An exciting opportunity for mental health practitioners (nurses, social workers or occupational therapists) to put their experience, knowledge and skills into practice in a primary care setting is now available.



Whilst working within this innovative and developing mental health setting you will be supported to progressing your career whilst also working flexibly and autonomously. You will work within GP surgeries, providing person-centred interventions to improve the mental health of the local community in partnership with peer recovery workers, general practitioners and social prescribers, whilst liaising closely with the Community Mental Health Team.



We are seeking a Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner (Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Social Worker) to join our developing primary care Mental Health Team. Our local vision, in line with The Long-Term Plan is to provide care to service users where and when they need it.

As a registered professional you will automatically become a member of our Academy of Clinical Excellence (ACE) which has a specific focus on the professional development and career progression of our nurses and Allied Health Professionals. As part of ACE’s commitment to you, our development pathway for band 6’s focuses on enhancing your competence and confidence as a senior clinician and leader. As such, you will have access to masters level academic study with our partner universities as well as access to a variety of internal and external leadership programmes, workshops and support tools. The Academy encourages all our registrants to engage with service improvement, research and facilitating learning and a range of opportunities to support these core professional activities is available from ACE. To help you progress your journey with us, you will have access to a ‘Career Navigation’ conversation which will help you explore your career aspirations and make decisions about your career trajectory.

A major focus of this is to provide an enhanced mental health service within the primary care networks (PCNs). Post holders will be based within the primary care setting providing care and treatment to service users registered with surgeries. The successful applicant will become part of a growing primary care team who deliver care to some of the most diverse populations in Southampton. There are 6 primary care Networks across the Southampton Locality- within these networks are GP surgeries where you will contribute to the triage service, offering early assessment, brief interventions and signposting for people with mental health needs in their local communities. We work collaboratively with Solent Mind and have peer recovery workers working alongside our practitioners in the surgeries.

The role will focus on taking day to day responsibility for delivering a primary care based clinical approach that better integrates primary care services and mental health support to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. The clinical approach will seek to meet the on the day demand through provision of triage, assessment, formulation and brief psychological intervention. During your development period you will be supported to develop and refine your skills in these areas.

You will receive support and mentorship from a named primary care practitioner in addition to clinical supervision within the mental health team.

There will be training available for the post and part of the role will work towards delivering group interventions using the Comprehend, Cope and Connect model (CCC) within the PCNs - an opportunity for a new approach to mental health; one that meets the whole person; takes in their strengths and their experience (trauma informed) and works with their potential and aspirations. The new workforce with this orientation can create a psychologically informed environment that supports and encourages, while acknowledging distress and motivating work on change and addressing challenge.

The work is varied and challenging, and there is a strong team approach ensuring good support for the successful applicant. You will need to have a flexible, multi-disciplinary approach, have a good understanding of risk assessment, crisis planning and the recovery model.

We can offer you a supportive work environment work and development opportunities to support you in your career progression.

If you have any questions about the post or to make a general enquiry please contact Emma Jones Primary Care Matron emma.jones@southernhealth.nhs.uk

The NHS pay scales have not yet been updated for 2022. Confirmation issued on 19th July that they will be increased in line with the statement available on the NHS Employers and Government websites.

Happy to talk flexible working – all requests for flexible working will be considered

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter:

facebook.com/SouthernHealthNHS

@Southern_NHSFT

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

348-SOU-C-604A