Community Mental Health Practitioner

NHS; Highweek; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider is seeking a Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner in Highweek, UK. This role involves providing crisis intervention and home treatment within a multidisciplinary team. Responsibilities include mental health assessments, formulating safety plans, and delivering evidence-based interventions. Applicants should have a relevant professional qualification and experience in mental health settings. Opportunities for part-time and flexible working are available.

Qualifications

• Registered with no restrictions and evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
• Experience working in mental health settings.
• Ability to manage change positively.

Responsibilities

• Deliver timely, evidence-based mental health assessments and interventions.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Formulate risk assessments and safety plans.

Skills

Strong clinical assessment skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work autonomously

Knowledge of safeguarding procedures

Organizational skills

Education

Registered professional qualification (e.g. RMN, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist)

Job description

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner to work within the Teignbridge Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment Teams Based at Estuary House.

The CRHTT is a pivotal, county-wide service whose main focus is to offer an alternative to inpatient admission and provide intensive treatment within the community. The service operates within locality-based leadership teams to ensure effective gate‑keeping for all service users referred for hospital admission. Outreach is at the heart of the service, with most assessments taking place in non‑hospital environments.

As an active member of the integrated multi‑disciplinary team, the post holder will contribute to a 24‑hour community‑based Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service, available across the county as an alternative to hospital admission. The role involves delivering rapid assessments and planning effective, evidence‑based home treatment in collaboration with service users, carers and professionals from both established services and locality teams.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver timely, evidence‑based mental health assessments and interventions to individuals in acute distress or crisis.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide rapid response and short‑term support in community settings.
• Formulate risk assessments and safety plans collaboratively with service users and carers.
• Liaise with internal and external services to ensure continuity of care and appropriate onward referrals.
• Provide clinical leadership and supervision to junior staff and support workers where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service audits and quality improvement initiatives.
• Promote recovery‑focused, trauma‑informed, and person‑centred approaches in all aspects of care.
• Participate in rota‑based working, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays to ensure 24/7 service coverage.
• Uphold Trust values and contribute to a culture of compassion, inclusion and excellence.

Team responsibilities

• Develop, deliver and oversee treatment plans for clients open to the Crisis Resolution Team.
• Assess, manage and formulate clinical risk with each client.
• Offer crisis resolution as an alternative to hospital admission, available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
• Serve as the gatekeeper for inpatient hospital beds.
• Conduct initial in‑person follow‑up after hospital discharge.

About us

About Devon Partnership NHS Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region and nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do.

Our values

We recruit based on qualifications & experience while also looking for individuals who demonstrate the behaviours underpinning our core values: commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. These values guide our everyday tasks, from offering a smile to challenging ourselves & others and embracing new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & encourage applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part‑time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills – Essential

• Strong clinical assessment and risk management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team with a complex caseload.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, MCA).
• Commitment to recovery‑oriented and trauma‑informed practice.
• Ability to work flexibly across a 24/7 rota.
• Organisational skills and managing own time and workload.
• Knowledge of monitoring mental health medications and considering interactions with physical health needs.
• Experience of delivering evidence‑based interventions.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to provide well‑written reports.
• Excellent communication skills, including engaging clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.
• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
• Ability to manage change positively.

Knowledge & Skills – Desirable

• Familiarity with local services and pathways within the integrated care system.
• Leadership or supervisory experience.
• Understanding of crisis and home treatment interventions and recovery principles in mental health.
• Knowledge of gate‑keeping of inpatient admissions.

Qualifications – Essential

• Registered professional qualification (e.g. RMN, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist) with current registration, practising with no restrictions.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.

Qualifications – Desirable

• Training in psychosocial interventions (e.g. CBT, DBT‑informed approaches).
• Qualified in phlebotomy.

Experience – Essential

• Experience working in mental health settings.
• Experience working within inpatient or community settings.
• Experience managing risk.
• Experience working autonomously.

Experience – Desirable

• Experience in community‑based teams.
• Experience delivering crisis interventions.
• Experience working within home treatment teams or crisis services.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and, as such, a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Collett Way
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 4PH

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/