Mental Health Practitioner

Job summaryAre you a passionate mental health professional looking to make a real difference in primary care? We are seeking a Mental Health Practitioner to join the Mental Health Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (MHARRS) within Hounslow.Working across GP practices and alongside West London NHS Trust's Mental Health Integrated Network Teams (MINT), you will provide holistic mental health assessments, risk assessments, brief interventions, care planning and support for adults with a range of mental health needs. You will play a key role in supporting people with serious and complex mental illness, facilitating access to appropriate services, and promoting recovery through a person-centred approach. This autonomous role offers the opportunity to work within multidisciplinary teams, contribute to annual SMI reviews, provide advice and training to primary care colleagues, and help shape integrated mental health pathways across Hounslow. If you are a registered mental health professional with experience in community mental health, primary care, or integrated services, and are committed to delivering excellent patient outcomes, we would love to hear from you. Main duties of the jobWorking as an autonomous practitioner with one of the five Hounslow PCNs, 80% of the role is based within the PCN and 20% with the local community mental health service for adults of working age. In your role you willo work with patients to support shared decision-making about self-management; facilitate onward access to treatment services; and provide brief psychological interventions, where qualified to do so and where appropriate.o work closely with other PCN-based roles (e.g. pharmacist and social prescribers) to address the potential range of biopsychosocial needs of patients with mental health problems. o work as part of the primary care team, operating without the need for formal referral from GPs, including accepting some direct bookings. o be supported through the local MINT teams by robust clinical governance structures to maintain quality and safety.o work as part of the wider PCN team, supporting colleagues with home visits where neededYou will received supervision from both the MINT Team Manager and from the PCN Clinical Director and have support form the other MHARRs workers working in the other PCNs in Hounslow.About usWest London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for is over 500m.The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.DetailsDate posted11 September 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary
55,524 to 62,652 a year
per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)
ContractPermanentWorking pattern

Full-time

Reference number222-HOU-278Job locationsBrentford LodgeBoston Manor RoadLondonTW8 8DSUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attachedThe person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesThe Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attachedThe person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.Person Specification
Qualifications
EssentialProfessional qualification in mental health e.g. Occupational Therapy, Social Work or Mental Health Nursing (RMN) with current NMC/HCPC / SW England registration or Psychology as accredited by the BPS.A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following - psychology, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy and registration with the appropriate body for that professionDesirableEducated to degree or Diploma level with other courses relevant to primary care mental health services e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focussed Therapy etc.RGN/physical health qualificationEvidence of recent and on-going relevant further professional developmentAttendance at specialist short courses relevant to the post (e.g. CBT or DBT, Trauma Informed Care, Group Approaches)
Experience
EssentialExperience of work in the NHS, PCNs or outreach work, or local engagement work (e.g. youth worker, mentoring, peer support etc.), experience of working in voluntary sector, working in community groups.Experience of working with Complex Emotional Needs (previously termed Personality Disorders) Work with client groups with serious mental health problems:mental health care and/orworking with carers and/ordelivering therapeutic group interventions and/orworking in MDTs and/orWork in multi-cultural settings and work with interpretersDesirableEvidence of experience in a Band 6 position or equivalentExperience of case findingExperience of working in GPExperience of working within a multi-disciplinary teamExperience of conducting audit, evaluation or researchWork with behaviours that challenge servicesExperience of teaching/training in a formal or informal settingExperience of working in a primary care setting/ social care/ voluntary sectorExperience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
Knowledge
EssentialBasic understanding of health care systems and structures: staffing, roles and responsibilities, the role of hospitals, primary care and community careTeam/self-management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the serviceKnowledge of counselling skills/cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventionsKnowledge of recovery approaches as used with those with mental health conditionsWork with people from a wide range of backgroundsContain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of othersManage effectively exposure to distressing/highly emotional circumstancesManage effectively verbal aggression from service users, families, etc. and the risk of physical aggressionRespectful and collaborative approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionalsAble to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively and professionallyAbility to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectivelyAssessment and treatment of Deliberate Self HarmRisk assessment/management and crisis intervention skillsUse of psychosocial assessment methodsHigher level communication skills, both written and oralSufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options, with senior clinical support/supervisionDesirableAbility to interpret research and apply to practiceSpecialist knowledge of mental health conditions as well as their relationship to physical disordersUnderstanding of NHS England's plans with regard to Primary Care Networks.
Skills
EssentialComputer literate including use of IT packages - word processing, e-mail and internet, Excel and AccessBeing able to work flexibly across local environmentsAwareness of diversity of cultural norms and being able to respond to this appropriatelyConcentrate intensely for a substantial proportion of working time, during client contact, teaching/supervision sessions, team meetings, preparing written work etc.Ability to use or learn NHS clinical systems such as SystmOne and EMISWork cross-culturally and/or in different languagesWork to professional guidelinesAccept accountability for own work, and of working towards defined resultsPlan, organise and prioritise own workloadRecord and report on clinical information as required
Other Requirements
EssentialAbility to influence without authorityWork as part of a team spread across multiple locations operating with a matrix structureAbility to work effectively, timely and independentlyAbility to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violenceAbility to meet deadlinesCommitment to equal opportunitiesAbility to accept constructive feedbackSelf-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required.Exercise initiative, flexibility and tact and self-awarenessWilling to use peer and group supervision creativelyBe able to work flexibly if requiredBe aware of the limitations in your competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership.Personal experience of a mental health condition
Person Specification

Qualifications
EssentialProfessional qualification in mental health e.g. Occupational Therapy, Social Work or Mental Health Nursing (RMN) with current NMC/HCPC / SW England registration or Psychology as accredited by the BPS.A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following - psychology, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy and registration with the appropriate body for that professionDesirableEducated to degree or Diploma level with other courses relevant to primary care mental health services e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focussed Therapy etc.RGN/physical health qualificationEvidence of recent and on-going relevant further professional developmentAttendance at specialist short courses relevant to the post (e.g. CBT or DBT, Trauma Informed Care, Group Approaches)
Experience
EssentialExperience of work in the NHS, PCNs or outreach work, or local engagement work (e.g. youth worker, mentoring, peer support etc.), experience of working in voluntary sector, working in community groups.Experience of working with Complex Emotional Needs (previously termed Personality Disorders) Work with client groups with serious mental health problems:mental health care and/orworking with carers and/ordelivering therapeutic group interventions and/orworking in MDTs and/orWork in multi-cultural settings and work with interpretersDesirableEvidence of experience in a Band 6 position or equivalentExperience of case findingExperience of working in GPExperience of working within a multi-disciplinary teamExperience of conducting audit, evaluation or researchWork with behaviours that challenge servicesExperience of teaching/training in a formal or informal settingExperience of working in a primary care setting/ social care/ voluntary sectorExperience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
Knowledge
EssentialBasic understanding of health care systems and structures: staffing, roles and responsibilities, the role of hospitals, primary care and community careTeam/self-management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the serviceKnowledge of counselling skills/cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventionsKnowledge of recovery approaches as used with those with mental health conditionsWork with people from a wide range of backgroundsContain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of othersManage effectively exposure to distressing/highly emotional circumstancesManage effectively verbal aggression from service users, families, etc. and the risk of physical aggressionRespectful and collaborative approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionalsAble to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively and professionallyAbility to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectivelyAssessment and treatment of Deliberate Self HarmRisk assessment/management and crisis intervention skillsUse of psychosocial assessment methodsHigher level communication skills, both written and oralSufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options, with senior clinical support/supervisionDesirableAbility to interpret research and apply to practiceSpecialist knowledge of mental health conditions as well as their relationship to physical disordersUnderstanding of NHS England's plans with regard to Primary Care Networks.
Skills
EssentialComputer literate including use of IT packages - word processing, e-mail and internet, Excel and AccessBeing able to work flexibly across local environmentsAwareness of diversity of cultural norms and being able to respond to this appropriatelyConcentrate intensely for a substantial proportion of working time, during client contact, teaching/supervision sessions, team meetings, preparing written work etc.Ability to use or learn NHS clinical systems such as SystmOne and EMISWork cross-culturally and/or in different languagesWork to professional guidelinesAccept accountability for own work, and of working towards defined resultsPlan, organise and prioritise own workloadRecord and report on clinical information as required
Other Requirements
EssentialAbility to influence without authorityWork as part of a team spread across multiple locations operating with a matrix structureAbility to work effectively, timely and independentlyAbility to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violenceAbility to meet deadlinesCommitment to equal opportunitiesAbility to accept constructive feedbackSelf-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required.Exercise initiative, flexibility and tact and self-awarenessWilling to use peer and group supervision creativelyBe able to work flexibly if requiredBe aware of the limitations in your competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership.Personal experience of a mental health conditionDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 CheckThis 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 detailsEmployer nameWest London NHS TrustAddressBrentford LodgeBoston Manor RoadLondonTW8 8DSUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameWest London NHS TrustAddressBrentford LodgeBoston Manor RoadLondonTW8 8DSUnited KingdomEmployer's website