First Contact Mental Health GP

First Contact Mental Health appointments provided to patients registered at our four practices. Offering initial review, onward referral to external service providers, appropriate prescribing eg SSRIs and follow-up appointments. This is a new position within the PCN structure and would work alongside existing mental health services offered. Although we would welcome candidates with previous Mental Health experience, this is not necessarily required. We would be looking to support this role with appropriate training opportunities, enabling successful candidates to develop specialist skills within this area. There would be regular support from the member practices and the local community mental health trust.

Assessing patients experiencing mental health concerns in a primary care setting. This will be face to face in clinic or via telephone consultation but will not include home visits Making professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether self-referred or referred from other health care workers within the organisation Assessing the mental health care needs of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems Onward referral to secondary care eg CMHT and/or voluntary sector organisations such as the Recovery Education Centre and Access Wellbeing Hub Developing care plans for health in consultation with patients and in line with current practice disease management protocols Providing advice, guidance and health education