Primary Care Mental Health Nurse
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is growing and changing. We provide specialist mental health, learning disability and community services across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. We’re looking for people who care about others, take responsibility, treat people with respect and have the confidence to speak up and shape what comes next.
We’re focused on the future, with a clear Trust Strategy and our Best for the Black Country programme driving improvement across our services and communities.
What we do
· Adult and older adult mental health
· Children and young people’s mental health
· Specialist learning disability services
· Community healthcare for children, young people and families in Dudley
Why join now
We’ve got real momentum. Clear priorities and our Best for the Black Country work mean things are moving in the right way, fast.
Our culture is built around being compassionate, accountable, respectful and empowering each other - you’ll see this in how teams support patients and colleagues every day.
You’ll be looked after. Flexible working, family-friendly policies, supportive teams, proper wellbeing support and opportunities to learn and develop.
There’s room to grow. A wide range of services, space to try ideas and a voice that’s heard.
It’s a great place to live. Diverse communities, good transport links, strong schools and green space, with a lower cost of living than many city regions.
What it’s like to work here
You’ll join friendly, skilled teams who look out for each other. We plan together, share pressures and celebrate wins. You’ll be encouraged to take ownership, speak up and learn from experience. New starters get a warm welcome and clear induction; early careers colleagues have preceptorship and buddying; experienced staff can lead, teach and innovate.
Who we are
We’re 4,000+ colleagues from many backgrounds, committed to improving health and wellbeing for our communities and for each other. If you’re interested in the role but don’t meet every requirement, please apply — we value potential, different perspectives and people who want to grow.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Armed Forces Community
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from veterans, reservists, service leavers, military spouses and members of the wider Armed Forces community. We recognise the valuable skills, experience and attributes developed through military service and are committed to supporting the Armed Forces community in their careers.
Job overview
This post holder will be working with a team that consist of a Team Manager, Clinical Lead/CBT therapist, Mental Health Nurses, Access Practitioners and Administrators.
The team responsibility is to provide, develop and improve services for people with complex common mental health problems and stable predicable and enduring mental health needs in primary care. The post holder will have a high level of autonomy within their role and managing all aspects of their service according to local need and within the parameters of the Primary Mental Health Service operational policy.
Advert
The post holder will be working within a busy team alongside a team of registered mental health nurses and be supported by the Team Manager, Senior Clinical Lead/CBT Practitioner, and team administrators.
Post holders will have a high level of autonomy working across designated GP practices, managing their own clinics and providing mental health assessment and evidenced based treatment for people aged over 18. You will provide a service to people who exhibit complex common mental health needs and stable, predictable and enduring serious mental health needs. You will be expected to develop and manage all aspects of their service, such as waiting lists according to local need; working within the parameters of the service operational policy.
A key aspect of this role is GP consultation, liaison, education and training. You will be expected to attend GP practice meetings at least twice a year to discuss the service and actively seek feedback and report any issues to the team leader as well as areas for improvement and any innovative practice for sharing and disseminating. Staff will be expected to autonomously manage high volumes of referrals. Staff are expected to work on their own initiative in a busy and demanding service and to be able manage change effectively.
Working for our organisation
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.
Across the whole of the region we provide:
- Adult and older adult mental health services
- Specialist learning disability services
- CAMHS
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.
We currently employ over 3,000 members of staff and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To be the first clinical point of contact for the service, effectively screening, assessing and working with service users with complex common mental health needs and stable, predictable and enduring serious mental health needs , exercising judgement to identify and assess healthcare needs, and consider range of options for treatment.
To work in partnership with service users to assess their mental health needs using sound knowledge base and clinical judgement and where indicated deliver evidence based brief interventions.
To deliver of Primary care recovery focused Psychological Interventions that meet the need of service users who are too complex and/or not suitable for IAPT yet do not meet the threshold for the Psychological Therapies in Secondary care mental health.
To assist in the delivery the In-Reach Model of care that facilitates earlier discharge of service users from our Community Recovery Services, Early Access team, Home Treatment Team, Early Intervention, Older Peoples services and Out-Patient Department.
To deliver Wellness & Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) that supports a recovery focused care model that emphasises the service users choice, preference of interventions/treatment and establishes meaningful networks of support that take into account their Bio/Psycho/Social needs.
Applying and timelines
We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications, so please apply soon. We shortlist after the closing date and will contact shortlisted candidates usually within two weeks. If you haven’t heard by then, you haven’t been shortlisted. Please check your email for updates and contact Recruitment for feedback.
As part of our commitment to fairness, openness and accountability, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar or formatting, we expect that the content of your application especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions is written by you.
Pay and contracts
Most NHS roles are paid under NHS Agenda for Change. With us, your starting point is set against the advertised band and your relevant NHS service, with progression through annual increments.
Medical and Very Senior Manager roles follow separate national pay frameworks, not Agenda for Change. Details are provided in each advert and during recruitment.
Standards and checks
· Clinical posts up to and including Band 4 are expected to hold the Care Certificate. If you don’t have it yet, we’ll support you to complete it in post.
· Some roles require a Standard or Enhanced DBS check under part V of the Police Act 1997. Having a criminal record won’t automatically prevent employment - we consider the role and individual circumstances.
· We are an equal opportunities employer, offer flexible working, and are a smoke-free Trust.
Inclusion, equality and adjustments
· We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating an environment where everyone is treated with dignity, feels respected and is able to thrive.
· We are an anti-racist, disability-inclusive and LGBTQ+-inclusive Trust.
· We welcome applications from under-represented groups and people with lived experience relevant to our services.
· Disabled applicants can request consideration under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme where essential criteria are met, and you can ask for reasonable adjustments at any stage.
Our culture and values
Best for the Black Country is our improvement journey. Our values Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful and Empowered guide how we work every day.
That means:
- taking time to understand people and respond with kindness
- being open and taking responsibility for our actions
- listening and valuing different perspectives
- supporting each other to speak up, improve and make a difference
You’ll see this in how teams work together and in the impact you can have on local people.