GPIMHS Community Connector (East Elmbridge)

Job Summary

Job title: Community Connector

Service: GPIMHS (GP Integrated Mental Health Service)

Location: East Elmbridge and occasional travel across Surrey

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: £30,906 (per annum)

Term: Permanent

Holiday: 25 days plus bank holidays

Closing date for applications: 25 August 2025

Interviews: Week commencing 1 September 2025

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and the successful completion of a probationary period.

Project

GPIMHS is an emotional and wellbeing service that supports adults aged 18+ in primary care who are experiencing a range of mental health difficulties. Clients are offered extended consultation times, quick and easy access to practical advice, and tailored support for their mental health needs from a multidisciplinary team.

Clients can explore the situation affecting their wellbeing – Whether that is an ongoing mental or physical health problem, loneliness, debt, or other issues. They can then be guided to appropriate resources that may help, including talking therapies, benefits advice, or an introduction to a local community group.

The role of the Community Connector is fundamental to the development of these innovative teams and mental health services based within networks of GP Practices (Primary Care Networks – PCNs). The role supports the ongoing development and mobilisation of integrated primary care mental health services. GPIMHS is delivered in partnership between Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP) and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

Key Responsibilities

As part of a multidisciplinary team based in primary care, the Community Connector will:

• Collaborate with the Mental Health Practitioner to conduct assessments (including risk assessments), assist with triaging incoming referrals, support clients in identifying socially determined needs and goals, provide self-management tools, and facilitate personal support plans.
• Deliver motivational and structured psychosocial interventions to promote recovery and wellbeing.
• Encourage independence through an asset-based approach that builds on individuals’ strengths, preferences and natural support networks.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with GPs, practice staff, health practitioners, and a wide range of agencies to ensure coordinated support and continuity of care.
• Support clients in accessing community services including Community Connections, housing providers, family and carer support, debt advice, and employment services.
• Facilitate engagement with key services such as Safe Havens, CMHRS (Community Mental Health Recovery Services), and local wellbeing activities.
• Connect clients with peer support and volunteering opportunities and provide support to peer support workers within the PCN.
• Assist with community resource mapping, maintain a database of local resources, identify gaps in provision, and collaborate with VCSE organisations to develop needed services.
• Broker and build partnerships between public and voluntary sector agencies to enhance service delivery and access.
• Complete quality outcome measures with clients and conduct regular reviews (i.e. DIALOG+).
• Attend regular supervision with the Mental Health Practitioner (case management) and Team Manager (line management).

General Terms of Reference

In fulfilling the above responsibilities, the post holder will:

• Work flexibly across operational sites within the PCN (full-time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday).
• Adhere to all relevant policies and procedures of the employing organisation and partner organisations, with particular attention to confidentiality, Information Governance, health and safety, and Surrey Safeguarding protocols.
• Maintain accurate records in line with governance and GDPR requirements.
• Take responsibility for personal safety and promote safe practices among clients.
• Engage in team meetings, supervision, appraisal, and workforce development activities.
• Stay informed about relevant service developments, legislation, and best practices.
• Contribute to maintaining safe systems of work and a safe environment.
• Represent the host organisation professionally and uphold its values and ethics in all external engagements.

This is not an exhaustive list of the duties that may need to be undertaken. It may be necessary to undertake other duties to fulfil the objectives of the charity.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• A diploma or degree in an appropriate subject e.g. counselling, psychology, social work, probation, mental health, Health and Social Care (Level 3) or NVQ Level 3+.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience of mental health work.

Desirable

• Training in motivational interviewing, coaching or similar approaches.
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
• Experience working in primary care/secondary care/third-sector settings.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Ability to interact effectively with clients, colleagues and other professionals whilst retaining clear boundaries.
• Understanding and ability to work to the confidentiality, consent, information sharing, GDPR and safeguarding policies of the integrated service.
• Excellent verbal communication and written skills.
• Commitment to accurate, timely and confidential record keeping.
• Knowledge and understanding of community working, lone working and ability to maintain safety whilst working in the community.
• Ability to break down stigma and barriers associated with working with the client group.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team (statutory and voluntary).
• Understanding of personal limitations, ability to identify when to seek advice and support, and deal with issues in a professional manner.
• Ability to use supervision effectively.
• Ability to manage challenging behaviour from clients, such as anger and verbal aggression.

Information Technology

Essential

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and basic Excel skills.
• Experience of using electronic patient record systems/case management systems (e.g. SystmOne, Halo, IAPTus) and/or ability to learn how to use the electronic patient record system.
• Ability to enter and manipulate data on a database as required by the Service and Commissioners to include in monitoring and reports.
• Ability to work from home and maintain confidentiality and professionalism when and if required using Microsoft Teams and other virtual platforms.

General

Essential

• Ability to travel and work flexibly across Surrey where required.
• Ability to work flexibly across operational hours and evenings and weekends, where required.

Amendments: This job description accurately reflects the present position; it may be amended and reviewed. Any change will be made following a period of consultation.

Equal Opportunities Statement

We acknowledge the unique contribution that all host organisations employees and clients can bring to our organisation in terms of their culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, age, religion or belief and any physical disability or history of mental health or additional problems.

All appointments and promotions are based on merit and no job applicant or employee will be treated unfairly or discriminated against. All staff have equal access to staff development. Any member of staff who breaches this policy may be subject of grievance and/or disciplinary procedures.

This post if subject to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level. Please note past drug and/or alcohol or criminality history will not necessarily discount you from undertaking this role.

About Us

Mary Frances Trust (MFT) is a mental health and emotional wellbeing charity, supporting Surrey residents since 1994 in Banstead, Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell and Mole Valley.

We offer a variety of face-to-face and online services, available to adults (aged 16+) living in Surrey who would like to restore and/or maintain their mental and emotional wellbeing (no diagnosis needed).

Our services are free of charge, with no waiting list and no time limit (you can use us for as long as you need and register again at any point).

To see all of our services, please visit the How We Help section of our website.

Our Vision

We believe anyone experiencing any kind of mental or emotional health issues should feel unafraid to ask for help, receive appropriate support for as long as they need, and be inspired to develop the skills that will help them to restore and maintain their own wellbeing, and lead a fulfilling life.

Our Values

Inspiring

We believe that everyone can lead a fulfilling life and achieve their goals and full potential. We encourage people to recognise and use their own strengths and resources. We inspire people to develop the skills that will empower them to become experts at managing their own mental wellbeing.  To accompany people on this journey, we offer personal, tailored support to help them regain a sense of hope and control.

Inclusive

The people we support aren’t passive recipient of our services and are not being “done to”. Through our commitment to Co-Production, we involve people with mental health lived experience in every aspect of our organisation, including the design, delivery, monitoring, review and evaluation of our services.

We believe in the power of connection. We encourage the people we support to fully participate in their local communities. As an organisation, we also strive to be part of and reflect the diverse population we serve.

Agile

We live in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, so we’re always ready to adapt and innovate to meet the evolving needs of the local communities we serve. We are an integral part of a wider mental health system and are dedicated to providing easy access first-class mental health support by working in partnership and collaboration.

Respectful

We work hard to establish mutual honest and trustworthy relationships. We actively listen and treat people we support with the same kindness and respect as we do our staff and volunteers. We strive to be an organisation where people feel safe and that they belong.

Our Mission

Our mission is to:

Work alongside people experiencing any kind of emotional or mental health issues for as long as they need and inspire them to develop the skills that will help them to restore and maintain their emotional wellbeing.
Involve people with lived experience of mental health issues at every level of the organisation so together we can design, deliver, monitor and review our services and ensure they respond to their changing needs.
Consistently challenge stigma attached to mental illness and raise awareness of the importance of looking after your mental wellbeing.
Lead and co-ordinate the development and delivery of first-class, voluntary mental health services in Surrey.
Maintain sufficient funding streams to be able to provide person-centred services to people experiencing any kind of emotional or mental health issues.
Safer Recruitment

We are committed to following Safer Recruitment practices to ensure the safeguarding of the whole community we serve, from members of the public and clients using our services, to our staff, volunteers, partners, and external facilitators.

A criminal record does not automatically exclude you from applying for the position. MFT will assess each application on a case-by-case basis.

This post is Exempt from the Protection of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974).

All successful candidates will be required to undertake Enhanced or Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks as well as reference checks.  These will be a condition of any offer of employment being made.

All candidates must disclose both ‘spent’ and ‘unspent’ cautions and convictions on application – other than ‘protected’ cautions and convictions which have qualified for filtering.

Disclosure should be included in a separate covering letter on application, marked ‘Confidential’.

Guidance on Filtering: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We believe in a fair, equal, diverse and inclusive society. As an organisation, we believe we are stronger and richer when we bring together different experiences and perspectives to better serve our clients and local community. We are committed to creating a workforce that is diverse, inclusive of all, representative of the community we serve, promotes positivity, and instils a can-do attitude in everyone, no matter their background or characteristics at every level of our organisation from our staff and volunteers, all the way to our Trustees and Patrons. We strongly encourage applications from members of every community and actively seek to hire people with lived experience of mental health issues.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please fill in our Online Application Form (button below) where you’ll be able to upload your CV and covering letter (in which you’ll explain how you feel your experience is suitable for the role). Thank you!

If you are encountering any difficulties applying for the position, please email us at info@maryfrancestrust.org.uk.

Apply now

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