About this role
Job summary
Unfortunately NPC does not hold a license for Visa Sponsorship and cannot progress any applications for candidates without the right to work in the UK.
Base:Norfolk Primary Care Head Office, 3rd Floor, Reed House, Peachman Way, Norwich, NR7 0WF, with regular travel to WorkWell neighbourhood delivery sites across Norfolk and some remote working.
Fixed Term Contract:Fixed term to 31 March 2029
Working hours:15 hours per week (0.4 WTE, Part Time)
Salary:£22,400 (Pro-Rata)
Main duties of the job
Hosted by NPC and working within the WorkWell Norfolk service, the Mental Health and Work Specialist provides the specialist mental health challenges find, return to, and keep in paid work as part of their recovery within the WorkWell Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). Mental health is the most common primary reason for a fit note locally, and depression affects nearly half of people with repeated fit notes, so most WorkWell participants will have a primary or co-existing mental health need. The postholder assesses mental health need and risk, delivers brief, work focused interventions, and advises the ANP and Work and Health Coaches so that participants are supported safely and plans address psychological as well as physical and social barriers to work.
As a part-time post (0.4 WTE), the role is designed to make a small amount of specialist time go a long way: a limited direct caseload of participants who need clinical mental health support input, alongside case consultation, supervision and training that build the confidence and skills of the wider team. The role suits an experienced, registered mental health professional who works autonomously, understand the challenges faced by people with enduring mental health challenges, manages risk confidently and enjoys teaching and supporting non-clinical colleagues.
About us
Norfolk Primary Care (NPC) is a Community Interest Company (CIC) delivering clinical services across the Norfolk & Waveney region. Our membership consists of GP practices within the area. NPC's purpose is to:
Sustain the delivery of Primary Care by supporting workforce development and improving patient access. Strengthen and enhance Primary Care by working with, and on behalf of, local practices to drive quality improvement. Support practices in addressing key challenges such as workload pressures, GP recruitment, best practice sharing, and opportunities for at scale working. Respond to the evolving landscape of Primary Care by helping ensure services meet the needs of the local population. Provide benefits to patients, clinicians, administrative teams, and practice organisations across Norfolk. Work collaboratively within the wider health system to deliver patient care in innovative, solution focused ways
Job description Job responsibilities
1. Key Responsibilities
1.1 Mental Health Assessment and Risk Management
Undertake mental health assessments for participants identified at triage, by Work and Health Coaches or at MDT as needing clinical mental health input, jointly with the participant's Work and Health Coach wherever possible so the participant only tells their story once. Understanding of mental health recovery, secondary mental health services, and the challenges faced by people with severe or enduring mental health issues Assess and manage risk where participants express thoughts of suicide or self-harm (which is not an exclusion criterion), agreeing safety plans and advising whether WorkWell is the most appropriate service at that time. Advise the ANP and SPOA on triage decisions for referrals with significant mental health need, within the one working day triage standard on working days, with agreed arrangements for clinical cover on non-working days. Where a participant's needs go beyond a low-intensity offer, arrange a warm handover to the right service (for example NHS Talking Therapies, community mental health or crisis services) and follow up so that support is integrated into their WorkWell plan. Deliver care for accepted participants in partnership with their GP and/or existing mental health worker, keeping them informed of assessment, risk and outcomes. Recognise neurodiversity and learning disability and adapt assessment and support accordingly.
1.2 Brief, Work-Focused Interventions
Hold a small, time-limited caseload [indicative size TBC] of participants needing clinical mental health intervention within the WorkWell model of approximately eight weeks. Deliver evidence-based, low-intensity psychological interventions, one to one or in groups (for example CBT-informed approaches, behavioural activation, anxiety and stress management, sleep and self-management support). Focus interventions on work: confidence and anxiety about returning, managing symptoms in the workplace, disclosure and conversations with employers. Contribute the mental health elements of the participant's personalised care plan and SMART goals, embedding Making Every Contact Count (MECC). Advise participants, coaches and (with consent) employers on reasonable adjustments, phased returns and changes of duties for people with mental health conditions. Where professionally eligible and assessed as competent, certify fit notes (Med3) for participants under WorkWell care in line with DHSC and DWP guidance, updating the clinical record and informing the GP. Use outcome measures (including EQ-5D and the Attitudes to Work and Health questionnaire) to review progress and inform discharge.
1.3 MDT Contribution and Case Consultation
Attend the WorkWell MDT, providing the mental health perspective on case discussion, risk, onward referral and discharge decisions. Offer case consultation to Work and Health Coaches between MDT meetings, helping them continue to support participants with mental health needs within their competence. Review complex or stalled cases where mental health is a barrier to progress and recommend next steps. Prioritise limited clinical time with the ANP, balancing direct caseload, consultation, supervision and training so the role has the greatest impact across the six Norfolk neighbourhood areas.
1.4 Supervision, Training and Education
Provide clinical supervision and reflective practice to Work and Health Coaches on the mental health aspects of their work, including the low-level interventions they deliver under supervision of a registered clinician. Design and deliver training for the WorkWell team on mental health awareness, risk conversations, safety planning and when to escalate. Support education for employers and system partners on mental health and work, a priority identified by employers in the ICB's engagement survey. Advise on the content of condition-specific self-care resources used by the team.
1.5 Clinical Governance, Records and Partnerships
Work within the WorkWell clinical governance framework so that assessment, intervention and discharge are clinically safe, evidence based and in line with professional standards. Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records, including updates to the participant's GP record (SystmOne or EMIS), in line with the relevant professional codes, UK GDPR and NPC information governance policies. Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns for adults and children, applying the Mental Capacity Act, in line with ICB and NPC policies. Report incidents and contribute to learning in line with the NPC Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) Policy. Build working relationships and clear referral routes with NHS Talking Therapies (including its employment advisers), Individual Placement and Support services, community mental health and crisis services, and VCFSE mental health providers. Feedback themes on unmet mental health need and gaps in local provision to the ANP and Clinical Lead to inform service improvement and ICB commissioning.
2. Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
Communicate sensitively and effectively with participants experiencing distress, and with carers and families where appropriate. Liaise with GPs, mental health services and other professionals about participants' care, risk and outcomes. Explain mental health need and its impact on work in plain language to non-clinical colleagues and, with consent, employers. Contribute mental health information to service reports, audits and evaluation as required by the ANP and WorkWell Service Manager.
2.1 Other Responsibilities
Working with the ANP, WorkWell Service Manager and wider team: Contribute to the development of WorkWell pathways, protocols and risk procedures for participants with mental health needs. Take part in clinical audit, including the quarterly Clinical Triage Audit where mental health cases are sampled. Participate in own clinical supervision and maintain professional registration and revalidation. Work flexibly within contracted hours to meet service need, by agreement.
Undertake other ad hoc duties as requested by the ANP or WorkWell Service Manager.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Substantial post-registration experience in primary care, community or NHS Talking Therapies mental health settings Assessing and managing people with common mental health problems, including depression and anxiety Suicide and self-harm risk assessment and safety planning Delivering brief, evidence-based psychological interventions, one to one and/or in groups Working autonomously within a multidisciplinary team and contributing to MDT decisions Supervising, teaching or supporting non-clinical or unregistered staff Applying safeguarding procedures and the Mental Capacity Act in practice
Desirable
Supporting people with mental health conditions to stay in or return to work Working with employers, occupational health or employment advisers Working with neurodivergent people and people with a learning disability Use of GP clinical systems (SystmOne and/or EMIS) Knowledge of local mental health services and pathways in Norfolk Delivering training to professionals or employers
Skills and Abilities Essential
Confident, autonomous clinical decision making and risk management Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including with people in distress Ability to teach, supervise and build the confidence of non-clinical colleagues Ability to prioritise limited part-time hours across caseload, consultation and training Clear, accurate and timely clinical record keeping Good IT skills, including clinical systems and Microsoft Office Ability to manage own emotions and be resilient in a demanding environment Flexible, collaborative approach to working in a new and developing service
Desirable
Group facilitation skills Motivational interviewing or health coaching techniques Understanding of the relationship between work and health
Qualifications Essential
Registered mental health professional with current registration (e.g. Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC), Occupational Therapist or Practitioner Psychologist (HCPC), or Social Worker (Social Work England) Degree or diploma level professional qualification in the relevant discipline Post-registration training in brief psychological interventions (e.g. CBT-informed approaches) Safeguarding adults and children training at Level 3 Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
Postgraduate qualification in psychological therapy (e.g. CBT, PWP) or BABCP accreditation Clinical supervision qualification or training Fit Note and Work and Health e-learning (e-LfH) Training in vocational rehabilitation, IPS or employment support Suicide prevention or safety planning training (e.g. STORM, ASIST)
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 Norfolk Primary Care C.I.C.
Address 3rd Floor, Reed House
Peachman Way
Broadland Business Park
Norwich
NR7 0WF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://norfolkprimarycare.com/ (Opens in a new tab)