Role

This role of Specialist Mental Health Practitioner for Primary Care is fundamental to the development and leadership of innovative new teams and integrated mental health services based within networks of GP Practices (PCNs). The role promotes and provides early assessment, treatment and improved access to evidence-based interventions for people with SMI. The role will help people to focus on achievable goals and access local community resources. The service will be for people over 18 years old (including carers) with a specific focus on:

• Those with mental health needs that exceed the access criteria for IAPT and do not meet the access criteria for secondary care
• People with serious or significant mental illness (SMI) who are in recovery and relatively stable in secondary care mental health services who could be cared for within primary care
• People with SMI who are eligible for an annual health check and medication review and improved access to physical health interventions
• Younger adults with SMI (18-25 years) particularly those transitioning between children’s and adult services
• Those diagnosed with, or presenting with traits of, personality disorder who will benefit from enhanced support across primary care through the MHICS team

As Part Of a Small Team, The Postholder Will

• Contribute to delivering and co-developing the primary care mental health service model. This includes care pathways for the provision of integrated physical and mental health care in a designated Primary Care Network within Oxfordshire.
• Work as part of the MDT to support and advise the Primary Care Team in triage, assessment and treatment of patients needing mental health support.
• Accept referrals direct from primary care via an agreed route, promote early assessment / treatment, and ensure robust relationships and links with other community-based services.
• Work with adults (18+) with severe / significant mental illness, whose mental health needs can be best met within primary care and whose difficulties are best understood within a biopsychosocial model.
• Work closely with colleagues in specialist community mental health services to ensure smooth transitions between teams and services and facilitate an ‘easy in, easy out’ approach to improve access to evidence-based interventions.
• Work closely with, and provide day to day support and guidance to, the primary care navigator role, connecting people to appropriate community and voluntary sector support.