals that reflect each patient's needs.
• Deliver treatment of up to 16 sessions, usually 45 minutes, seen weekly or fortnightly.
• Manage a caseload of 26 appointments a week, including five new patients.
• Identify and manage risks across different settings.
• Work autonomously and review caseload regularly with the clinical supervisor.
• Provide constructive clinical, managerial and educational supervision to staff, including on risk management.
• Keep accurate records and complete patient outcome measures, encouraging patient experience measures.
• Offer support and advice to families and carers, and advocate for clients where appropriate.
• Ensure interventions protect patients' rights, follow evidence-based practice and service policy, and keep confidentiality.
• Influence and implement changes to clinical practice locally and trust-wide, reviewing professional standards with the quality team.
• Take part in appraisal and agree a personal development plan.

Skills

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Time management

Crisis assessment & planning

Education

RMN, social work or occupational therapy qualification

Higher practice skills in mental health care

CPD in mental health

Tools

SystemOne

Job description

Primary and Community Mental Health Service post at Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, for an autonomous practitioner who is a mental health nurse, social worker or occupational therapist. Core work is biopsychosocial assessment and treatment of up to 16 sessions, with a weekly caseload of 26 appointments, including five new patients. Care is split between on-site and virtual appointments, and knowledge of suicide, self-harm and dementia is expected. Fit depends on current registration with the NMC, Social Work England or HCPC, as relevant.

What the job involves

• Carry out comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of referred patients and identify their mental health needs to inform treatment plans
• Formulate and implement care plans and goals that reflect each patient's needs
• Deliver treatment of up to 16 sessions, usually 45 minutes, seen weekly or fortnightly
• Manage a caseload of 26 appointments a week, including five new patients
• Identify and manage risks across different settings
• Work autonomously and review caseload regularly with the clinical supervisor
• Provide constructive clinical, managerial and educational supervision to staff, including on risk management
• Keep accurate records and complete patient outcome measures, encouraging patient experience measures
• Offer support and advice to families and carers, and advocate for clients where appropriate
• Ensure interventions protect patients' rights, follow evidence-based practice and service policy, and keep confidentiality
• Influence and implement changes to clinical practice locally and trust-wide, reviewing professional standards with the quality team
• Take part in appraisal and agree a personal development plan

What's required

Qualifications

• RMN, social work or occupational therapy qualification
• Evidence of higher practice skills in mental health care across the age range
• Evidence of continuing professional development in mental health nursing, social work or occupational therapy

Registration & licences

• Current NMC registration as an RMN, or social work or occupational therapy registration with the relevant regulator

Experience

• Experience of working in community mental health care settings
• Demonstrable experience of collaborative working in a multi-professional environment
• Experience of working with older adults
• Track record of engaging service users and carers

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent risk assessment and management skills
• Clear oral and written communication, and effective time management
• Skills in assessment, formulation and treatment planning for people in crisis
• Knowledge of working with suicide, self-harm, acute mental illness, and dementia, confusion or delirium

Checks & eligibility

• Membership of the DBS Update Service, a condition of employment

Other

• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
• Ability to motivate and inspire confidence in others
• Ability to work autonomously, comfortable working alone as well as in a team

Nice to have

• Understanding of liaison work
• Experience of improving service user involvement in team development
• Experience of audit or evaluation
• Post-registration study to degree or postgraduate diploma level
• Teaching or assessing qualification, or equivalent
• Use of the SystemOne IT system
• Experience of delivering clinical supervision
• Understanding of the clinical governance agenda

What's offered

• Support for health and wellbeing
• Access to a range of training and education opportunities
• Apprenticeships, work experience and placements
• Chance to get involved in research
• DBS Update Service annual fee claimable back through the Trust's expenses policy