Mental Health Practitioner
One in every four people will experience some form of mental health problem each year in the UK, the most common of that being depression and anxiety which routinely presents to general practice. With an aging population, chronic and complex physical health needs, demand is increasing. General practice has become more diverse with the addition of specialist practitioners which helps reduce demand and pressure on GPs. It is recognised that mental health is a complex area of care and to optimise treatment and better care outcomes for patients, specialist Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) are better equipped to manage such presentations.
BSW has a number of MHPs embedded in Primary Care across BaNES, Wiltshire and Swindon.
Directly Employed MHPs
MHPs are employed directly by GP practices to consult on behalf of the GP, offering assessment, treatment, advice, and a signposting service to patients presenting with mental health needs. Generically this means seeing patients over the age of 18 who can be booked directly into an appointment without the need for any referral. Appointments can be face to face in the GP practice or remotely via a telephone consultation, in the form of routine appointments and some on the day appointments, like a GP.
Several of the MHPs are non-medical prescribers, can initiate pharmacological treatment if indicated and review accordingly. Some MHPs have specialist areas of interest and consult with patients under the age of 18 as well as conducting screening and onward referral for ADHD & autism. MHPs within Primary Care do not provide counselling or psychological therapies but can signposted to relevant services.
Continuing Professional Development
The role of MHPs in Primary Care brings many opportunities for development. This can include becoming an independent non-medical prescriber, taking on service improvement projects, specialist subjects such as child and adolescent mental health, older adult mental health, and physical health conditions. Please see the links below for additional information on career development:
- https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing/roles-nursing/mental-health-nurse/training-and-development-mental-health-nursing
- https://www.england.nhs.uk/nursingmidwifery/delivering-the-nhs-ltp/mental-health-nursing/
Ideally you will identify your CPD needs through an annual appraisal process with your line manager. When requested, practices give the Training Hub your CPD needs to enable suitable training to be commissioned.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Training Hub on bswicb.traininghub@nhs.net if you have any questions.
The role of Mental Health Practitioners in primary care: