Central Norwich Primary Care Network – Lead Mental Health Practitioner: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

We are recruiting a Primary Care Based Lead Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) working across GP practices within Central Norwich Primary Care Network to join our existing team.

This is a jointly funded role through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), supporting NSFT and Primary Care to deliver Place-Based Care. The post enables people to access timely mental health support in the familiar surroundings of their GP practice, helping ensure they receive the right support at the right time.

You will be embedded within GP practices and work as part of a multidisciplinary primary care team, delivering non-urgent mental health assessment and brief interventions for patients 16+ experiencing a range of mental health difficulties.

Main duties of the job

Expectations of the role:

• Provide assessments, brief interventions and short-term support for people aged 16+
• Support individuals with presentations including anxiety, depression, trauma-related distress, bipolar disorder, psychosis and other mental health needs
• Deliver psychoeducation, problem-solving approaches, safety planning and self-management strategies
• Work collaboratively with GP practice staff and local services to ensure people are directed to the most appropriate support
• Promote recovery, wellbeing and prevention of deterioration within local communities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Nursing, OT or SW degree or equivalent
• Mentorship qualification or Practice Supervisor or Assessor
• Core professional qualification and registered with professional body

Desirable

• Further qualification in mental health work
• Certificate in management or equivalent
• Ongoing professional development at degree level or higher
• Higher Degree or post graduate certificate in Leadership, clinical, or therapeutic practice or equivalent. (eg, NMP, AMHP, Therapy, or equivalent)

Skills

Essential

• Competent assessment skills
• Competent ICT skills
• Effective analytical and decision-making skills
• Satisfactory verbal and written language skills.

Desirable

• Prevention and Management of Suicide training

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of medication and the monitoring of its effects
• Build on / develop further knowledge of psychosocial interventions and their appropriate use in primary care
• Interest in developing knowledge base and skills relating to the provision of high quality primary mental health care

Desirable

• Knowledge of research methods and audit relevant to the job

Experience

Essential

• Able to demonstrate significant experience at senior clinical level, including staff management/ supervision
• Experience of working with mental health service users in a statuary or voluntary capacity
• Extensive post registration experience of working in a community mental health setting and managing complex caseloads. .

Desirable

• Understanding of mental health issues in a primary care setting

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel independently
• Undertake physical intervention training and remain trained in techniques, as required by role

Closing Date: 15 September 2026