Did you know that adults living with serious mental illness (SMI) are five times more likely to die prematurely than those without SMI, with up to 50% of these deaths linked to smoking? People with SMI also face significantly higher risks of respiratory disease, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
At Andover Mind, we are passionate about changing this. Our new SMI Health Facilitator roles will play a key part in improving physical health outcomes for people living with SMI by helping them access vital annual health checks and follow-up care.
Location: North & Mid Hants Primary Care Networks (which includes, but not limited to; Andover, Winchester and Basingstoke).
About the Role
As an SMI Health Facilitator, you will:
- Work with GP practices and community mental health teams to identify people on SMI registers who have missed their annual physical health checks.
- Reach out to individuals by phone, in community venues, or via home visits to encourage attendance and explain the importance of the checks.
- Build trusting, non-judgmental relationships to overcome barriers and improve engagement.
- Carry out basic health checks (e.g., blood pressure, height, weight, pulse, and finger-prick tests).
- Support patients to access further services, signposting to Andover Mind s mental health programs where appropriate.
- Collaborate with peer support workers, social prescribers, and GP staff to create a supportive care pathway.
- Develop and deliver a communication strategy to increase health check uptake across GP practices.
- Maintain accurate records on GP systems in line with GDPR and clinical governance requirements.
About You
We are looking for someone who is:
* Empathetic, confident and compassionate, with a genuine commitment to improving the lives of people with SMI.
* A great communicator, confident in having open, supportive conversations with individuals who may be anxious or reluctant to engage.
* Organised and proactive, with the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Comfortable using digital systems to record information and manage appointments.
* Previous experience in community outreach, health facilitation, or mental health support is desirable but not essential full training will be provided.
Why Join Andover Mind?
At Andover Mind, you ll be part of a supportive and passionate team making a real difference in your community. You ll receive:
- Full training, including physical health check skills and use of mobile health equipment (e.g., WhIzan Blue Box).
-Ongoing supervision and professional development opportunities.
- The chance to play a key role in reducing health inequalities for some of the most vulnerable people in society.
How to Apply
If you re passionate about improving health outcomes for people with serious mental illness, we d love to hear from you.
Closing date: We plan to interview as soon as we receive enough appropriate candidates