Job overview

We are currently seeking an experienced GP Plus Practitioner, at Band 6 to work via a Bank Contract, based in Stevenage for our Primary Care Mental Health Service. You will be joining our Temporary Staffing Team within HPFT - Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

The role of the GP Plus Practitioner will be to work across the interface between Primary Care and Mental Health Services to work alongside the service manager(s) to facilitate mental health assessment in primary care and support GPs about decision making in relation to secondary care referrals, support transition of service users from the care of secondary mental health services back to Primary Care and to facilitate re-access where appropriate.

The post holder will do this by providing consultation, support, education and  problem-solving approaches to the Local Primary Care Teams particularly in the area of assessment and management of mental health problems in adults of working age.

HPFT provides services for service users with mental health, learning disability and children’s and adolescent mental health problems. Applicants should have some experience of working in a healthcare setting.

HPFT has a range of healthcare settings across the County and therefore access to a car would be beneficial unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving

All applicants need to hold a valid Professional Registration and can evidence this.

Main duties of the job

·       This will include “signposting” to other services and occasionally undertake very short-term interventions for clients with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

·       The role is to strengthen access and to provide community triage for people who may need mental health services. The post holder will ensure systems  are in place to promote smooth pathways between primary care and secondary mental health services.

·       Work in partnership with service users in the designated care group with complex health presentations, developing their care plans and recovery plans to enable them to lead fulfilling lives.

·       Work in partnership with Health and social care professionals from other  agencies and organisations including Community Navigators

·       They will demonstrate an understanding of clinical interventions relevant to  the Pathway/Protocols to include psycho education, relevant aspects of social inclusion, Recovery, care plans and discharge planning, working closely with carers, families and partner agencies to facilitate this.

Working for our organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an Outstanding provider of mental health and learning disability services.  Feedback from our staff about working for the Trust is very positive and, in the NHS national staff survey, we regularly see a high percentage of staff saying their role makes a difference to our service users and that they would recommend the Trust as a place to work.   Our people tell us they feel supported though a great development, wellbeing and work-life balance offer and a highly compassionate, values-driven culture.  We are equally proud of our staff, who live our values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional so that together we provide great care and great outcomes for our service users and carers.