Assistant Practitioner

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Exeter, Barnstaple, Torquay; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for Assistant Practitioners to join the Managing Mood & Relationships Pathway of Children and Family Health Devon. The role requires a Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care and involves working directly with adolescents who experience mental health challenges. Applicants will have the support of a dedicated team and receive robust supervision to enhance their skills.

Benefits

Robust supervision and training

Supportive team culture

Qualifications

• Must hold or obtain the Care Certificate within first 3 months.
• Evidence of relevant health training, e.g., Eating disorders.
• Experience of working in different mental health care settings.

Responsibilities

• Support assessment and delivery of therapeutic care under supervision.
• Contribute to data collection and quality improvement.
• Engage in safeguarding activities to support children and families.

Skills

Experience in working with adolescents

Knowledge of Mental Health presentations

Ability to work autonomously

Education

Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care

GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above)

Job description

Location: Torquay, TQ2 7BA, Exeter, EX2 4NU&Barnstaple, EX31 3UD
Salary: £26530.00 to £29114.00
Date posted: 19th June 2025
Closing date: 6th July 2025

We are delighted to advertise an exciting opportunity forAssistant Practitioners to join the Managing Mood & Relationships (MERS) Pathwayof Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD). We have opportunities available inour Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) team.

This is a county-wide rolesuitable for individuals who already hold a Level 5 qualification in Health andSocial Care and are ready to apply their knowledge in a dynamic, high-impactsetting. There will be a requirement to travel to our three locality bases in CFHD(Torbay, Exeter & Barnstable) and to support our skills groups that are incommunity bases sometimes in the late afternoon/early evening e.g. : 5-6.30pm.

The DBT Service provides long-term, intensive mental healthsupport to young people (14-18 years) experiencing high levels of emotional andbehavioural dysregulation, including self-harm. The team offers a 6-monththerapeutic programme of individual therapy, groupwork and telephone coaching.

Main duties of the job

• Support the assessment and delivery of therapeutic care under supervision of registered practitioners
• Work collaboratively as part of the DBT team, and Skills Group
• Experience in working with adolescents who have emotional & behavioural dysregulation disorders
• Experience of adaptation of DBT for young people with neurodiversity, mental health & trauma.
• Contribute to data collection, quality improvement and service evaluation.
• Engage in activities to safeguard and support children, young people, and families
• Maintaining accurate records and working to high clinical standards
• Helping to prevent escalation of risk and hospital admissions through intensive support and skills teaching

As with all CFHD roles, you'll benefit from robust supervision, training, and a passionate team culture committed to the voices and needs of children, young people and families.

You will be well supported by experienced clinicians and receive regular clinical and line management supervision.

About us

Children and Family Health Devon(CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improvehealth outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care andtreatment for children and young people across physical and mental health. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure wedeliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of ourservices, based on the i-Thrive Framework, in response to consultation with ourservice users and communities.

CFHD works closely with our localuniversities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where wesupport students in clinical training placements and in addition support our ownstaff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatmenthas been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people andtheir families/carers.

Wewould like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to beunderstanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make usfeel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills andexperience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way.When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment thatis informal and without pressure.

Our vision is to be a successful, vibrant,partnership that benefits the communities we serve.

Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families with a range of mental health difficulties. This will be achieved by:

Active involvement in the delivery of high quality, safe and compassionate mental health services as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Implementing specific assessment, review and care packages to individuals and groups within standard protocols, integrated care pathways.

Providing evidence based advice and consultancy to young people, family members/carers within standard protocols.

Organising and managing a defined caseload under distant guidance and work as lone workers where appropriate. The post holder will be accountable for their own actions within the delivery of this care.

Seeking advice and expertise of a registered practitioner when required through the use of regular managerial and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment
• GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above) OR Level 2 Key Skills / Functional Skills in Maths and English
• Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or qualification to diploma level or equivalent
• Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders /Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder/Social Care.

Experience

• Previous experience working in a range of different mental health care settings
• Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
• Working with young people with challenging behaviour and complex health needs

Knowledge

• Knowledge of a range of Mental Health presentations and medications
• An understanding of physical health problems which can impact on a persons mental health and monitoring of the same.

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.