Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and modernising Mental Health services in Hywel Dda University Health Board based in Prince Phillip Hospital, Llanelli.

One of the central points of Hywel Dda’s ‘Transforming Mental Health Agenda’ is a ‘Single Point of Contact to improve access for everyone’. This Single Point of Contact will be a  24/7 telephone mental health triage assessment service delivered by skilled professional staff who will provide sensitive and specialist mental health screening to ensure individuals receive the appropriate outcome. The philosophy of the service is as follows:

Compassion- When people ask for support for a crisis of their mental health they are listened to & supported

Prevention- Access to support should be as early as possible, ideally before the point of crisis

Equality- A crisis of mental health should be treated with the same urgency as physical health care

Resilience- Build responses on the strengths of the individual and provide information and options for self-care and self-referral. 

Information, advice and guidance will also be provided for families and carers and there will be a professional telephone line for our partner agencies such as GP’s, Welsh Ambulance, Local Authority, Police and the third sector.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner you will provide an all-age service offering high quality telephone triage and assessment to individuals presenting with existing mental illness, in mental distress or acute crisis, resulting in a safe and appropriate clinical decision. 

The MH Practitioner will Clinical lead a shift with a varied team of staff including Well-being Practitioners, Health Care Support Workers and Peer Workers, acting as a point of escalation and decision maker for clinical triage and risk.

You will support the Clinical Lead in developing the new innovative Mental Health Single Point of Contact service which will be facilitated though the National 111 service. 

You will be an experienced Practitioner who can provide aid to the development of the team in line with the organisations core values to deliver a safe and efficient service to those accessing it. 

The service will operate 24 hours 7 days a week and you will need to be flexible in your working patterns to meet the service need, which will include out of hours and weekend working. 

Ongoing support and professional development will be provided alongside personal development and comprehensive induction and training package.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services