Job summary
- Main area
- Adult Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 346-NYA-084-26-A
- Employer
- Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Mowbray Square Medical Centre
- Town
- Harrogate
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 18/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Advanced First Contact Mental Health Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 7
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Advanced First Contact Mental Health Practitioner to work within primary care within the Mowbray Square PCN.
After the successful introduction of our initial first contact mental health practitioner, we aspire to expand the service with a further innovative offer.
In this attractive, flexible, role the post holder the has opportunity of working within primary care, with non-working weekends and the benefit of bank holidays!
This role is fundamental to the development of inclusive & integrated mental health services.
NMC Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers (England), HCPC Occupational Therapist encouraged to apply.
This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Main duties of the job
The successful post-holder will become part of the PCNs clinical leadership team, joining an ambitious locality network that is committed to developing a strong, caring and compassionate multidisciplinary workforce.
As a valued team member, you will develop close working relationships with all our friendly Clinical staff, including our existing Mental Health Practitioner. Your role will involve offering specialist mental health advice and providing expert clinical care for people with a range of mental health needs, ensuring that those with complex mental illness do not fall between gaps in services. You will also contribute to safe and effective transitions in care between Adult Mental Health services, where appropriate. You will improve access by being an ‘ Advanced first contact mental health worker’, undertaking triage, assessments, brief interventions, and reviews, with managerial supervision provided by a B7 Mental Health Practitioner. You will contribute to the clinical supervision structure within the PCN and will contribute networking and navigation expertise, enabling access to a range of appropriate mental health support across the community system.
Working for our organisation
Mowbray Square PCN consists of 3 practices; East Parade, Park Parade and Spa Surgery, all are located within the same modern purpose-built health centre in central Harrogate, close to all transport links.
The Practices have a strong history of collaborative working with many shared teams and innovative systems. We strive to provide the highest standard of healthcare to our local community and maximise the health and well being of both our patients and our staff.
The PCN would welcome enthusiastic innovators with strong leadership characteristics and skills, who are willing to develop this role and make the service the very best it can be for local people. We want individuals able to work systemically across the local community system to support people holistically.
The successful candidate will be well-supported and guided by the PCN and the clinical team. You will be supported to work autonomously, having day to day responsibility for your clinics and workload. Primary Care experience is not essential; however, a good understanding of how Primary Care works would be beneficial.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This is a new, exciting, and innovative post to support the needs of the local population living with mental health difficulties. The role holder will fulfil an ‘Advanced first contact’ specialist mental health role within GP Practices across the Primary Care Network (PCN), seeing patients who would otherwise have traditionally seen a GP. Within the primary care setting, the role holder will work in a collaborative and multi-agency way. This will contribute to the safe and effective day to day operation of the PCN and the efficient and timely management of clinical enquiries and decision-making.
The post will sit within the GP Practices and will facilitate the interface between Primary Care and Secondary Mental Health Services to provide specialist advice and support, assessment, treatment, education and solution-focused approaches to the local Primary Care Teams, for patients and carers.
The post-holder will manage their daily clinics and act as a specialist advisor to GP’s, such as specialist opinion or prescribing support (within the parameters of the Non-medical prescribing/NMP framework) and providing supervision and oversight of First Contact Mental Health Practitioners.
You will be a non-medical prescriber or be willing to study towards this accreditation. Experience of cognitive behavioural therapy would be advantageous.
You will assume an active leadership role in the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN and the wider mental health care system. To offer specialist advice to, or obtain advice for, the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on-going patient care management.
To lead on the creation and development of links and a culture of ‘partnership’ between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services, promoting clear communication and access to specialist knowledge and advice. This ensures that each person, once assessed, receives the best possible care in the right place at the right time and by the right supporting service.
To take a leading role in the facilitation of joint working relationships across PCN, Secondary Care providers, and the Voluntary Care Sector to increase the range of services/interventions available to the communities served.
To facilitate others in the team to develop competence by providing clinical advice and clinical supervision to practice based First Contact Mental Health Practitioners and other practice staff as appropriate, including other less experienced practice based mental health workers and students.
To provide specialist clinical advice, consultation, and support to other care providers within primary, secondary, voluntary and statutory services as required.
To attend PCN meetings and work with PCN members to develop and implement joint governance and clinical multidisciplinary forums.
To assume a leadership role and responsibility within the existing Mental Health multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings across the PCN.
To promote, develop and manage clear links, pathways and information sharing processes between existing services, and when appropriate, advise the GP’s on alternative approaches to improve case management.
To provide support, education and guidance of common mental health problems and their management to colleagues across the multi-disciplinary team(s), so they develop their skills and confidence in assessment and treatment of mental health needs.
To collate and organise contemporaneous information about opportunities and resources in the local area which may be of benefit to clients referred to the service (e.g. voluntary and community organisations, educational and recreational opportunities).
To facilitate ‘sign posting’ to other appropriate services and occasionally undertake very short-term interventions for clients with mild to moderate mental health difficulties (average length of time expected to be 6 weeks). Working alongside the PCN staff, which could include a care coordination team and social prescribing link worker.
To be professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, providing brief, time-limited therapeutic interventions in GP surgeries, patients’ homes and other primary care settings.
In line with the principles for community transformation, you will ensure systems/pathways are in place to enable smooth transition between primary care and secondary mental health services.
To work closely with Primary Care Network, GP’s and Social Prescribers/other practice-based mental health workers within the locality regarding the mental health needs of their adult practice population.
Additional contact details - Laura Wright - FCMHP Team Manager
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or social work – HCPC registration, NMC registration or Social Work England Registration.
- Ability to evidence Continuing Professional Development since registration.
- Certificate in mentoring, teaching & assessing in clinical practice as appropriate to own profession.
- Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area.
- Clinical Supervisor.
- Recognised sign-off mentor (or equivalent) for students or must be achieved within agreed timescale.
- Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
Desirable criteria
- NMP (or willing to work towards within an agreed timescale, if relevant to professional registration).
- Leadership or management qualification.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting.
- Demonstrable leadership or management experience in a senior clinical role.
- Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
- Experience working in primary care.
- Providing clinical supervision.
- Mentoring students on practice placement experience.
- Working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Quality improvement activities.
Desirable criteria
- Experience working in a multiagency setting.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field.
- Ability to evidence an advanced level of clinical competence in one area of specialty practice.
- Knowledge of Stepped Care model.
- Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
- Care Programme Approach and its application in practice.
- Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice.
- Understanding of the physical healthcare needs and impact of patients with a LD or mental health problem.
- Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
- Clinical Governance and its application in practice.
- Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment.
- Demonstrable knowledge and experience of delivering psycho-social interventions and approaches.
- Contemporaneous knowledge and understanding of recent health and social care policy guidance and implications on practice.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Communicate highly complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional responsibilities.
- Work effectively across complex organisations, pathways and services.
- Demonstrable management and leadership skills.
- Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
- Write reports.
- Use multimedia materials for presentations in professional settings.
- Use approved breakaway techniques.
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
- Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers.
- Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in distressing and challenging circumstances.
- Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team.
- Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently.
- Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
- Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
- Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
- Committed to promoting a positive image of the service.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Ian Dilley
- Job title
- Clinical Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
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