Our First Point of Contact Centre (FPCC) has been evolving to support the national requirement to provide mental health support 24/7. This support is accessed through NHS 111. With the development of the service this has resulted in expansion of the FPCC team and we have a range of job opportunities available.
The team is based in at Waterwells in Quedgeley, within Gloucestershire Constabulary HQ building. We work closely with our emergency services colleagues sharing information and calling on them for support on times due to the nature of some of the crisis calls the team take.
The partnership between us and the police is essential as the team provides a 24-hour 7-day a week service.
Martin Griffiths, Deputy Service Director for Urgent Care Mental Health said “We’re pleased to be growing our service to meet the increasing demand for mental health support and now is a great time to join our team. We are offering a variety of opportunities to be involved in the growth of the team and you can develop your career either as a qualified practitioner or as someone with a desire to have a career in mental health with the NHS.”
Who are the First Point of Contact Centre
The team manage telephone calls from the NHS 111 mental health line, the Gloucestershire mental health crisis line and the mental health GP professional’s line. The team provide both immediate crisis support and onward referrals to other mental health services.
Referrals are also received from health care professionals via email or letter for routine and urgent support, with all crisis referrals being undertaken by telephone referral. The team are key in navigating referral pathways and onward signposting to ensure patients needs are met to enable them to start their mental health recovery journey.
Who are we looking for?
If you are looking for a role that allows you to make a real difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you!
Whether you are a registered clinician looking to continue your career within the NHS or joining the team as a call handler might be your first step into a career with us, then FPCC can provide a rewarding career.
As one of our Call Handlers, Mental Health Practitioners or Senior Mental Health Practitioners, you’ll support people when they need it most, helping them to get the urgent care, support and advice they need to support their mental health.
About us
Julie Brooks-Olpin says “It’s exciting here, day to day. You never know what you’re going to get, so it definitely builds your skills in mental health. We’ve got a friendly group of experienced and helpful people who support each other every day.”
The team is made up of B3 call handlers, and band 5 and 6 Mental Health Practitioners who prioritise and share work based on the nature of the call.
Everyone that joins the team will have an extensive induction programme; giving them knowledge and expertise to handle calls. This is supported by ongoing development and reflection opportunities; as a team we share our experiences so that we are always learning.
“I think of our call handlers as support workers, as they handle about 60 per cent of the calls which come through, and a lot are resolved here and don’t go on anywhere else,” explains Julie Brooks-Olpin, team manager.
“Our Mental Health Practitioners and Senior Mental Health Practitioners support the Call Handlers as well as taking the calls that need their expertise. The roles are unique in that our MHPs and SHMPs don’t have a caseload in the same way that other teams and roles do.”
Lou Squire, a Senior Mental Health Practitioner, said: “In some teams you work with a certain demographic, but here you can be talking with anybody and everybody!
“You might have a call from a 13-year-old in the morning, a 90-year-old at lunchtime and be helping a pregnant woman in the afternoon, so it keeps your skills sharp! When you’re here you deal with whatever you’re handed.”
And they share the same joy in not knowing what each day is going to bring, while knowing there’s an experienced and close-knit team around them.
Interested?
If you’re interested in joining the team we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Julie.Brooks-Olpin for more information or apply online using the links below:
You can also register to join our online recruitment event on 23 October, 12pm-1pm.
