Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Advanced First Contact Mental Health Practitioner to work within primary care within the South Hambleton and Ryedale PCN
In this attractive, flexible, role the post holder the has opportunity of working within primary care, with non-working weekends and the benefit of bank holidays!
This role is fundamental to the development of inclusive & integrated mental health services.
NMC Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers (England), HCPC Occupational Therapist encouraged to apply.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting, and innovative post to support the needs of the local population living with mental health difficulties. The role holder will fulfil an 'Advanced first contact' specialist mental health role within GP Practices across the Primary Care Network (PCN), seeing patients who would otherwise have traditionally seen a GP. Within the primary care setting, the role holder will work in a collaborative and multi-agency way. This will contribute to the safe and effective day to day operation of the PCN and the efficient and timely management of clinical enquiries and decision-making.
The post will sit within the GP Practices and will facilitate the interface between Primary Care and Secondary Mental Health Services to provide specialist advice and support, assessment, treatment, education and solution-focused approaches to the local Primary Care Teams, for patients and carers.
The post holder will manage their daily clinics and act as a specialist advisor to GP's, such as specialist opinion or prescribing support (within the parameters of the Non-medical prescribing/NMP framework) and providing supervision and oversight of First Contact Mental Health Practitioners.
You will be a non-medical prescriber or be willing to study towards this accreditation. Experience of cognitive behavioural therapy would be advantageous.
About us
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
Details
Date posted
02 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
346-NYA-007-26-A
Job locations
Pickering Medical Practice
Southgate
Pickering
YO18 8BL
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will assume an active leadership role in the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN and the wider mental health care system. To offer specialist advice to, or obtain advice for, the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on-going patient care management.
To lead on the creation and development of links and a culture of partnership between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services, promoting clear communication and access to specialist knowledge and advice. This ensures that each person, once assessed, receives the best possible care in the right place at the right time and by the right supporting service.
To take a leading role in the facilitation of joint working relationships across PCN, Secondary Care providers, and the Voluntary Care Sector to increase the range of services/interventions available to the communities served.
To facilitate others in the team to develop competence by providing clinical advice and clinical supervision to practice based First Contact Mental Health Practitioners and other practice staff as appropriate, including other less experienced practice based mental health workers and students.
To provide specialist clinical advice, consultation, and support to other care providers within primary, secondary, voluntary and statutory services as required.
To attend PCN meetings and work with PCN members to develop and implement joint governance and clinical multidisciplinary forums.
To assume a leadership role and responsibility within the existing Mental Health multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings across the PCN.
To promote, develop and manage clear links, pathways and information sharing processes between existing services, and when appropriate, advise the GPs on alternative approaches to improve case management.
To provide support, education and guidance of common mental health problems and their management to colleagues across the multi-disciplinary team(s), so they develop their skills and confidence in assessment and treatment of mental health needs.
To collate and organise contemporaneous information about opportunities and resources in the local area which may be of benefit to clients referred to the service (. voluntary and community organisations, educational and recreational opportunities).
To facilitate sign posting to other appropriate services and occasionally undertake very short-term interventions for clients with mild to moderate mental health difficulties (average length of time expected to be 6 weeks). Working alongside the PCN staff, which could include a care coordination team and social prescribing link worker.
To be professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, providing brief, time-limited therapeutic interventions in GP surgeries, patients homes and other primary care settings.
In line with the principles for community transformation,you will ensure systems/pathways are in place to enable smooth transition between primary care and secondary mental health services.
To work closely with Primary Care Network, GPs and Social Prescribers/other practice-based mental health workers within the locality regarding the mental health needs of their adult practice population.
Additional contact details:
South Hambleton and Ryedale PCN
Heather White
< Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or socialwork - HCPC registration, NMC registration or Social Work England Registration
2. Ability to evidence Continuing Professional Development since registration
3. Certificate in mentoring, teaching & assessing in clinical practice as appropriate to own profession
4. Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area.
5. Clinical Supervisor
6. Recognised sign-off mentor (or equivalent) for students or must be achieved within agreed timescale
7. Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent
Desirable
8. NMP (or willing to work towards within an agreed timescale, if relevant to professional registration).
9. Leadership or management qualification
Experience
Essential
10. Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a communitysetting.
11. Demonstrable leadership or management experience in a senior clinical role
12. Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
13. Experience working in primary care
14. Providing clinical supervision
15. Mentoring students on practice placement experience
16. Working in a multi-disciplinary team
17. Quality improvement activities
Desirable
18. Experience working in a multiagency setting.
Knowledge
Essential
19. Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field
20. Ability to evidence an advanced level of clinical competence in one area of specialty practic
21. Knowledge of Stepped Care model
22. Understanding of relevant legislation (. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
23. Care Programme Approach and its application in practice
24. Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice
25. Understanding of the physical healthcare needs and impact of patients with a LD or mental health problem
26. Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice
27. Clinical Governance and its application in practice
28. Research and development methodology
29. Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment
30. Demonstrable knowledge and experience of delivering psycho-social interventions and approaches
31. Contemporaneous knowledge and understanding of recent health and social care policy guidance and implications on practice.
Personal Attribuetes
Essential
32. Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours
33. Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers
34. Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in distressing and challenging circumstances
35. Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team
36. Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently
37. Committed to continual quality and service improvement
38. Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
39. Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities
40. Committed to promoting a positive image of the service.
Other Requriments
Essential
41. Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need
42. This post is subject to a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure