Job summary

We are seeking a Band 6 Mental Health Practitioners (Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Social Worker) to join our primary care Mental Health Team in Southampton. Our local vision, in line with The Long Term Plan is to provide care to service users where and when they need it.

A major focus of this is to provide an enhanced mental health service within the primary care networks (PCNs). Post holders will be based within the primary care setting providing care and treatment to service users registered with surgeries. The successful applicant will become part of a growing primary care team who deliver care to some of the most diverse populations in Southampton. There are 7 primary care Networks across the Southampton Locality- within these networks are GP surgeries where you will contribute to the triage service, offering early assessment, brief interventions and signposting for people with mental health needs in their local communities. We work collaboratively with Solent Mind and have peer recovery workers working alongside our practitioners in the surgeries.

Main duties of the job

The role will focus on taking day to day responsibility for delivering a primary care based clinical approach that better integrates primary care services and mental health support to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. The clinical approach will seek to meet the on the day demand through provision of triage, assessment, formulation and brief psychological intervention. During your development period you will be supported to develop and refine your skills in these areas.

You will receive support and mentorship from a named primary care practitioner in addition to clinical supervision within the mental health team. There will be training available for the post and part of the role will work towards delivering group interventions using the Comprehend, Cope and Connect model (CCC) within the PCNs - an opportunity for a new approach to mental health; one that meets the whole person; takes in their strengths and their experience (trauma informed) and works with their potential and aspirations. The new workforce with this orientation can create a psychologically informed environment that supports and encourages, while acknowledging distress and motivating work on change and addressing challenge.

The work is varied and challenging, and there is a strong team approach ensuring good support for the successful applicant. You will need to have a flexible, multi-disciplinary approach, have a good understanding of risk assessment, crisis planning and the recovery model.

About us

Southern Health is one of the largest NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK, specialising in mental health and learning disabilities, as well as offering physical health community-based services.

With a workforce of more than 7000 and a footprint that spans more than 200 sites across Hampshire, we're wholeheartedly committed to providing the best possible healthcare, reaching a range of diverse communities, whilst placing patients and staff at the forefront of all our endeavours.

We are currently working closely with other NHS Trusts to integrate all our collective community, mental health, and learning disability services. Our new organisation, to be known as Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, is set to launch in July 2024.

The transformation will happen in staggered stages; Hampshire CAMHS, part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust joined Southern Health in February 2024, with Isle of Wight NHS Trust mental health and community services transitioning in early May 2024. The final combination of Southern Health and Solent Trusts is anticipated to occur in July 2024, when the new organisation will be formed.

Our new Trust will continue to cater to the unique needs of different communities, making healthcare across the county more accessible, as well as offering staff more opportunities for career development, training and partnership working.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare in Hampshire.