Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner

Overview

Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner (Band 6) in Calderdale, in partnership with the Lower Valley Primary Care Network (PCN). Roles are established in Calderdale to provide specialist mental health support in a local primary care setting. Closing date: 04 February 2026.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

Key responsibilities

Your approach should be driven by the underpinning philosophies of mental health promotion, empowerment and personal responsibility. This work will focus on service users identified as requiring mental health support to access treatment and improve wellbeing.

• Conduct mental health assessments for all referred individuals and determine their needs and the most appropriate service or agency to meet those needs.
• Engage in brief therapeutic work where appropriate, refer to other services/agencies, or advise on additional sources of support.
• Build and maintain effective links with all disciplines within the PCNs and work as an integrated part of the PCN MDT within the Integrated Neighbourhood Health system.

Training and support

• Provide easily accessed advice for integrated care teams and identify training needs of staff on mental health issues.
• Participate in providing training and supervision for PCN staff on mental health issues as required; undertake a training, consultancy and support role within the team and for the wider integrated care workforce.
• Contribute to service improvement and development as part of the wider primary care mental health transformation process.

Other requirements

• At the time of advertising, this role meets the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust providing community, mental health and learning disability services across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and lead the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities by delivering high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical roles who work to improve the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to reflect our communities.

Becoming a foundation trust means we are accountable to our members, around 14,300 local people (including staff) who are members of our Trust. Join us and you will be part of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of thousands of people we meet each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

This job description outlines the main duties of the post. The postholder will undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed and the content will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder as necessary.

Key result areas

• Conduct mental health assessments for all referred individuals, determine needs and identify the most appropriate service/agency. May engage in brief therapeutic work, refer to another service/agency or advise on other sources of support.
• Build and maintain links with housing or other relevant teams within the local area and work as part of the integrated housing/health or social investment teams as applicable to the post.
• Work autonomously in primary care/housing settings and manage risks for unpredictable client groups with no other mental health professional support available.
• Provide freely accessible advice for teams, identify staff training needs, and participate in training and supervision on mental health issues.
• Maintain high standards of tenant/client confidentiality and implement risk assessments and management plans with appropriate documentation.
• Provide individual treatment based on a recovery approach and discharge service users to primary care as appropriate; undertake group interventions relative to caseload priorities.
• Maintain effective links with multidisciplinary colleagues, carers and relevant agencies, offering support and guidance as needed.
• Encourage supervision of junior staff and participate in regular supervision; monitor and evaluate progress to ensure effectiveness of interventions.

Other

• Maintain up-to-date evidence-based practices and demonstrate flexibility to undertake practical and functional duties as required.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner and uphold professional codes of ethical conduct.
• Maintain driving licence and access to a car during the working day (reasonable adjustments considered for disability).

Person specification Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years, with fairness and equality considerations for disability or pregnancy where applicable.

Personal Attributes

• Flexible; shows personal integrity; driven and enthusiastic.
• Ability to work in an inter-disciplinary, multi-agency environment; demonstrates respect for differences and non-discrimination; genuine interest in the client group.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) or Social Worker or Occupational Therapist.
• PSI training; AMHP qualification.

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Understanding of responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Care Programme Approach, Clinical Governance, Risk Assessment, Child Protection legislation and NICE guidelines.
• Ability to analyse and present complex information; supervisory leadership skills; basic keyboard skills.
• Ability to inspire confidence in service users, carers and staff; influencing and negotiating skills; ability to prioritise workload.
• Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day (reasonable adjustments for disability).

Experience

• Post-registration experience in mental health; experience working in a community setting delivering one-to-one mental health services; experience of brief therapeutic work with referred individuals.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order) and requires a DBS check.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust