Locum Digital First - Mental Health Practitioner

Doctor Care Anywhere Group; London; Remote; GBP 125,000 - 150,000

Job description

Your next role: As a DCA - Mental Health Practitioner, you will serve as the first point of contact for patients experiencing mental health concerns, delivering high-quality, patient-centred care through digital platforms, including video and telephone consultations. You will work independently while actively engaging in regular clinical supervision.

You will play a critical role in conducting mental health assessments, providing evidence-based treatment recommendations for primary care mental health conditions. Additionally, you will manage patients in crisis where you will provide timely and effective support. While MHPs do not prescribe medications currently, there is potential for a phased approach towards prescribing capabilities in the future.

Responsibilities

1. Conducting initial remote assessments of patients with mental health concerns
2. Performing holistic assessments of health, social, and well-being needs
3. Using evidence-based, patient-centered principles to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate interventions
4. Providing health promotion and self-care advice
5. Escalate care according to need and complexity
6. Liaising with clinical leadership to ensure high quality care
7. Serving as a key point of contact for patients regarding health and well-being concerns
8. Supporting and managing patients in crisis, making appropriate referrals when necessary
9. Signposting patients to the most appropriate services or care settings
10. Keeping up to date with current clinical practices and mental health developments
11. Participating in and contributing to regular clinical supervision
12. Identifying potential vulnerable patients, recognizing signs of abuse or neglect, and completing safeguarding referrals in accordance with local and national policies

Education/Experience

1. NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse
2. Minimum of two years experience as a Mental Health Nurse within Primary Care or General Practice, practicing at Band 8a or above.
3. Independent prescribing qualification
4. Broad autonomous scope of practice per the Core Capabilities Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice
5. Experience managing a caseload in a mental health setting
6. Proficiency in care planning and risk assessment
7. Experience working within multi-disciplinary mental health services
8. Experience working in primary care settings
9. Experience conducting remote patient assessments (phone and video) (Desirable)
10. Demonstrated proficiency in using digital health platforms and technologies
11. Evidence of ongoing professional development, such as relevant training
12. Significant post-registration experience in a mental health setting

Knowledge/Skills

1. Up-to-date knowledge of national prescribing policies and guidelines, and an understanding of working within the scope of professional practice (Desirable)
2. Knowledge of clinical governance principles as applied to remote working and digital healthcare (Desirable)
3. Proficiency with clinical IT systems (ideally with Jira and Teams/Slack)
4. Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage deadlines
5. Commitment to patient-centred care and ongoing professional development
6. Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to proficiently document patient consultations according to organizational policy and national guidelines
7. Ability to recognize individual learning needs and actively seek professional development opportunities in line with local and national frameworks (e.g., NMC revalidation requirements)
8. Ability to act as a professional role model, demonstrating organizational values and behaviours
9. Skill in sharing knowledge and evidence-based insights to support team development and quality care (Desirable)
10. Ability to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
11. A patient-centred approach ensuring high levels of patient satisfaction and clinical care

Doctor Care Anywhere is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its patients and expects all Colleagues to share this commitment. This post is subject to satisfactory DBS and reference checks, and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.