About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner (Registered Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist) to join Medway Valley Primary Care Network (PCN) at Reach Healthcare in Kent.
Funded through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), this full-time role (37.5 hours per week) places you at the heart of our ambitious transformation of community mental health services.
As an embedded member of the PCN Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), you will work directly within primary care GP surgeries, serving as a vital bridge between primary care teams and secondary mental health providers. We are looking for an autonomous, creative, and highly proficient clinical practitioner who can deliver high-quality early interventions, navigate local resources, and act as the gatekeeper and guardian for secondary care referrals. If you are passionate about providing proactive care in a primary care setting and want to make a tangible impact on community health, we encourage you to apply.
** Please note, Visa sponsorship is not available for this role**
Main duties of the job
Comprehensive Clinical Assessment & Triage: Conduct robust, specialist mental health assessments for patients presenting in primary care to determine appropriate care pathways and manage clinical risk effectively.
Bridge Primary & Secondary Care: Act as the primary liaison and gatekeeper between GP surgeries and secondary mental health services, ensuring seamless transitions, appropriate referrals, and reduced barriers to specialist support.
Deliver Focused Interventions: Provide high-quality, evidence-based, brief mental health interventions to patients within primary care settings to improve outcomes and promote self-management.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Embed fully into the PCN Multi-Disciplinary Team--working alongside GPs, clinical specialists, and social prescribers--while maintaining active links with community mental health MDTs.
Resource & Pathway Navigation: Utilize in-depth knowledge of local health, social care, and voluntary sector resources to connect patients with suitable community-based support networks.
Autonomous & Creative Practice: Work independently in a fast-paced environment, applying flexible, patient-centered approaches to address complex care needs.
About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.
The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting
Qualifications Essential
Current professional registration with appropriate body in healthcare or social work
Desirable
Leadership or management qualification:
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional responsibilities Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, cares/ families and all members of the multidisciplinary team
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.
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 Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
Address Medway Valley PCN
62a Robin Hood Lane
Chatham
ME5 9LD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)