Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary
Surrey and Borders is looking for a professional to support the development and mobilisation of integrated primary care mental health services within GP networks, providing early assessment, evidence-based interventions, and strong links to community support for people with serious mental illness.

Location: Gatton Place, St Matthews Road, Redhill, RH1 1TA

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM

Main duties of the job

• Support the delivery and co-development of integrated primary care mental health services within Primary Care Networks (PCNs).
• Provide early assessment, triage, and time-limited, evidence-based interventions for adults (18+) with serious mental illness whose needs can be met within primary care.
• Accept and manage referrals from primary care, ensuring timely assessment, care planning, and onward signposting or transition where required.
• Work collaboratively with primary care teams, community mental health services, and voluntary sector partners to ensure seamless, person-centred care pathways.
• Promote a holistic, biopsychosocial approach to care, supporting service users to achieve achievable goals and access local community resources.
• Contribute to education, training, service evaluation, and continuous improvement of the integrated primary care mental health model.

About us
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.

We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organizations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast.

Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach.

For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Would you like to work in an organisation that sits in the top 10 best NHS Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Services Trusts to work for? This ranking is based on staff feedback in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.

Job details
Date posted: 30 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £29.38 an hour
Contract: Bank
Working pattern: Flexible working
Reference number: 384-SVM-MH Practitioner
Job locations: Tandridge GP Surgeries, Tandridge Hub, Caterham Dene, Church Road, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5RA, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Service Delivery & Clinical Practice

• Contribute as part of a small team to the delivery and ongoing development of integrated physical and mental health care within PCNs.
• Accept referrals directly from primary care and carry out mental health, asset-based, and biopsychosocial assessments.
• Case find, screen, triage, assess, and coordinate care plans for individuals referred by the primary care team.
• Provide brief, time-limited, evidence-based interventions, including motivational interviewing techniques.
• Work predominantly with adults (18+) with serious mental illness whose needs are best met in a primary care setting.
• Complete joint assessments with Community Mental Health Recovery Services (CMHRS) to support step-down into primary care and ensure smooth transitions.
• Maintain accurate, timely electronic clinical records, care plans, and outcome measures using EMIS and other relevant systems.

Integrated Working & Care Pathways

• Develop and maintain robust working relationships with primary care, specialist mental health services, community organisations, and voluntary sector providers.
• Facilitate an easy in, easy out approach between services to improve access and reduce fragmentation of care.
• Work closely with the Community Connections Primary Care Link Worker/Connector, providing day-to-day guidance and support.
• Actively map and promote awareness of community resources and assets within the PCN geography.
• Support service users, carers, and families to access appropriate voluntary and community services and self-management resources.

Education, Training & Liaison

• Provide advice, guidance, and prompt responses to primary care teams in line with agreed response times.
• Develop and deliver education and training to support primary care teams in managing co-morbid physical and mental health conditions.
• Support completion of SMI physical health checks and subsequent actions within PCNs.
• Promote positive attitudes towards mental health and collaborative working across health, community, and voluntary services.
• Provide a supportive learning environment for students and act as a supervisor or mentor where appropriate.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Governance

• Participate in the formal evaluation of the integrated primary care mental health model.
• Collect, record, and report relevant activity and outcome data in line with service requirements and KPIs.
• Maintain awareness of current research and demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice.
• Ensure all practice meets professional codes of conduct, clinical governance standards, and organisational policies.

Professional Development, Management & Leadership

• Maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills, and expertise in response to changing service needs.
• Contribute to service development, procedures, and delegated management tasks as required.
• Work effectively within leadership and management structures to ensure smooth functioning of the service.
• Demonstrate strong IT skills appropriate to the role.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Professional Qualification in Mental Health Nursing
• NMC Registration as RMN or Occupational Therapy; Social Work

Experience
Essential

• Completion of mentorship / preceptorship course or the intention to complete
• Experience of providing a range of evidence based interventions to people with a variety of mental health problems and serious mental illness

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.

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).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Tandridge GP Surgeries, Tandridge Hub, Caterham Dene, Church Road, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5RA, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)