Mental Health Practitioner (Development post to ACP)
Are you a dynamic, enthusiastic, forward thinking Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Mental Health, looking for a new venture with a like-minded clinical team? If so, HRH are looking to employ a full-time Mental Health Practitioner who has a passion for high quality, patient-led care and a desire to make a difference and proceed with development.
- Access to Employee Assistance Program
- Access to the NHS pension
Main duties of the job
Provide mental health assessment, triage and ongoing management in general practice under a structured supervision framework. This is a development post for an experienced clinician who wants to progress towards Advanced Clinical Practice, including a pathway towards independent prescribing (subject to eligibility and service need). Applicants should have at least 3 years post-registration experience working in a mental health setting, with experience in either primary care or secondary care/community mental health services and a strong understanding of the interface with general practice. You will work alongside another Mental Health ACP and a dedicated Care Co-ordinator, and with the Quality Improvement Team to improve pathways, coding and recall processes, supporting delivery of mental health targets including QOF.
We work closely with our PCN and Federation, which we see as an extension of the practice rather than a separate organisation. As neighbourhood working develops, the post holder will contribute to proactive collaboration across services to improve patient care.
About us
Hastings & Rother Healthcare was formed in 2021 and consists of three GP practices within Hastings and St Leonards. We are an organisation that is rapidly growing and we currently cover the largest patient population in Hastings & St Leonards.
Joining our team means becoming part of a dedicated group of healthcare professionals who share a common vision and values. By putting our patients first and delivering high-quality care, you will contribute to our mission of improving the health and lives of the communities we serve. In return, we can offer excellent remuneration, career development and a supportive clinical working environment.
Closing Date: 12th April 2026
HRH monitor the use of AI during the recruitment process. If it is apparent that you have used AI to complete the application, you may be asked about this prior to shortlisting in order to determine if your application should progress.
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical care and triage
Undertake mental health consultations telephone and face-to-face within agreed protocols and supervision.
Provide mental health triage and prioritisation, including risk assessment, safety-netting and appropriate escalation.
Agree management plans with patients, including follow-up, signposting, brief interventions and onward referral where required.
Support medicines management decisions by preparing recommendations for review with the supervising prescriber and implementing agreed plans.
Maintain accurate, timely records and high-quality clinical coding in the clinical system.
Structured reviews and enhanced services
Support structured reviews and recall processes with the Care Co-ordinator, including for patients with severe mental illness.
Contribute to antipsychotic monitoring and review activity Hastings enhanced service under agreed protocols with supervision and sign-off.
Quality improvement and targets
Work with the Quality Improvement Team to improve mental health pathways, templates, coding and consistency across sites.
Support delivery of mental health targets including QOF through good documentation, registers and recall processes.
Participate in audit, learning events and service development activity relevant to mental health care in primary care.
Supervision and development
Attend regular clinical supervision with the named ACP prescriber, using agreed escalation routes and competency sign-off.
Maintain a development portfolio and complete agreed training, with progression towards prescribing where eligible and agreed.
General requirements
Work flexibly across HRH sites to maintain service provision.
Follow HRH policies including confidentiality, information governance, safeguarding, equality and diversity, and health and safety.
Participate in appraisal and mandatory training
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Full and unrestricted NMC UK or HCPC registration.
- MSc in Advanced Practice or equivalent or working towards.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and up-to-date clinical knowledge relevant to the role.
- Evidence of relevant CPD and commitment to developing advanced practice skills.
- Working towards an ACP pathway and/or eligible to undertake prescribing training
Knowledge and skills
- Strong consultation skills, high-quality record keeping and clinical coding.
- Understanding of safeguarding and information governance responsibilities in healthcare.
- Compassionate, resilient, organised, and able to prioritise in a busy general practice environment.
- EMIS Web (or similar GP clinical systems).
Experience
- At least 3 years post-registration experience working in a mental health setting.
- Experience in either primary care or secondary care/community mental health services, with understanding of how these interface with general practice.
- Experience managing mental health presentations in a patient-facing clinical role, including risk awareness and safe escalation.
- Experience working effectively within an MDT and liaising with external services.
- Previous experience working within general practice or PCN services
- Experience of mental health triage within primary care pathways.
- Neighbourhood working or multi-agency partnership working.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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