Triage Mental Health PractitionerNHS

Job summary

Role OverviewThe post holder will join the North Westminster and Queen's Park & Paddington Community Mental Health Triage Teams, which act as the main access point for mental health referrals across 22 GP practices. We are seeking a Registered Mental Health Nurse to support the delivery of high-quality, accessible mental health care within an integrated community setting.

Key PurposeThe post holder will undertake mental health assessments, manage referrals, and provide signposting to ensure timely and appropriate care. They will also deliver short-term interventions within the Mental Health Hub and primary care, supporting continuity across community services. Some duties may take place within aligned GP practices.

Main Responsibilities

• Conduct mental health and risk assessments.
• Provide brief, evidence-based interventions.
• Communicate effectively with MDTs, GPs, and partner agencies.
• Liaise with community services to support coordinated pathways.
• Contribute to training of colleagues, students, and primary care staff.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and follow professional standards.
• Participate in audit, service evaluation, and quality improvement.

Main duties of the job

Main Duties and Responsibilities

o Receive and triage GP referrals, completing comprehensive psychosocial assessments to identify presenting issues, risks, and care needs.o Act as a liaison point for GP practices, offering support for patients with complex mental health needs and co-morbidities.o Screen routine and enhanced referrals, determining suitability for primary care management in line with thresholds and available resources.o Facilitate timely onward referrals and rapid access to Hub pathways, specialist teams, or external agencies.o Ensure early identification and fast-tracking of individuals showing signs of severe mental illness or high-risk concerns.o Respond promptly to safeguarding issues, ensuring appropriate escalation and compliance with safeguarding procedures.o Refer patients with common mental health problems to psychological therapies or other relevant support services.o Maintain high standards of practice using a psychosocial, problem-solving, and evaluative approach.o Use a range of therapeutic techniques and evidence-based interventions aligned with patient needs.o Demonstrate cultural competence, recognising social determinants of mental health and respecting diverse values, beliefs, and practices.o Engage in regular clinical supervision to support safe, effective, and reflective practice.

Job description

• Receive and process GP referrals, undertaking comprehensive psychosocial mental health assessments to determine presenting needs, risks, and appropriate care pathways.
• Act as a key liaison point for aligned GP practices, providing advice and collaborative support regarding patients with complex mental health presentations and/or comorbid conditions.
• Screen routine and enhanced GP adult mental health referrals, identifying those suitable for primary care management in line with agreed thresholds and taking into account the mental health resources available within individual practices.
• Facilitate timely onward referral and rapid access to appropriate services, including Hub pathways, specialist mental health teams, or external agencies, in accordance with established protocols, thresholds, and criteria. Provide guidance to referring GPs on effective management where appropriate.
• Ensure early identification and fasttracking of individuals who present with indicators of severe mental illness or significant risk.
• Identify, respond to, and appropriately escalate safeguarding concerns, ensuring timely action and adherence to local safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Refer patients with common mental health problems to primary care psychological therapy services or other relevant community resources.
• Regularly engage with GPs and practice nurses within aligned Primary Care Network practices to support integrated, collaborative care.
• Deliver and maintain high standards of professional mental health care, applying a psychosocial, problemsolving, and evaluationbased approach.
• Use a range of therapeutic techniques and evidencebased interventions tailored to individual needs and service requirements.
• Participate in the Hub duty rota, contributing to timely triage, decisionmaking, and support for incoming referrals.
• Demonstrate cultural competence, taking into account social determinants of mental health and respecting the diverse cultures, values, customs, beliefs, and spiritual practices of all clients, particularly those from minority ethnic communities.
• Engage in regular clinical supervision, as agreed with the Mental Health Hub Manager, to support safe, effective, and reflective practice.
• Support the operation of the Hub depot clinic as required, as part of a shared rota.

About us

We are committed to offering you an environment to flourish which includes dedicateddevelopment opportunitiesas well as ahealthier work life balance. We will offer you;

• Free access to our Staff and Wellbeing serviceto ensure that you are always looking after yourself
• Commitment tocareer mappingto ensure continuous professional development including opportunities within the Trust
• On-siteshadowing opportunitiesincluding HTT, Psych Liaison and many more
• An opportunity to work with afriendly, dynamic, passionate and diverse teamwho are committed to looking after each other as well as their patients
• Excellentstaff benefits: our benefit packages are amongst the best in London and include: childcare vouchers, health and wellbeing services, season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, blue light card, discounts at Nando's and Superdrug, mobile phone contracts and much more!
• Award-winning Staff Networks
• Hidden Gem & annualaward ceremonies