Assistant Practitioner

NSFT; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive training programmes

Career progression

Starting annual leave 27 days (in year

Bank holidays enhanced leave

Job summary

NSFT’s Intensive Older Peoples Service (IOPS) in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney locality is recruiting a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner to join a multidisciplinary team delivering short-term intensive community assessment and treatment for older adults and those over 70 with functional illness. The post involves home visits, signposting, and a focus on health promotion.

You will work within a supportive team, with supervision from psychology and a clear development path.

Qualifications

• Care certificate or Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/mental health (L5).
• Experience with mental health service users within MDT settings.
• Knowledge of CPA process and care planning.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, review and deliver care in collaboration with service users and carers in home or care homes.
• Plan safe discharge and arrange signposting and onward referrals as needed.
• Conduct physical health checks and escalate findings outside normal range.
• Document all patient contacts clearly in local recording systems.
• Must hold a valid UK Driving licence for travel within catchment area.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Driving licence

Education

Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/mental health (L5)

Care certificate or equivalent

Job description

Main area Older Persons Community Mental Health Team Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent: 37.5 Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 246-GYW8325790

Site Carlton Court Town Lowestoft Salary £28,392 - £31,157 gross per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 19/10/2026 23:59

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.

Please note due to the nature of our roles and patient demographic, you will be required to undertake physical intervention training and remain trained, as required by your role.

Job overview

We are pleased to offer this exciting opportunity to join the Intensive Older Peoples Service covering the Great Yarmouth and Waveney locality
We provide short term intensive community assessment and treatment for people with Dementia, as well as for those aged over 70 with a functional illness. Responding to emergency and urgent referrals, as well as those from our colleagues in the CMHTs.
We work closely with service users, families and care providers to agree a holistic and focused care and treatment package. We work as a multidisciplinary team to achieve the best outcomes for our service users. Our aim is to avoid hospital admission where possible but we will support this when necessary.
A full induction will be provided and although previous experience of working with older adults is an advantage, we welcome applications from those with varying backgrounds.
We offer a supportive and open team environment where you will be encouraged to share your ideas and be part of the development of the service.
We offer team supervision led by our psychology department as well as individual supervision and appraisal.
As an Assistant Practitioner within IOPS you will be working in a friendly supportive team to deliver excellent care.
You will require excellent communication and organisational skills and the ability to work flexibly in a busy environment.

Main duties of the job

You will be involved in the assessment, planning, review and delivery of care and treatment in conjunction with the service users and carers, both in their own home and care homes.

You will need the ability to plan safe discharge from the team as well as signposting and onward referrals as agreed with the service user.

You will be expected to complete physical health checks and alert any findings outside of normal range whilst incorporating health promotion principles into practice.

You will be expected to identify risk and elevate any concerns regarding safety.

You will be required to clearly document and record all patient contacts and local recording systems.

Valid UK Driving licence is required for this post**

Working for our organisation

Why work for us?

We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established nursing networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Some of the benefits you can expect:

• a comprehensive in house & external training programmes
• career progression
• starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays) Based on full time hours.
• NHS discounts and many more

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will need to be enthusiastic and conscientious and do everything you can to provide the best care to our service users. We are looking for someone who displays compassion, empathy, and sensitivity in your approach to people who may be distressed or have a challenging presentation.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Care certificate or relevant equivalent. Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/mental health or apprenticeship in H&SC/mental health L5

Experience

• Working with Service Users with mental health needs
• Working within Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
• Working knowledge and understanding of CPA process

Skills

• Able to drive and use of own transport to travel throughout catchment area in Suffolk & Norfolk.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

As a part of the Disability Confident Employer Guaranteed Interview Scheme we interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job vacancy (outlined in the Person Specification).. We encourage you to indicate your eligibility through TRAC jobs when applying.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post may be 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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Joy Scottow Job title Matron Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01496337654 Additional information
Janna Fleming - [e-mail]