Job summary

The Mental Health Practitioner is the Enable team's specialist for working-age adults whose mental health affects their ability to work. You will see patients referred through Enable triage, assess their mental health, risk and work situation, and agree a time-limited, work-focused plan that supports them to stay in or return to work.

You will also be the team's source of mental health expertise. You will advise and upskill colleagues completing workability plans, and help shape how the pilot manages mental health presentations. This is a primary care, early-intervention role; it is not a crisis or secondary care service. Patients needing longer-term or specialist treatment are referred on through agreed pathways.

Main duties of the job

Clinical assessment and intervention

• Carry out holistic bio-psychosocial assessments of adults referred with common mental health problems (for example anxiety, depression and work-related stress) by telephone, video or face to face.

• Complete a structured risk assessment at every contact. Escalate urgent risk the same day through the crisis, safeguarding and GP pathways, and record the decision and rationale.

• Agree a time-limited, work-focused plan with each patient, typically an assessment and up to three follow-up contacts. Draw on evidence-based approaches such as motivational interviewing, behavioural activation, problem solving, guided self-help and graded return to work.

• Use validated outcome measures at agreed points (PHQ-9, GAD-7 and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale) to track progress and inform decisions.

• Refer or signpost to NHS Talking Therapies (including employment advisers), community mental health teams, Access to Work, the Enable Social Prescriber and voluntary sector services, and follow up that the referral was received.

• Provide clear, concise feedback to the referring clinician and the patient's GP, including any recommendations on medication for the prescriber to consider. The post holder will undertake comprehensive mental health assessments and make referrals through agreed pathways.

About us

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative is the largest employer of Primary Care colleagues in South Cumbria, we are a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, and work to support, guide and underpin primary medical care across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

We deeply value education and learning, hosting the Lancashire and South Cumbria Training Hub. We have a great team on our board that guide our organisation, and you will be supported to excel in your role.

Details

Date posted

29 October 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£40,000 a year Pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B0160-26-0029

Job locations

Barrow Health Hub

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HF

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key responsibilities

Clinical assessment and intervention

• Carry out holistic bio psychosocial assessments of adults referred with common mental health problems, for example anxiety, depression and work-related stress by telephone, video or face to face.

• Complete a structured risk assessment at every contact. Escalate urgent risk the same day through the crisis, safeguarding and GP pathways, and record the decision and rationale.

• Agree a time limited, work focused plan with each patient, typically an assessment and up to three follow up contacts. Draw on evidence based approaches such as motivational interviewing, behavioural activation, problem solving, guided self help and graded return to work.

• Use validated outcome measures at agreed points PHQ 9, GAD 7 and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale to track progress and inform decisions.

• Refer or signpost to NHS Talking Therapies including employment advisers, community mental health teams, Access to Work, the Enable Social Prescriber and voluntary sector services, and follow up that the referral was received.

• Provide clear, concise feedback to the referring clinician and the patient's GP, including any recommendations on medication for the prescriber to consider. The post holder will undertake comprehensive mental health assessments and make referrals through agreed pathways.

• The post holder is not expected to independently request diagnostic investigations unless specifically authorised through professional registration, local policy and competency assessment.

• Where clinical investigations are indicated, recommendations will be communicated to the patient's GP or an appropriately authorised clinician for consideration.

• The post holder will work within the limits of their professional competence and seek advice from the Enable Clinical Lead where required.

Work and health

• Complete workability assessments and workability plans for patients whose main barrier to work is their mental health, within the standard appointment time potentially 50 minutes

• Identify workplace factors that affect mental health, using recognised frameworks such as the HSE Management Standards, and recommend practical adjustments, phased return, amended hours or duties, workplace adaptations.

• With the patient's explicit agreement only, communicate with employers to support adjustments and a sustainable return to work.

• Where your registration permits and once signed off as competent by the Clinical Lead, assess fitness for work and issue fit notes in line with DWP guidance. Registered Mental Health Nurses and Occupational Therapists are legally able to certify fit notes.

• Meet the service turnaround standards for fit notes and workability plans, raising early any capacity pressures that put them at risk.

Multidisciplinary working and advice

• Act as the mental health lead within the Enable team, giving same-day advice to Occupational Health Nurses, the ANP and other colleagues on mental health presentations and risk.

• Take part in multidisciplinary case discussions and present complex cases.

• Develop and deliver short training sessions for the team on mental health, risk, and work focused conversations.

• Build working relationships with local mental health services, NHS Talking Therapies, the participating practices and voluntary sector partners so that referral routes in and out of Enable are clear.

Records, data and governance

• Keep accurate, contemporaneous clinical records in EMIS, using the agreed Enable templates and codes, and use AccuRx and Florey questionnaires as the service requires.

• Record the data items needed for the DWP evaluation fully and on time. Data accuracy is a condition of the pilot's funding.

• Check that each patient's consent and eligibility for the service and for DWP data sharing are in place before completing a workability plan, and follow the Enable privacy notice.

• Report incidents, near misses and safeguarding concerns through MBPCC processes, and take part in audit, case review and service evaluation.

Service development

• Help design and refine the Enable mental health pathway, including triage criteria, referral thresholds and escalation routes, as the pilot moves from the first two practices to all practices in both PCNs.

• Feed patient experience and clinical learning into pilot meetings and DWP reporting.

• Contribute to written protocols, patient information and the final pilot evaluation.

Professional development

• Maintain professional registration and meet NMC or HCPC standards and revalidation requirements.

• Attend monthly clinical supervision and annual appraisal, and use reflective practice to improve your work.

• Complete MBPCC mandatory training and the DWP fit note training for healthcare professionals.

Working relationships

Internal

• Enable Clinical Lead

• Enable Operational Lead

• Enable team including: Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Occupational Health Nurses

• Enable administrative team

External

• Patients, and their families and carers with the patient's agreement

• GPs and staff at participating practices in Barrow and Mid Furness PCNs

• NHS Talking Therapies, including employment advisers

• Community mental health teams and crisis services

• Employers, with the patient's explicit agreement

• Department for Work and Pensions and the pilot evaluators

• Voluntary sector, Access to Work and local support services

General responsibilities

• Safeguarding - Follow MBPCC and local multi agency safeguarding procedures for adults and children, and complete safeguarding training at the level required for the role.

• Information governance - Handle all personal and patient information in line with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, the Caldicott Principles and MBPCC policy. Share data with the DWP only as set out in the Enable privacy notice and data sharing agreement.

• Health and safety - Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others, follow the MBPCC lone working policy, and report hazards and incidents promptly.

• Infection prevention and control - Follow infection prevention and control policies when seeing patients face to face.

• Equality, diversity and inclusion - Treat patients and colleagues with dignity and respect, challenge discrimination, and make reasonable adjustments so that the service is accessible to everyone.

• Professional conduct - Work within the NMC Code or HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics, and within the limits of your own competence.

• Flexibility - This job description reflects the role at the start of the pilot. Duties may change as the service develops, in discussion with the post holder.

Job description Job responsibilities Key responsibilitiesClinical assessment and interventionCarry out holistic bio psychosocial assessments of adults referred with common mental health problems, for example anxiety, depression and work-related stress by telephone, video or face to face.Complete a structured risk assessment at every contact. Escalate urgent risk the same day through the crisis, safeguarding and GP pathways, and record the decision and rationale.Agree a time limited, work focused plan with each patient, typically an assessment and up to three follow up contacts. Draw on evidence based approaches such as motivational interviewing, behavioural activation, problem solving, guided self help and graded return to work.Use validated outcome measures at agreed points PHQ 9, GAD 7 and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale to track progress and inform decisions.Refer or signpost to NHS Talking Therapies including employment advisers, community mental health teams, Access to Work, the Enable Social Prescriber and voluntary sector services, and follow up that the referral was received.Provide clear, concise feedback to the referring clinician and the patient's GP, including any recommendations on medication for the prescriber to consider. The post holder will undertake comprehensive mental health assessments and make referrals through agreed pathways.The post holder is not expected to independently request diagnostic investigations unless specifically authorised through professional registration, local policy and competency assessment.Where clinical investigations are indicated, recommendations will be communicated to the patient's GP or an appropriately authorised clinician for consideration.The post holder will work within the limits of their professional competence and seek advice from the Enable Clinical Lead where required.Work and healthComplete workability assessments and workability plans for patients whose main barrier to work is their mental health, within the standard appointment time potentially 50 minutesIdentify workplace factors that affect mental health, using recognised frameworks such as the HSE Management Standards, and recommend practical adjustments, phased return, amended hours or duties, workplace adaptations.With the patient's explicit agreement only, communicate with employers to support adjustments and a sustainable return to work.Where your registration permits and once signed off as competent by the Clinical Lead, assess fitness for work and issue fit notes in line with DWP guidance. Registered Mental Health Nurses and Occupational Therapists are legally able to certify fit notes.Meet the service turnaround standards for fit notes and workability plans, raising early any capacity pressures that put them at risk.Multidisciplinary working and adviceAct as the mental health lead within the Enable team, giving same-day advice to Occupational Health Nurses, the ANP and other colleagues on mental health presentations and risk.Take part in multidisciplinary case discussions and present complex cases.Develop and deliver short training sessions for the team on mental health, risk, and work focused conversations.Build working relationships with local mental health services, NHS Talking Therapies, the participating practices and voluntary sector partners so that referral routes in and out of Enable are clear.Records, data and governanceKeep accurate, contemporaneous clinical records in EMIS, using the agreed Enable templates and codes, and use AccuRx and Florey questionnaires as the service requires.Record the data items needed for the DWP evaluation fully and on time. Data accuracy is a condition of the pilot's funding.Check that each patient's consent and eligibility for the service and for DWP data sharing are in place before completing a workability plan, and follow the Enable privacy notice.Report incidents, near misses and safeguarding concerns through MBPCC processes, and take part in audit, case review and service evaluation.Service developmentHelp design and refine the Enable mental health pathway, including triage criteria, referral thresholds and escalation routes, as the pilot moves from the first two practices to all practices in both PCNs.Feed patient experience and clinical learning into pilot meetings and DWP reporting.Contribute to written protocols, patient information and the final pilot evaluation.Professional developmentMaintain professional registration and meet NMC or HCPC standards and revalidation requirements.Attend monthly clinical supervision and annual appraisal, and use reflective practice to improve your work.Complete MBPCC mandatory training and the DWP fit note training for healthcare professionals.Working relationshipsInternalEnable Clinical LeadEnable Operational LeadEnable team including: Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Occupational Health NursesEnable administrative teamExternalPatients, and their families and carers with the patient's agreementGPs and staff at participating practices in Barrow and Mid Furness PCNsNHS Talking Therapies, including employment advisersCommunity mental health teams and crisis servicesEmployers, with the patient's explicit agreementDepartment for Work and Pensions and the pilot evaluatorsVoluntary sector, Access to Work and local support servicesGeneral responsibilitiesSafeguarding - Follow MBPCC and local multi agency safeguarding procedures for adults and children, and complete safeguarding training at the level required for the role.Information governance - Handle all personal and patient information in line with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, the Caldicott Principles and MBPCC policy. Share data with the DWP only as set out in the Enable privacy notice and data sharing agreement.Health and safety - Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others, follow the MBPCC lone working policy, and report hazards and incidents promptly.Infection prevention and control - Follow infection prevention and control policies when seeing patients face to face.Equality, diversity and inclusion - Treat patients and colleagues with dignity and respect, challenge discrimination, and make reasonable adjustments so that the service is accessible to everyone.Professional conduct - Work within the NMC Code or HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics, and within the limits of your own competence.Flexibility - This job description reflects the role at the start of the pilot. Duties may change as the service develops, in discussion with the post holder.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• At least 2 years post registration experience in adult mental health
• Independent assessment and risk management of adults with mental health problems
• Managing your own caseload and making autonomous clinical decisions
• Working in a multidisciplinary team and with other agencies

Desirable

• Experience in primary care, NHS Talking Therapies or an occupational health setting
• Experience of issuing fit notes or advising on fitness for work
• Experience in a pilot, service development or evaluation project
• Experience of delivering training to other professionals

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Committed to helping people stay in or return to work, with a recovery focused, strengths based approach
• Comfortable with change and able to work in a new, evolving service
• Able to work autonomously and as part of a team, and to prioritise under pressure

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Mental Health Nurse - NMC Register
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification in a mental health intervention, for example CBT, low intensity CBT or motivational interviewing.
• Occupational health or vocational rehabilitation qualification, practice educator or mentorship qualification.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Evidence based brief interventions for common mental health problems
• Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and adult and child safeguarding
• Local mental health services and referral pathways, or the ability to learn them quickly
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including clear and concise clinical letters
• Structured risk assessment and safety planning
• Confident with IT and accurate data entry

Desirable

• Using validated outcome measures to evaluate interventions
• Using EMIS, AccuRx and Florey
• Analysing and presenting service data

Other

Essential

• Able to travel between practices across Barrow and Mid Furness
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS check

Person Specification Experience Essential At least 2 years post registration experience in adult mental health Independent assessment and risk management of adults with mental health problems Managing your own caseload and making autonomous clinical decisions Working in a multidisciplinary team and with other agencies Desirable Experience in primary care, NHS Talking Therapies or an occupational health setting Experience of issuing fit notes or advising on fitness for work Experience in a pilot, service development or evaluation project Experience of delivering training to other professionals Personal Qualities Essential Committed to helping people stay in or return to work, with a recovery focused, strengths based approach Comfortable with change and able to work in a new, evolving service Able to work autonomously and as part of a team, and to prioritise under pressure Qualifications Essential Registered Mental Health Nurse - NMC Register Evidence of continuing professional development Desirable Postgraduate qualification in a mental health intervention, for example CBT, low intensity CBT or motivational interviewing. Occupational health or vocational rehabilitation qualification, practice educator or mentorship qualification. Knowledge & Skills Essential Evidence based brief interventions for common mental health problems Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and adult and child safeguarding Local mental health services and referral pathways, or the ability to learn them quickly Excellent verbal and written communication, including clear and concise clinical letters Structured risk assessment and safety planning Confident with IT and accurate data entry Desirable Using validated outcome measures to evaluate interventions Using EMIS, AccuRx and Florey Analysing and presenting service data Other Essential Able to travel between practices across Barrow and Mid Furness Satisfactory enhanced DBS check

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative

Address

Barrow Health Hub

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mbpcc.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative

Address

Barrow Health Hub

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mbpcc.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)