Advanced Mental Health Practitioner

NHS; Bracknell; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare provider as a Mental Health Practitioner in Bracknell. This role involves working within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, focusing on assessing and advising children and their families. Offering flexible working options and career development opportunities, it promises a rewarding and dynamic work environment. Successful candidates will possess a strong background in mental health, resilience, and excellent communication skills.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days' annual leave

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme

Access to wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at retailers and restaurants

Support networks

Generous leave policies

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Registration with NMC or HCPC required.
• Experience in working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
• Ability to manage complex information.

Responsibilities

• Triage and assess young people for mental health services.
• Conduct consultations and assessments for referrals.
• Work flexibly across multiple sites.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Problem Solving

Assessment

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse

Occupational Therapy degree level qualification

Qualification in a therapeutic modality

Post graduate qualification in Child Mental Health

Job description

Interview will be held on 17th July 2025

Are you a Registered Mental Health Nurse with an interest in working in our CYPF Health Hub, CAMHS Common Point of Entry Service as a Mental Health Practitioner? Then we at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) have an exciting opportunity for you!

This fantastic opportunity will be responding to complex referrals to the CAMHS team, carrying out initial triage and telephone assessment of new children or young people including risk assessments and the formulation and recommendation for on-going care. You will review referrals coming into the service and undertake a structured telephone triage and develop a formulation to determine the mental health needs of the child or young person, assessing risk and either signposting to the appropriate CAMHS team or pathway.

You will also be providing advice and consultation to referrers, colleagues and families who may require advice about symptoms, risk, or the need for a referral. You will also be identifying those who need a more detailed face to face assessment within CPE and allocating a priority level.

Main duties of the job

Triage, assessment and formulation of young people presenting to Child and Adolescent mental Health services.

Consultation with professionals making referrals to the service

Undertaking Telephone assessments of young people referred to the service

Undertaking Face to face assessments of young people referred to the service

Work flexibly across multiple sites

Taking part in the review of clinical records

Reviewing of data to support the management of waiting lists

Working within a team of skilled CAMHS clinicians

Joining a service that provided front door access to a comprehensive CAMHS

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. Registered mental Health Nurse or other registered appropriate health care professional

2. An interest in working within a CAMHS team

3. An ability to undertake telephone assessments

4. Experience of working in a mental health setting

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Robert Williams or Jason Wear on 03003631234 or email [e-mail] or [e-mail] who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC) or Registered Nurse Child or MH branch) or Occupational Therapy degree level qualification and registered with HPCP.
• HCPC Registered Practitioner/Social Worker
• Experience of working with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
• Qualification in a therapeutic modality
• Post graduate qualification in Child Mental Health Education/Qualifications/Training
• Ability to manage complex and sensitive information using well-developed motivational and negotiating skills, representing the service in a variety of different situations
• Evidence of children, young people and carer involvement within care planning and service development
• Evidence of post qualification learning in a relevant field

Previous Experience

• Experience of working assertively with children and young people to engage in therapeutic activities
• Knowledge and significant experience in mental health
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Experience of working effectively in a team and able to demonstrate ability to work on own initiative, without direct supervision, making sound clinical decisions

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant national guidance and policies in management of children's emotional and mental health needs process
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the health and social care systems and operating frameworks, clinical observations and the Children's Safeguarding, SEND and other legal frameworks relating to children and young people
• Good interpersonal, communication, observation and reporting skills. Ability to engage and communication with a wide range of professionals, staff and other service stakeholders
• Able to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others and demonstrate resilience to able to cope with distressing circumstances
• Ability to assess a young person and from this assessment develop a formulation.

5.Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel around the geographical area of BHFT
• Able to work flexible patterns as required and the ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements of the position.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

£48,270 to £54,931 a yearper annum ( Incl of HCAS)