This role will afford rapid access to credible specialist mental health expertise for GPs, Primary Care staff and other referring agents who are requiring support and expert advice on meeting the mental health needs of the people within their case loads.

This will ensure that patients in Primary Care have their mental health needs more clearly assessed, defined, cared for and treated by Primary Care Health Care Professionals and that the pathways to best meet someone's needs is optimised.

For most people this will mean remaining within Primary Care supported by the Primary Care Liaison Service where needed, but for some, needs necessitating, there will be a smooth transfer into AWP treatment services.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will prioritise assessments based on clinical need and risk, making evidence-based recommendations for care and treatment within and across multiple care pathways.

A significant proportion of the role will involve working in conjunction with Primary Care colleagues to identify care and treatment options which enable service users to remain within their existing support/care pathways and maintain their community tenure.

The Primary Care Liaison team will provide an accessible specialist clinical consultation service for GPs and Primary Care colleagues, increasing awareness and providing education and training for this group to improve access to and understanding of the service.

The post holder will maintain close working relationships with Recovery and Intensive services, Community Mental Health Teams as well as the Acute Hospital Liaison Services.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care

Job description Job responsibilities

1. To provide information, proportional assessment and sign posting to patients and their family and carers presenting with mental health problems/needs in community settings.

2. To foster strong collaborative and trusting working relationships with the referring agent/Primary Care Health Care Professionals underpinned by an educative and solutions focussed philosophy whilst providing them with credible clinical expertise. This may include:a. The promotion and use of additional standardised assessment toolsb. Promoting the importance of working with, strengths and aspirations of the person referredc. The provision of succinct formulations and recommendations (inclusive of risk management advice)d. Assessment of or advice on the impact of culture and diversitye. Consideration of the respective Primary Care HCPs confidence and capability in relation to The 10 Essential Shared Capabilities (best practice in Mental Health Care).f. Best practice advice and support in a broad range of conditions for people with both functional or organic mental health needsg. Promotion and recognition of the needs of family and carer/s, including various support networks and third sector agenciesh. Advice and support on evaluating risk from a positive risk taking perspectivei. Support and clarity on formulations within a bio-psycho-social model, including people with medically unexplained symptomsj. Identifying and ensuring specialist involvement where requiredk. Advice on interventions and treatments required to enable positive changel. Support and advice within Safeguarding and public protection procedures where the issues are complicated by mental health problemsm. Second opinion on complex capacity assessmentsn. To facilitate the development of safe and effective mental health care practice within the primary care setting.

3. To assist the primary care and secondary mental health teams in the delivery of safe and appropriate care planning processes.

4. To provide a prompt response to all referrals following jointly agreed procedures and within agreed time frames.

5. To provide concise and effective liaison and feedback to clinical staff within secondary mental health services and Primary Care teams including advice on effective and appropriate management strategies for those patients referred to the service

6. To ensure where needed that people experience a seamless transfer into AWP provider/treatment services

7. To make effective use of the standard liaison approach and structure for assessments according to the SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) format

8. Following assessment, to provide short- term follow up of patients where appropriate.

9. To contribute evidence based expertise to multi-disciplinary team care planning processes

10. To provide effective communication with service users, relatives and carers, Primary Care and Secondary health services.

11. To advise on medication management issues

12. To ensure the active involvement of carers during all stages of the assessment process

13. To provide a prompt response to requests for information and advice.

14. To ensure appropriate communication, both verbal and written, at all stages of the consultation process.

15. To promote positive attitudes, mutual understanding and collaboration between non mental health staff and mental health services, users, carers, voluntary agencies, primary care and social services

16. To provide evidence-based specialist advice on how best to meet the mental health needs of the population for staff of other agencies, service users and carers.

17. To raise awareness of the effects of physical conditions on the mental health of service users.

18. To assist and participate in appropriate service development forums.

19. To provide mentoring/ training for others in relevant practice areas, according to professional requirements, taking a collaborative approach to practice development and evidence-based care.

20. Demonstrate responsibility for developing own practice in line with professional qualifications and for contributing to the development of others, by making use of and providing, effective feedback, supervision, coaching and appraisal.

21. To adhere to the NMC professional code of conduct ensuring required skills and competencies required are maintained.

22. Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others, undertaking assessments and taking appropriate action where required.

23. Develop own knowledge and practice, and contribute to the development of others, making use of available feedback, supervision and appraisal to identify appropriate areas of development for this work role, taking responsibility for accessing identified learning and training opportunities.

24. Lead, maintain and participate in practices which enable team working

25. To maintain the single health and social care record, ensuring both paper and electronic records are kept up to date in accordance with professional and organisational standards.

26. To assist in the development and implementation of appropriate systems aimed at ensuring a consistent approach to assessment, communication and follow-up

27. To make appropriate use of time and resources

28. To participate in clinical audit and service evaluation programmes as required.

29. To participate in local arrangements where required to manage unexpected staff absences

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• A degree in mental health nursing/social work/occupational therapy
• Relevant professional registration

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

342-NS087-0622