Trac proudly powers the recruitment for

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust

About

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Contact

Address: Trust Headquarters; West Park Hospital; Edward Pease Way; Darlington; County Durham; DL2 2TS
Contact Number: 01325 552000

Find out more

Jobs Website

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Open

Ref: 346-NYA-007-26-A Vacancy ID: 7776958

Advanced First Contact Mental Health Practitioner

Accepting applications until: 16-Feb-2026 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 16-Feb-2026 23:59

Location

Gwefan: Pickering Medical Practice
Cyfeiriad: Southgate
Tref: Pickering
Cod post: YO18 8BL

Contract type & working pattern

Contract: Permanent
Oriau: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday)

Salary

Cyflog: £47,810 - £54,710 per annum
Cyfnod cyflog: Yearly
Gradd: (NHS AfC: Band 7)

Specialty

Prif leoliad: Mental Health

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

You will assume an active leadership role in the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders across the PCN and the wider mental health care system. To offer specialist advice to, or obtain advice for, the Primary Care Team on appropriate interventions and on-going patient care management.

To lead on the creation and development of links and a culture of ‘partnership’ between Primary Care Teams and Mental Health Services, promoting clear communication and access to specialist knowledge and advice. This ensures that each person, once assessed, receives the best possible care in the right place at the right time and by the right supporting service.

To take a leading role in the facilitation of joint working relationships across PCN, Secondary Care providers, and the Voluntary Care Sector to increase the range of services/interventions available to the communities served.

To facilitate others in the team to develop competence by providing clinical advice and clinical supervision to practice based First Contact Mental Health Practitioners and other practice staff as appropriate, including other less experienced practice based mental health workers and students.

To provide specialist clinical advice, consultation, and support to other care providers within primary, secondary, voluntary and statutory services as required.

To attend PCN meetings and work with PCN members to develop and implement joint governance and clinical multidisciplinary forums.

To assume a leadership role and responsibility within the existing Mental Health multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings across the PCN.

To promote, develop and manage clear links, pathways and information sharing processes between existing services, and when appropriate, advise the GP’s on alternative approaches to improve case management.

To provide support, education and guidance of common mental health problems and their management to colleagues across the multi-disciplinary team(s), so they develop their skills and confidence in assessment and treatment of mental health needs.

To collate and organise contemporaneous information about opportunities and resources in the local area which may be of benefit to clients referred to the service (e.g. voluntary and community organisations, educational and recreational opportunities).

To facilitate ‘sign posting’ to other appropriate services and occasionally undertake very short-term interventions for clients with mild to moderate mental health difficulties (average length of time expected to be 6 weeks). Working alongside the PCN staff, which could include a care coordination team and social prescribing link worker.

To be professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, providing brief, time-limited therapeutic interventions in GP surgeries, patients’ homes and other primary care settings.

In line with the principles for community transformation, you will ensure systems/pathways are in place to enable smooth transition between primary care and secondary mental health services.

To work closely with Primary Care Network, GP’s and Social Prescribers/other practice-based mental health workers within the locality regarding the mental health needs of their adult practice population.

Additional contact details:

South Hambleton and Ryedale PCN

Heather White

[email protected]

Right to Work in the UK

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, subject to role meeting the required conditions.

We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your Right to Work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.

AI in Recruitment

We are aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being used to generate responses for application forms. Applications for this role should be written by the applicant and if, during shortlisting, a Recruiting Manager believes AI has been used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Fixed Term Posts

If the contract type on the vacancy states 'Fixed Term' this would mean the vacancy is being advertised to address a temporary need for the duration stipulated on the advert, however, in the event that permanent funding is secured for the post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.

Internal applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis.

Support with applications

We have computers facilities available in our libraries (Durham, Middlesbrough, and Darlington) to support applicants. If you would like to access to a laptop for your application, please contact the library team to arrange a time to visit, please email: [email protected] . We will always endeavour to make this available however we cannot guarantee that we will be able accommodate this before the vacancy closes.

Trust Welcome Day

Here at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust, we want you to have a positive experience when you start your new role with us. To ensure you have great welcome, for all new starters joining the Trust, we offer two start dates per month on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of that month.

On your start date, you will be invited to our in person Trust Welcome Day at our Flatts Lane Centre, Middlesbrough. Your first day will be engaging and informative, it will allow you to meet and network with a range of Trust staff, learn more about us and what we offer. For certain clinical roles, your Welcome Day may then be followed up with additional mandatory/statutory clinical training.

Applying for this post

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from individuals who have experience of mental ill health or learning disabilities. Our service users and carers tell us our staff should be consistently concerned with maintaining and improving care with pride, empathy and compassion.

This job advert may close as soon as sufficient suitable applications have been received. If interested please apply for this post as soon as possible.

In order for your application to be successfully processed we will require references from your current and previous employer(s) which must cover a minimum period of three years. Please ensure that the reference section of your application is completed appropriately giving the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current and previous line manager(s). If this section is not fully completed your application may not be processed.

If your application is successful, the information you give on your application form will be used to create and be retained on your electronic staff record and to provide access to core Trust systems.

Please note that if the post you are applying for requires a DBS check, you will be required to also subscribe to the DBS Update Service, if successful, and thereafter renew your subscription each year. The Trust will reimburse the subscription fee.

After applying via the NHS Jobs link, you will be taken to our preferred Third party recruitment system so submit your application. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Additional Information

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the protection of staff, service users and visitors to the Trust from second hand smoke and currently operates a no smoking policy which ensures all buildings and grounds are smoke free.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Person specification

Qualifications

Meini prawf hanfodol

Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or socialwork – HCPC registration, NMC registration or Social Work England Registration
Ability to evidence Continuing Professional Development since registration
Certificate in mentoring, teaching & assessing in clinical practice as appropriate to own profession
Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area.
Clinical Supervisor
Recognised sign-off mentor (or equivalent) for students or must be achieved within agreed timescale
Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent

Meini prawf dymunol

NMP (or willing to work towards within an agreed timescale, if relevant to professional registration).
Leadership or management qualification

Experience

Meini prawf hanfodol

Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a communitysetting.
Demonstrable leadership or management experience in a senior clinical role
Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
Experience working in primary care
Providing clinical supervision
Mentoring students on practice placement experience
Working in a multi-disciplinary team
Quality improvement activities

Meini prawf dymunol

Experience working in a multiagency setting.

Knowledge

Meini prawf hanfodol

Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field
Ability to evidence an advanced level of clinical competence in one area of specialty practic
Knowledge of Stepped Care model
Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
Care Programme Approach and its application in practice
Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice
Understanding of the physical healthcare needs and impact of patients with a LD or mental health problem
Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice
Clinical Governance and its application in practice
Research and development methodology
Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment
Demonstrable knowledge and experience of delivering psycho-social interventions and approaches
Contemporaneous knowledge and understanding of recent health and social care policy guidance and implications on practice.

Personal Attribuetes

Meini prawf hanfodol

Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours
Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers
Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in distressing and challenging circumstances
Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team
Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently
Committed to continual quality and service improvement
Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities
Committed to promoting a positive image of the service.

Other Requriments

Meini prawf hanfodol

Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need
This post is subject to a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure