Mental Health Practitioner

The Mental Health Practitioner is the Enable team's specialist for working-age adults whose mental health affects their ability to work. You will see patients referred through Enable triage, assess their mental health, risk and work situation, and agree a time-limited, work-focused plan that supports them to stay in or return to work. You will also be the team's source of mental health expertise. You will advise and upskill colleagues completing workability plans, and help shape how the pilot manages mental health presentations. This is a primary care, early-intervention role; it is not a crisis or secondary care service. Patients needing longer-term or specialist treatment are referred on through agreed pathways., Clinical assessment and intervention

• Carry out holistic bio-psychosocial assessments of adults referred with common mental health problems (for example anxiety, depression and work-related stress) by telephone, video or face to face.
• Complete a structured risk assessment at every contact. Escalate urgent risk the same day through the crisis, safeguarding and GP pathways, and record the decision and rationale.
• Agree a time-limited, work-focused plan with each patient, typically an assessment and up to three follow-up contacts. Draw on evidence-based approaches such as motivational interviewing, behavioural activation, problem solving, guided self-help and graded return to work.
• Use validated outcome measures at agreed points (PHQ-9, GAD-7 and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale) to track progress and inform decisions.
• Refer or signpost to NHS Talking Therapies (including employment advisers), community mental health teams, Access to Work, the Enable Social Prescriber and voluntary sector services, and follow up that the referral was received.
• Provide clear, concise feedback to the referring clinician and the patient's GP, including any recommendations on medication for the prescriber to consider. The post holder will undertake comprehensive mental health assessments and make referrals through agreed pathways.
  
  Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative is the largest employer of Primary Care colleagues in South Cumbria, we are a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, and work to support, guide and underpin primary medical care across Lancashire and South Cumbria.