Specialist Mental Health Practitioner for Primary

Oxford Health and Banbury Cross PCN are excited to be working in partnership on the introduction of Specialist Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) for Primary Care.

These new roles will enable patients aged 18+ to access dedicated mental health support in their surgery and with stronger links with specialist mental health services. Making it easier for patients to obtain the help they need, when they need it, within their community.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner to help establish better access to dedicated mental health support in local community settings. This role needs someone who is proactive and passionate about innovative new ways of working and a holistic approach to caring for people in need of mental health support.

In Oxfordshire we are working in partnership to improve community mental health services and plug the gaps between primary and secondary care. Your role will be crucial to developing strong partnership working relationships between, other primary, secondary and third sector mental health support services at a community level.

As part of surgery Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDT) you will provide triage, assessment and mental health advice to patients presenting at their GP surgery. Your role will support primary care in offering enhanced support to patients with mental health conditions, facilitating early intervention, supporting recovery and helping them to live well in their community.

You will be based within a Primary Care Network (PCN) working on a day to day basis out of GP surgeries, accountable to the PCN leadership in a matrix management style.

**You will**:
1. Support the PCN in triaging mental health concerns raised by on the day patient requests, providing specialist advice and support within GP surgeries.
2. Review patients presenting with mental health issues, consider a range of options regarding treatment interventions providing them with highly specialised advice concerning care when appropriate and liaising with GPs and MH teams.
3. Offer brief interventions as needed e.g. problem solving, decision making, building resilience, building on personal strengths, risk de-escalation, medication advice and prescribing if a registered NMP.
4. Work as a member of the primary Care MDT and take responsibility for the development and implementation of specialist mental health training to the PCN.
5. Provide a navigation role to help GPs refer appropriately to the relevant community/secondary care services - bridging the gap between primary care services, e.g. IAPT and secondary care, working in partnership.

As an Oxford Health member of staff, you will be fully connected to our Trust mental health teams for line management and team support; whilst also receiving full training and clinical supervision through the Trust to support your continuous development.

Benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust include:

- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, with an increase to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Staff accommodation
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme

**The “must haves” for you to be considered for this role**:

- Current professional registration: Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or equivalent
- Community experience in mental health services for adults or older age adults with severe / significant / enduring mental illness
- Experience of providing a range of evidence-based interventions to people with a variety of mental health problems and serious mental illness.

We are happy to answer any questions that you may have about the role so please do get in contact.

**Please Note**:

- New starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
- Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
- Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.