Understanding the role of mental health practitioners in primary care
From April 2021, Primary Care Networks have been able to recruit mental health practitioners (MHPs) through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) to support population health management. These roles enable professionals with mental health expertise to be based in GP surgeries or neighbourhood settings, to support people with complex mental health needs and act as a ‘bridge’ between primary care and specialist mental health services.
Mental health practitioners provide GPs and other primary care staff with timely support on the best ways to help people with complex mental health needs, helping to relieve pressure on workloads and building stronger relationships with mental health services. Patient mental health practitioners provide support that is easily accessible, closer to home and that offers help with wider health, social or well-being needs. It is a clear point of contact to help them access the right kind of support at the right time
These roles represent an exciting opportunity to provide a brand new kind of support that works across traditional boundaries between services. Primary care and Mental Health Services can work together to establish and support these roles. The NHS Confederation have released an animation to highlight these roles, click below to watch it on YouTube.