A primary care specialist mental health practitioner is an experienced professional who can support patients with either a diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health concern. Their role is to work across the North Arden PCN’S to provide early assessment and treatment interventions for people with mental illness as well as providing additional signposting advice and information as needed.
Acting as initial points of contact for adults who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health illnesses, they will endeavour to enhance the patient journey and create better joint working across Primary Care and adult Specialist Community Mental Health Services (SCMH) making it easier for patients to access the help they need at the right time with the right practitioner.
They will offer an in-depth assessment and initial support as well as refer patients on to local services for longer term treatment. They can also liaise with the GP about starting any medication without patients needing to speak to them.
The primary care specialist mental health practitioner works closely with other PCN-based roles to help address the potential range of biopsychosocial needs of patients with mental health problems. This will include the PCN’s MDT, including, for example, PCN clinical pharmacists for medication reviews, and social prescribing link workers for access to community-based support. They are also responsible for the clinical leadership and management of mental health provision within the North Arden PCN and will be managing any day-to-day operational / clinical issues arising within the mental health service delivery.
Patients that are referred to them can be provided up to 4-5 face to face sessions, these will to be deliver interventions such as psychoeducation for common mental health disorders, sleep hygiene, relaxation, coping strategies, emotional regulation, compassion focused interventions for trauma, depression and anxiety management or signposting to an appropriate third sector service.
Patients who are suitable to be seen by the primary care specialist mental health practitioner:
- Mild to moderate mental health problems
- 17+
- Depression, anxiety, stress, panic, difficulty with emotions, feeling suicidal, feeling overwhelmed
- Those who are on a waiting list for treatment but feel they need their mood reviewed
- Anyone feeling their mental health is relapsing
- People unable to follow a structured treatment model
Our Primary Care Specialist Mental Health Practitioners
Andrew McNaney
Andrew is highly trained and qualified with a Bsc in Health and Social Care from Nottingham Trent University which he completed in 2012 following which he trained for a Bsc in Mental Health Nursing from Coventry University which he completed his qualification for in 2019.
Before undertaking his qualifications to pursue a career in nursing Andrew followed a diverse career path having primarily worked in clothing retail for roughly 4 years after the completion of his first degree. He also worked in a nightclub behind the bar and was a retail assistant in a corner shop from age 14-20 years old.
Prior to joining our PCN in November 2023 Andrew was a Rehabilitation Nurse in a mixed mental health rehabilitation unit, a role which he thoroughly enjoyed. Andrew is excited to explore his new role with us as it is his first community role. With his previous background being entirely in inpatient nursing Andrew is keen to explore the differences and challenges that this new role will bring.
Andrew’s professional interests are focused on learning more about both mental and physical health in order to become the most well rounded professional possible. He has had a vested interest in mental health, and specifically counselling, since he undertook a psychology course at school.
Andrew’s future aspirations for his role are to develop more therapeutic ways of engaging with people in order to enable them to gain insight into their specific issues and collaboratively develop plans of action to deal with these issues.
Charlene McGowan
Charlene is a Primary Care Mental Health Clinical Lead who officially began working for The North Arden PCN in July 2024.
She began her journey into this role by completing a psychology degree Bsc (Hons) at the Sheffield Hallam University in 2013. From there Charlene worked as a support worker in supported housing. She was keen to progress clinically so applied for nursing degree, completing her qualifications for Mental Health Nursing BNurse (Hons) at the Wolverhampton University in 2016.
With the completion of her nursing degree Charlene worked in an adult inpatient role as a staff nurse, from there progressing into the community working with adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.
Following this Charlene went into a specialised care role as a Perinatal Community Mental Health Nurse working with women and families in the community who were suffering with mental ill health during the perinatal period. A role she very much enjoyed and prompted her into undertaking psychological therapy training including EMDR.
Charlene is looking forward to widening her experience and knowledge of working in primary care and taking a lead role. She has a keen interest in incorporating psychological skills into interventions and treating patients holistically. She has recognised the importance from her previous roles in ensuring an effective formulation in order to treat the right need at the right time. She has great hope in the future to continue to embed the mental health team within the PCN alongside professionals to provide an effective service to our patients.