About this role
Job summary
To deliver community mental health support, symptom management, triage and care navigation to clients through Primary Care Networks in Leeds.
The post-holder will be required to carry out assessment and formulation of mental health needs in order to assist patients towards increased self-management of anxiety and depression symptoms and better tolerance of distress. The role will also involve identifying opportunities to support individuals with their mental health by helping them to access appropriate community support, encourage behavioural and lifestyle changes, and enable and empower patients to become actively involved in their own wellbeing.
The role combines the skills of triage/assessment/care navigation/psychological support. Key to the role will be the ability to utilise psychological formulation (i.e. construct meaning out of mental distress) and build trusting relationships quickly whilst motivating individuals to make sustained changes.
Main duties of the job
The duties and responsibilities of the post will include:
Referrals, triage & assessment
Accept referrals of patients with chronic and/or mild to moderate common mental health problems (predominantly anxiety, depression, and OCD) via agreed protocols within the GP Practice.
Use SystmOne/EMIS patient management system (after training) to record referrals, assessments and outcomes.
Identify and manage cases where complexity and/or severity are present, including triaging referrals and signposting to appropriate mental health and crisis support.
Use therapeutic skills where appropriate to help patients to contain and manage acute emotional distress, where it does not pose a risk.
Complete a comprehensive and holistic assessment of need for those referred to the service within an agreed timeframe, in order to determine the most appropriate help and support.
Develop an understanding of the particular issues presented, including any complicating social factors (physical health, employment, housing, substance misuse etc), the patient’s sense of what support would be helpful and realistic, and the patient’s readiness to engage with connecting services.
Offer consultation, advice and decision support to primary care colleagues.
About us
Hours and days: Part time (21 hours per week). Working days to be agreed and dependent on service need. Wednesday is a compulsory working day. Please not that this is a fixed term contract post to cover maternity leave.
We have a unique opportunity for a Mental Health Practitioner to join Northpoint on a fixed term basis. This role will involve working across GP Surgeries, with Hybrid working to deliver community mental health support, symptom management, triage and care navigation to clients through Primary Care Networks in Leeds.
Northpoint Wellbeing is part of the primary care mental health service (Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service), commissioned by Leeds CCG. This exciting partnership, launched in November 2019, delivers an integrated service offering mental health support for people with common mental health problems. Together, our partnership helps thousands of people in Leeds to increase their resilience and live their best lives within their community.
The Primary Care Mental health Service covers all the Primary Care Networks across Leeds. Primary Care Networks (PCNs) bring together a group of neighbouring GP practices to cover a population of 30,000 to 50,000 patients. Member GP practices benefit from economies of scale as they collaborate to provide services with an expanded primary care team - including these Mental Health practitioner roles – taking pressure off GPs
Job description Job responsibilities
Mental Health Practitioner (Primary Care)
Do you want to be part of the change we’re bringing to mental health support?
We have a unique opportunity for a Mental Health Practitioner to join our team at Northpoint as part of the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service. This role will see you working across GP surgeries, supporting people with their mental health in a way that is practical, compassionate, and rooted in community.
You will play a key part in helping individuals better understand and manage their mental health, offering assessment, support and guidance to enable people to take positive steps towards wellbeing.
You will join us on a fixed term basis (maternity cover), part time (21 hours per week) on a salary of £32,073 – £39,043 (pro rata, AfC Band 5).
Why us?
At Northpoint, we are more than just a workplace we are a community. We’re proud to work alongside partners to deliver meaningful, joined-up mental health support across Leeds.
Joining us means being part of a team that values collaboration, flexibility and wellbeing, and where your work will make a real difference to people’s lives every day.
What you will be doing as our Mental Health Practitioner
Work alongside GP practices as part of a Primary Care Network to support people with common mental health difficulties Carry out assessments, triage and care navigation to ensure people get the right support at the right time Provide practical, short-term support to help individuals manage anxiety, depression and distress Support people to access wider community services, peer support and wellbeing resources Manage a caseload, offering structured sessions and maintaining clear, accurate records Work collaboratively with GPs and wider multidisciplinary teams to support patient care Help people build confidence, resilience and skills to improve their mental wellbeing
What are we looking for in our ideal Mental Health Practitioner
Experience of working with people with mental health needs, including assessment and support An understanding of common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression Ability to build trusting relationships and communicate clearly and sensitively A proactive, organised approach with the ability to manage a caseload Confidence in working both independently and as part of a wider team A commitment to inclusivity, empowerment and supporting people to take an active role in their wellbeing
If you have the skills, knowledge and experience we are looking for, and are passionate about making a difference, please click ‘Apply’. We’d love to hear from you.
Closing date: 21st June 2026
We may utilise digital interview methods.
We aim to be a talented, resilient and inclusive community. We welcome applications from all and offer a variety of flexible working opportunities.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
A relevant qualification at NVQ Level 3 (e.g. NVQ Level 3 in Mental Health & Social Care) or equivalent (psychology graduate), and/or significant experience in mental health support work
Desirable
n/a
Knowledge & Understanding Essential
An understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care services An understanding of the work of secondary care mental health services and complex mental health presentations An understanding of the relationship between employment/unemployment and mental health problems Working knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
Desirable
n/a
Experience Essential
At least two years experience of working in a mental health setting with clients presenting with multiple and complex issues Experience of undertaking specialist mental health and risk assessments and formulation Experience of delivering appropriate therapeutic, risk management and relapse prevention interventions in a time-limited manner Experience of managing own caseload and time to meet service targets
Desirable
n/a
Skills and Competencies Essential
Ability to deliver a range of mental health support appropriate to the needs and capacities of the client group Can demonstrate sound clinical skills and ability to make clinical decisions, in line with professional standards, NICE guidelines and service protocols Can demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of disadvantaged groups in the planning and delivery of interventions and services Ability to develop and sustain meaningful relationships with clients Ability to organise self, meet deadlines and work on own initiative within set parameters Ability to manage safeguarding issues safely and appropriately Ability to be self-reflective, while working with ser-vice users and in own personal and professional development, and to use supervision positively and effectively Ability to work with complex mental health issues Creative, flexible and imaginative approach to working with people with mental health problems Demonstrate a commitment to enabling and em-powering clients to become actively involved in their own wellbeing Computer literate
Desirable
n/a
Qualities and Values Essential
An understanding and sensitivity towards mental health is-sues. Evidence of a positive and proactive attitude, motivated and solution focused. Commitment to the principles of inclusivity, equality and diversity, demonstrated in practice. Demonstrates values consistent with those of Northpoint
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.
Employer details Employer name Northpoint Wellbeing Ltd
Address SMALL MILL
CHADWICK STREET
LEEDS
West Yorkshire
LS10 1LJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://northpoint.org.uk (Opens in a new tab)