First Contact Mental Health Practitioner
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours
- Posted
- 24/08/2026
- Closes
- 07/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship is not clearly stated in this advert.
The advert didn't contain a clear role-specific sponsorship line, so HiveMind can't confirm eligibility. Verify with the recruiting manager or trust HR before you apply.
Role summary
This role is for a First Contact Mental Health Practitioner within the Mowbray Square PCN, working in primary care to support individuals with mental health difficulties. The post holder will provide specialist mental health advice, conduct triage, assessments, and brief interventions, and facilitate access to appropriate community mental health services. It involves working collaboratively with GP practices and other agencies to transform local mental health services and ensure seamless transitions between primary and secondary care.
Key responsibilities
- Fulfil a first contact specialist mental health role within GP Practices across the Primary Care Network (PCN).
- Provide specialist advice and support, assessment, treatment, education, and solution-focused approaches to local Primary Care Teams, for patients and carers.
- Offer expertise in networking and navigation to promote ease of access to a range of specialist mental health support services.
- Undertake initial assessment with signposting to appropriate services, or provide time-limited psycho-social therapeutic interventions directly.
- Manage daily clinics and act as a specialist advisor to GPs, providing short term interventions and support.
Essential criteria
- Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or social work.
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
- Certificate in mentorship, teaching & assessing in clinical practice as appropriate to own profession
- If appropriate to professional registration, recognised sign-off mentor (or equivalent) for students or must be achieved within agreed timescale.
- Clinical Supervisor.
- Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
- Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting.
- Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
- Providing clinical supervision
- Mentoring students on practice placement experience.
- Working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience and involvement with quality improvement activities
- Demonstrable knowledge to post- graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field.
- Knowledge of Stepped Care model.
- Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
- Care Programme Approach and its application in practice.
- Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice
- Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
- Clinical Governance and its application in practice
- Research and development methodology.
- Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment
- Demonstrable knowledge and experience of delivering psycho- social interventions and approaches
- Contemporaneous knowledge of recent health and social care policy and guidance on implications for practice
- Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional responsibilities.
- Work effectively across complex organisations, pathways and services
- Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
- Write reports.
- Use multimedia materials for presentations in professional settings.
- Use approved breakaway techniques (within agreed timescale).
- Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
- Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers.
- Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in distressing and challenging circumstances.
- Able to work flexibly and co- operatively as part of a team
- Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently.
- Committed to continual quality and service improvement
- Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development.
- Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities
- Committed to promoting a positive image of the service.
- Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need.
- This post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Baring Service check
Desirable criteria
- If appropriate to professional registration, NMP (or willing to obtain)
- Leadership or management qualification
- Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
- Experience working in primary care.
- Experience working in a multiagency setting.
- Leadership or management experience
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 14d ago · Closes in 1d
Applications close soon — apply now if this is a fit.
Full advert · preview
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
First Contact Mental Health Practitioner
The closing date is 07 September 2026
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a First Contact Mental Health Practitioner to work within primary care within the Mowbray Square PCN.
After the successful introduction of our First Contact Mental Health Practitioners a few years ago, we aspire to expand the service with a further innovative offer.
In this attractive, flexible, role the post holder the has opportunity of working within primary care, with non-working weekends and the benefit of bank holidays!
This role is fundamental to the development of inclusive & integrated mental health services.
Mowbray Square PCN consists of 2 practices; Strayside Health and Spa Surgery, both are located within the same modern purpose-built health centre in central Harrogate, close to all transport links.
NMC Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers (England), HCPC Occupational Therapist encouraged to apply.
This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Main duties of the job
Mowbra
Join the community to read the full pack, responsibilities and person-specification in one place.
Your seat is reserved — activate it
CareerHive is included with your CareerHive Skool community membership. If you haven't claimed your account yet, join the community (or sign in with the same email you joined with) to unlock the full advert, the apply link, HiveMind AI interview & application suite, your private vault, and daily sponsorship alerts.