Job Summary
Job Title: Community Connector
Service: General Practice Integrated Mental Health Service (GPimhs)
Location: Dorking / Hybrid
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday-Friday
Salary: £30,300 per annum
Holidays: 25 days (plus Bank Holidays)
Term: Fixed term – 12 months, starting 1 April 2025
Closing Date for Applications: 17 February. Interviews to commence week beginning 24 February.
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. Patients are offered extended consultation times, quick and easy access to practical advice and tailored support for their mental health needs from a multidisciplinary team.
Patients 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 developing 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.
Purpose of Job
Providing a primary care mental health service within this context refers to:
- First level of intervention.
- Ease of access.
- A multidisciplinary approach working a range of professionals across PCNs inclusive of GPs, Practice Nurses, Mental Health Practitioners, Pharmacists and Psychiatrists.
- Supporting patients to access to a wide range of community services and resources including social care, housing, family, debt and employment support that contribute toward maintaining good health and wellbeing.
Overall, the primary care mental health will:
- Be the first port of call for GPs in seeking support for managing their patients with mental health presentations.
- Provide and promote early triage, assessment and formulation of need and care plans, to inform treatment and/or onward bridging to community resources.
- Support and improve access to evidence-based interventions for people with serious mental illness.
- Helping people to focus on achievable goals and access local community resources.
- Provide brief therapeutic interventions.
Key responsibilities
Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team located in primary care:
- To work jointly with the Mental Health Practitioner in conducting assessments, including risk assessment, and to work with patients to support them in identifying their socially determined needs and goals, provide self- management tools and facilitate the development of personal support plans.
- To provide a range of motivational and structured psycho-social interventions.
- To promote independence through an enabling asset-based approach that draws on individuals’ strengths, preferences and “natural” support networks.
- To establish effective working relationships with a range of agencies to facilitate a “joined up” approach to support plans.
- To liaise with, develop and maintain good relations with GPs, practice managers and other health practitioners across mental health and physical health pathways and wider support networks.
- To provide continuity throughout recovery; engaging the patient with key services such as Safe Havens, accessing CMHRS, and providing support for those engaged with and leaving CMHRS, and linking into local wellbeing services and activities.
- To co-ordinate and support patients to access a range of community services such as wellbeing services, housing providers, family and carer support services, debt and employer advisors where appropriate.
- To assist with community resource mapping exercises and maintain a database of community resources; map where there are gaps in provision across the PCN and wider geography and work with other VCSE organisations to develop resources where most needed.
- To promote and support (where necessary) advised follow up actions from physical health checks for people with serious mental illness.
- To support patients to engage with local peer support workers and volunteering services.
- To support any peer support workers linked to PCN.
- To work with the service to identify opportunities to expand provision particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision identified.
- To broker and establish new partnerships between public and voluntary sector agencies to enhance service delivery and access to services.
- To develop and sustain professional relationships with service users, partner agencies and appropriate external agencies.
- To complete locally agreed quality outcome measures, with patients and to undertake regular reviews.
- To attend regular supervisions with the Mental Health Practitioner for case management, and with the Team Manager for line management.
General terms of reference
In carrying out the above duties the post holder will:
- Work flexibly across operational sites within the PCN as required. The post is full time, 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday.
- Always work within the employing organisation’s policies and procedures, paying particular attention to Information Governance, confidentiality and health and safety.
- Work within the policies and procedures of the GP practices/PCN the worker will be based in.
- To accept responsibility for their own personal safety and to encourage the patients to adopt safe practices both for themselves and others with whom they associate.
- Work to Surrey Safeguarding policy and practice.
- Ensure all records are maintained in line with all Governance arrangements and GDPR.
- Seek to improve personal performance, outcomes, contribution, knowledge and skills.
- Participate in team meetings, appraisal, workforce development and supervision processes.
- Keep abreast of developments in services, legislation and practice where appropriate.
- Contribute to maintaining safe systems of work and a safe environment.
- Represent the host organisation at external agencies and support the values, workings and ethics of the host organisation approach to client work.
Person Specification
Qualifications and experience
Essential:
- A diploma or degree in appropriate subject i.e. counselling, psychology, social work, probation, mental health, Health and Social Care (Level 3) or NVQ Level 3+ and/or a minimum of 2 years community experience of mental health work.
Desired:
- Training in motivational interviewing, coaching, or similar approaches.
- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
General
Essential:
- Ability to travel within Surrey and local area if required.
- Ability to work flexibly across operational hours and evenings and weekends, where required.
- To work co-operatively as part of a multidisciplinary team (statutory and voluntary).
Knowledge and Skills
Essential:
- An understanding and ability to work to the confidentiality, consent, information sharing and safeguarding policies of the integrated service.
- Good communication and written skills and a commitment to accurate and confidential record keeping.
- Ability to interact effectively with the client group, colleagues and other professionals whilst retaining clear boundaries.
- Able to break down stigma and barriers associated with working with the client group.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the issues and needs of the client group.
- Knowledge and understanding of community working, lone working, and ability to maintain safety whilst working in the community.
- Ability to work to all the policies, procedures and standards of the Service and joint working arrangements with key partners.
- A good understanding of personal limitations, ability to identify when to seek advice and support, and deal with issues which may provoke strong emotions in an objective and professional manner i.e. child protection.
- Ability to manage any challenging behaviour, anger and verbal aggression from patients.
Information Technology
Essential:
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
- Ability to learn how to use the electronic patient record system.
- Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the service.
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 patients 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
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 Emma our Administration and Communications Assistant, at: emmal@maryfrancestrust.org.uk.
Apply now
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