You will see patients with low levelmental health needs, whose needs are not best met by existing services and aredeemed to benefit from a coaching approach. The majority of patients will bereferred by GPs, social prescribers, care-coordinators and other organisations,but you may also act as a first point of contact. You will assess patients andapply a solution focussed approach to help them identify and address their mentalhealth needs. You will be trained to provide a host of brief interventions to addressproblems such as anxiety, low mood, stress, self-esteem issues, poor copingskills to name a few. In some cases you will be expected to identify and refer/signpostpatients to other partner services if there is a concern about levels of risk, safeguarding,or if their needs exceed your scope of expertise. You will also receive weekly groupsupervision. The role will primary be face-to-face, but there may be someremote working depending on the needs of the services.
Main duties of the job
Work as part of a multidisciplinary team as the first point of contact for patients with low to moderate mental health needs. Collaborate with patients to develop personalised care plans that respect individual beliefs, preferences, and access requirements, helping to reduce health inequalities.
Provide brief solution-focused interventions and behavioural activation techniques to support patients in identifying factors affecting their mental health and empower them to improve wellbeing. Adopt a holistic biopsychosocial approach, working closely with GPs, social prescribers, mental health practitioners, and external services to ensure appropriate support and referrals.
Recognise professional limitations and elevate patients presenting significant clinical risk, safeguarding concerns, or mental health crises to appropriate colleagues and services. Deliver follow‑up support, coaching, and motivation to encourage engagement with treatment plans and promote self‑management skills.
Provide consultations via face‑to‑face, telephone, and group formats. Maintain accurate clinical records using EMIS and complete reports. Develop links with GP practices, mental health services, and voluntary organisations to support integrated patient care.
Manage personal workload effectively, attend clinical and multidisciplinary meetings, contribute to PCN reporting requirements. Promote patient safety through incident reporting, quality improvement activities, participation in complaint management.
About us
North Lewisham Primary Care Network (NLPCN) is one of the largest PCNs inLewisham and has a very diverse population made up of 9 GP Practices serving apopulation of around 91,000 patients.
Health inequality impacts our patients: North Lewisham has higher thanaverage levels of deprivation and BAME populations and poorer health outcomes.
NLPCN is committed to tackling health inequality as a priority. We havedeveloped a program of work to improve trust and engage with our localcommunity, training our GP surgeries and staff to improve access for patients,improving our communication to patients about service changes and healthpromotion and improving the monitoring of those suffering from healthinequality to drive our strategy.
The Waldron is a health centre and a community hub promoting health andwellbeing activities.
Job responsibilities
Vision and values
The aim of the NLPCN is to offer high quality patient‑centred healthcare which is committed to bringing together GP practices so that they can more effectively work with others.
Our ambition is to reduce inequalities in healthcare and improve the quality of health and wellbeing throughout North Lewisham through increased access to high quality, integrated health, and social care.
As a PCN, NLPCN operates as part of the local accountable integrated care system, working and collaborating with GP practices, a wide range of healthcare professional, social services professionals as well as local community groups. This enables us to not only focus on direct health services but also on the social and other issues that impact on health thereby enhancing the health and wellbeing of patients and community.
We expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the PCN:
Equity of quality and equity of access for all residents in and around North Lewisham
Providing proactive, personalised, and coordinated care
Protecting and supporting general practice whilst also supporting transformation
Collaborating and engaging with others to spur on innovation and sustainable working.
The Role
The prevalence of mental health disorders within Lewisham is significantly above the UK average and unfortunately the COVID‑19 pandemic has further heightened this need. As a result, within the borough of Lewisham we are working together to improve the mental health of the local residents and have taken an asset‑based community development and data driven approach to address the inequalities in access to mental healthcare across our communities.
As a Mental Health & Wellbeing Coach you will work collaboratively with our Senior Mental Health Practitioner and have access to the wider team which includes social prescribers, care coordinators, health and wellbeing coaches, an advanced nurse practitioner and other professionals for advice and supervision as needed. You will be directly integrated not only with the PCN staff but also with the local mental health trust (South London & Maudsley), to ensure that there is no wrong door into mental health services.
The successful applicant will work as part of a team of mental health and wellbeing coaches (MHWCs) and will receive formal Health & Wellbeing Coach Training accredited by the Personalised Care Institute (unless equivalent training already completed). You will see patients with low level mental health needs, whose needs are not best met by existing services and are deemed to benefit from a coaching approach. The majority of patients will be referred by GPs, social prescribers, care‑coordinators and other organisations, but you may also act as a first point of contact. You will assess patients and apply a solution focussed approach to help them identify and address their mental health needs. You will be trained to provide a host of brief interventions to address problems such as anxiety, low mood, stress, self‑esteem issues, poor coping skills to name a few. In some cases you will be expected to identify and refer/signpost patients to other partner services if there is a concern about levels of risk, safeguarding, or if their needs exceed your scope of expertise. You will also receive weekly group supervision. The role will primary be face‑to‑face, but there may be some remote working depending on the needs of the services.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team as a first point of contact for patients with low-medium level mental health needs
Work collaboratively with patients, to develop individualised management plans respecting their health beliefs, access requirements and care preferences to help reduce health inequalities within our communities.
Provide brief solution focussed interventions and employ behavioural activation techniques (training to be provided) to enable patients to identify the factors contributing to their poor mental health and empower them to take the steps necessary to address these.
To take a holistic (biopsychosocial) approach to mental health, working collaboratively with other PCN staff including social prescribers, GPs and mental health practitioners who may be better suited to meet an individual patients needs, or referring on to another service whether appropriate (e.g., IAPT, voluntary sector organisations)
Be aware of your limitations and appropriately escalating patients presenting significant clinical risk or safeguarding concerns to the appropriate colleague (e.g. mental health practitioner, duty GP). This may include initiating safeguarding referrals and referrals on to mental health crisis services where appropriate.
Ensure appropriate follow‑up and provide ongoing coaching and motivation to promote engagement with services, treatment plans and the development of skills to manage their mental wellbeing more independently.
Provide consultations through a variety of modes including face‑to‑face, telephone and group sessions
Maintain accurate clinical records of all patient consultations and related work using the EMIS IT system (training can be provided)
Develop links with local GP practices, mental health services and voluntary organisations to provide more integrated support for patients.
Complete a range of written reports, as appropriate.
To be responsible for the day‑to‑day planning of personal workloads
Attend practice clinical and/or multi-disciplinary team meetings and report to the monthly PCN meeting when requested.
Contribute to a patient safety culture through reporting and investigation of incidents and undertaking proactive measures to improve patient safety.
Contribute to quality improvement activities as required.
Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and contribute to organisational learning thereof.
* Apply policies, standards and guidance specific to the role and in the wider PCN
Support delivery of GP incentive schemes, quality, or cost effectiveness initiatives where they are related to the role.
Supervision & Training:
Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes.
Engage in regular performance reviews with your clinical supervisor and line manager address any additional training needs identified.
Take responsibility for the identification of your own professional development needs and goals.
Person Specification
Qualities/Attributes
* Good communication, listening skills and relationship building skills with an understanding of individual needs.
* Non-judgemental and able to work effectively with individuals regardless of race, social background, sexuality, gender identity, religion, or belief.
* Ability to identify and advocate for vulnerable individuals.
* Ability to work under time pressure, prioritise workload and use own initiative.
* Awareness of own limitations and able to seek advice and support when required.
* Ability to work effectively with a team and assist others with caseloads when required.
* Problem solving skills (including evidence of application) and can do attitude.
* Resilient and experience of coping with difficult situations
* Enthusiastic, highly motivated, pro‑active, adaptable, and flexible
* Keen to learn and apply new skills and techniques (including evidence of application)
Other
* Well organised methods of working.
* Good time management.
* Ability to manage a busy caseload and organise own workload and assist others to manage their caseloads.
* Ability to comprehend and work within policies, including Data Protection, Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety.
* Flexibility in hours/locations to fit the changing needs of the service.
Qualifications
* Relevant qualification in mental health, wellbeing or social care
* Relevant undergraduate qualification or trained Health & Wellbeing Coach
Experience
* Evidence of working with people with mental health conditions who may be in psychological distress.
* Work experience in an urban multicultural area
* Understanding of the variety social contributors to mental health
* Experience of working with vulnerable individuals and raising safeguarding concerns
* Experience performing needs assessments and developing and reviewing personalised care plans.
* Experience of working independently following agreed protocols and guidelines
* Understanding of Clinical Governance
* Work experience in a mental health setting
* Understanding of health inequalities and factors affecting access to mental healthcare
* Experience of networking and multi-organisational working
* Awareness/ Understanding of the different models of psychological therapy e.g. CBT, Counselling, Psychotherapy, mindfulness
* Previous experience of working with or within primary care
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
North Lewisham Primary Care Network
Address
Waldron Health Centre, Ground Floor, Suite 1
Waldron Health Centre, Ground Floor, Suite 1
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