Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Job summary This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced professional to deliver a high quality service within Primary Care, servicing 9 member GP practices of the North East and South Primary Care Networks (PCNs).To apply for the role, you will be an experienced Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, ideally with a prescribing qualification and experience or knowledge relevant to working in primary care.
Main duties of the job The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner role involves conducting comprehensive mental health assessments, prescribing, and managing medications where appropriate, triaging referrals to appropriate secondary care or psychological therapies in accordance with national guidelines and best practice.Practitioners will manage patients experiencing mild to moderate mental health conditions, aiming to reduce inappropriate referrals and hospital admissions while promoting self-care.
Working autonomously within GP surgeries, they will manage varying levels of demand and monitoring stable patients with severe mental illness under shared care protocols.Key responsibilities include managing mental health risks, fostering collaboration with partner agencies, and strengthening connections across health and social care.
Exceptional organisational, interpersonal, assessment, and risk management skills are crucial for this role, along with the ability to work independently.Data reporting and outcome metrics will also be key components of the role, ensuring evidence-based practice and continuous improvement in patient care.
About us We provide Primary Care Mental Health Services to the North East and South Primary Care Networks, covering a registered population of circa 95,104 patients.We are a forward thinking and dynamic network of practices looking to not just deliver the PCN DES but also to look to establish new innovative ways of delivering services at scale within the community.We aim to take a strategic view of the local health economy, working closely with all providers.
We believe in a strong business collaboration, safeguarding healthcare provision for the future with patient centred care at the forefront of our focus.Please note, whilst this role will work across our 2 PCN member practices; A designated lead practice will be appointed as the employing organisation for this post.
Job description Job responsibilities The following are the core responsibilities of the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels.a)Provision of assessment for people presenting to the GP surgeries who appear to be experiencing mental health problems acting as both a first and second contact practitioner within a variety of surgeries.b)Ensure that personally generated patient documentation is accurate and maintained in line with relevant NMC/professional bodies standards, guidelines and operational guidance.c)Liaise with key stakeholders/partner organisations regarding care pathways and treatment.d)Communicate and engage effectively with patients, their carers and the public regarding care pathways and treatment.e)Communicate and present complex and sensitive clinical information when required at relevant forums.f)Be able to utilise specialist assessment tools so to enhance the assessment process.g)Assess and manage clinical risk within agreed protocols and that actions are implemented to meet the health and welfare needs of staff and patients.h)Provide a holistic mental health assessment.i)To work independently and use clinical judgement in decision making.j)Provide interventions and self-management techniques, advice, guidance, and support literature to patients who will benefit.k)Support patients to access the GP practices physical health promotion and prevention services.
Signpost to Health Improvement Practitioners within the surgery/neighbourhood, community assets and other voluntary services for interventions.l)Refer patients on to the GPs and Practice Nurses in the surgery, when problems are identified which are outside the remit of a Mental Health Practitioner in Primary Care, recognising the role of other colleagues within the surgery.m)Signpost referrals to Medical Secretaries when clinically indicated for secondary care input.n)Demonstrate ability to work as a member of a practice team and wider team working.o)Contribute towards the development of operational policy and guidelines for own work area, in collaboration with colleagues from the practice, ICB, PCN.p)In conjunction with the Operational Manager ensure policies and guidance are cascaded to practices and applied across the work area.q)Support and improve the performance management function of the service in general practice within clinical supervision.r)Identify gaps in service provision.
Make recommendations for service development to the provider and the ICB.
Support any redesign and inform any implementation of approved initiatives.s)Support the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of the Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner service to meet local need and targets.t)Maintenance of equipment and stock relating to patient care.Key Skills and BehavioursEssentiala)Strong communication skills both via telephone, face to face and electronically (as well as the ability to adapt communication style to meet the needs of an individual as identified).b)To maintain a high level of data entry accuracy and clarity.c)Excellent listening skills with the ability to keep individuals motivated and focused.d)Managing clear and consistent boundaries.e)Excellent time management skills ability to prioritise, plan and deliver work items in line with set expectations.f)Ability to work cohesively as part of a wider supportive team whilst maintaining the confidence to work independently on agreed workflow items within remit.g)Ability to remain calm and professional at all times.h)Confidence to escalate or refer workflow where needed and identify risk.i)Confidently communicate at all levels to include Medical Professionals, Commissioners and Governing bodies (where appropriate).j)Build working relationships quickly and effectively within our Member Practices and external stakeholders instilling confidence and maintain existing relationships.k)Always maintain strict confidentiality and awareness of GDPR/ data sharing throughout working practices.l)To provide cover for members of the team during periods of sickness and annual leave.m)To attend Training courses and training days as requested.n)To complete mandatory training in line with providers training policy.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered Nurse qualification with active NMC registration Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Nursing or related field Evidence of ongoing professional development and training Mandatory training certifications as per organisational policy Desirable Prescribing qualification Experience Essential Proven experience in delivering mental health care in primary or secondary care settings Experience conducting comprehensive mental health assessments and managing care pathways Demonstrated ability to manage mild to moderate mental health conditions Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams Familiarity with shared care protocols and risk management in clinical settings.
Other Requirements Essential Flexibility to adapt to varying workloads and support team coverage during absences.
Willingness to attend training and contribute to organisational development.
Ability to identify service gaps and propose innovative solutions.
UK Driving Licence Knowledge Essential In-depth understanding of mental health conditions, care pathways, and national guidelines.
Knowledge of health promotion and prevention strategies.
Familiarity with GDPR, data confidentiality, and related legal frameworks.
Personal Attributes Essential Empathetic and patient-centered approach to care.
Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure.
Collaborative team player with the confidence to work autonomously.
Commitment to continuous improvement and service development.
Skills and Competencies Essential Strong communication skills (face-to-face, telephone, and electronic).
Exceptional organisational and time-management abilities.
Skilled in clinical assessment and the use of specialist mental health assessment tools.
Proficient in prescribing and managing medication (if applicable).
Competence in data reporting and analysis to support evidence-based practice.
Ability to work independently and make sound clinical decisions.
Skilled in building effective relationships with patients, carers, and partner organisations.