Community Mental Health Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust in the South Lakes area is seeking a Community Mental Health Practitioner to join the busy Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults. The role focuses on comprehensive assessments, care planning and risk management for complex cases, with duties including triage, duty coverage and support to physical health provision within the team.

Applicants should be experienced, team-oriented and comfortable working both collaboratively and independently,

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse with active NMC registration.
• Specialist qualification or equivalent level in skills and development.
• Experience of assessing, planning and implementing and reviewing care needs.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety policies and procedures and Mental Health Act/Mental Capacity Act.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive assessment, advice and treatment to people with highly complex needs.
• Conduct risk assessment and management across a broad range of mental health conditions.
• Triaging and response to incoming queries and concerns for the team.
• Support and oversight for the physical health provision within the team.

Skills

Assessment

Risk assessment

Teamwork

Independent working

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse

Specialist qualification or equivalent level in skills and development

Job description

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Community Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 17 November 2026

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic and skilled Community Mental Health Practitioner to join our busy Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults in South Lakes.

We are looking for a Assessment and Duty Pactitioner, someone who enjoys and works well in a team setting and is also able to work independently; is committed to working with older people with mental health needs and is able to work effectively in this role.

Main duties of the job

As a Assessment and Duty Practitioner, you will provide comprehensive assessment, advice and treatment to people with highly complex needs referred to Community Services in accordance with care pathways for given specialism including risk assessment and management to a broad range of people with functional and organic mental health needs. As a Duty practitioner you will also undertake Duty for the team, the triaging and response to incoming queries and concerns.The role also includes support and oversight for the Physical health provision within the team.

The integrated team incorporates a Memory Assessment Service, CMHT function for patients with more complex needs associated with both functional and organic illness, and Care Home Liaison function. The unique set-up of these integrated teams allows a seamless delivery of care for patients throughout all stages of their illness, and a collaborative approach within the team.

About us

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse.
• Specialist qualification or equivalent level in skills and development.

Knowledge

• Understanding of Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Knowledge and practice of Mental Health Act 1983.
• Knowledge and practice of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Demonstrate understanding of how research has influenced practice.

Experience

• Experience of assessing, planning and implementing and reviewing care needs.Experienced in acting as a mentor/assessor of student staff.

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.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

£39,959 to £48,117 a yearper annum pro rata