About this role
Job summary
We are seeking a full-time Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) to join the Middlewood Partnership Primary Care Network (PCN), covering Bollington, Disley and Poynton. Jointly funded by the PCN and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), this role supports integrated working across primary and secondary care.
The postholder will work across four GP practices serving approximately 34,000 patients, delivering mental health support focused on prevention, early intervention and improving access to care closer to home. Working alongside GPs, the wider multidisciplinary team and the local Community Mental Health Team, the successful candidate will help provide coordinated, patient-centred care.
This role offers the opportunity to bridge primary and secondary care services, improving patient outcomes through collaborative working. The successful applicant will join an established multidisciplinary team including Clinical Pharmacists, Paramedic Practitioners, First Contact Physiotherapists, Social Prescribing Link Workers and Advanced Nurse Practitioners.
Middlewood Partnership PCN is committed to high-quality care and staff wellbeing. The postholder will benefit from clinical supervision, professional development opportunities across both organisations, and support from the PCN Clinical Education Lead. There will also be opportunities to contribute to service development and innovation across health, social care and voluntary sector partners.
Main duties of the job
The Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) will work across the four GP practices within Middlewood Partnership PCN, supporting a population of approximately 34,000 patients. The role focuses on improving access to mental health services through early intervention, prevention, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care.
The postholder will undertake mental health assessments, including risk assessment and management, provide brief interventions, and manage a defined caseload. They will develop and review care plans, support recovery, and signpost or refer patients to appropriate services.
Working closely with GP practices, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and the local Community Mental Health Team, the practitioner will act as a key link between primary and secondary care, ensuring seamless and timely access to support.
As part of a multidisciplinary team, the postholder will collaborate with GPs, pharmacists, physiotherapists, paramedics, social prescribers, and nursing staff to deliver integrated care and improve outcomes.
The role will contribute to service development, quality improvement, and enhancement of mental health support within primary care. Maintaining accurate clinical records, participating in governance processes, and adhering to professional standards will be key responsibilities. This is an excellent opportunity to deliver integrated community-based mental health care within a supportive and innovative team.
About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [email protected] or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Mental Health Professional, with professional qualification relating to Health (e.g. current registered RMN, Occupational Therapist) Educated to degree level in relevant field / equivalent level of experience of working in the specialist area Masters level qualification in relevant field / or equivalent post qualifying short courses and / or equivalent experience Recent evidence of post-qualifying continuing professional development
Desirable
Teaching qualification or significant experience Post graduate Psychological therapy qualification / or equivalent
Knowledge & Expertise Essential
Excellent communication skills: working with staff, working with patients and carers, working with general practice, presentations, written reports, understanding and ability to interpret, research and facilitate staff to implement evidence-based practice Proven ability to challenge current practices and freedom to make change in light of evidence-based recommendations Knowledge, understanding and the ability to interpret and implement local and national policy direction relevant to practice Proven experience of clinical audit, skill and knowledge required to facilitate staff to undertake clinical audit Empowering staff to manage and support change Demonstrable effective clinical leadership with knowledge, understanding and application of leadership theories Relevant clinical expertise to support and facilitate clinical development and innovation Evidence of sound information technology skills
Experience Essential
Experience of acting as clinical supervisor Experience in the development of professional roles Successfully managed projects that demonstrate ability to communicate and implement change Demonstrable and proven understanding and experience of the clinical and corporate governance agenda Knowledge and experience of facilitation of reflective practice for staff and personal reflective practice Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive or contentious information in potentially highly emotive situations Significant experience of the direct delivery of a clinical, technical or social care service Significant experience of delivering specialist programmes of care / care packages Demonstrable ability and experience in motivating and empowering others to change roles and in leading practice development
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This 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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address Middlewood Partnership PCN - Bollington, Disley and Poynton
Priorslegh Medical Centre - Civic Centre
Poynton
SK12 1GP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)