Community Practitioner (Band 6) - Nursing/ Social Worker/ OT - Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne an[...]

Employer Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Vermont House Town Washington Salary £37,338 - £44,962 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/05/2025 23:59

Community Practitioner

Band 6

Hello!

We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).

We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.

Opportunities for you

Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.

We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.

• Cultural diversity staff network
• Disabled staff network
• LGBT+ staff network

We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:

• Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Association
• Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
• Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group

We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.

Always improving

CNTW is regulated by the national healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last two inspections have rated us as an outstanding organisation. We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?

Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay

Job overview

OpCourage North - The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is a provider collaborative delivering specialist mental health services to Veterans, reservists, and their families across the North of England.

The collaborative is made up of Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust as the lead provider, working with NHS partners Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and Charitable organisation partners Combat Stress and Walking With The Wounded.

The OpCourage service recognises the importance of personalisation of the care journey for veteran and supporting them to access the right care from the right services.

Op COURAGE offers a range of specialist support and treatment for members of the armed forces community, which includes:

• helping to recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma
• providing support and treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use
• liaising with charities and local organisations to support wider health and wellbeing, such as help with housing, relationships, finances and employment
• referring to other NHS services, where needed
• recognising that family may also need help and care and supporting them to access this.

Main duties of the job

We look forward to welcoming applications for a full time Band 6 Community Practitioner from either registered Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers or Occupational Therapists with at least two years post qualifying experience. We would consider part time working arrangements if there were 2 appointable candidates to fill the full time hours.

This is an opportunity to be a part of a very supportive team, where your contribution and development are highly valued. Successful applicants will work exclusively with individuals who have served with the UK Armed Forces, their families, and non-mobilised reservists.

You will be able to work autonomously and be willing and able to develop your skills and knowledge for this specialist role. You will be involved in completing holistic assessments and delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions to people on our caseload. There is a clear flexible framework in relation to specific slots in your working week in order to complete assessment, triage, and clinical intervention time.

The service is committed to developing the skills of practitioners, so there will be ongoing opportunities to work within either assessment or care coordination roles, whilst also having the opportunity to gain further therapeutic skills through training.

Working for our organisation

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Candidates must have 2 years post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework.

We welcome your application.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

• Professional Qualification and current Professional Registration as, a First Level Registered Nurse (RNMH, RMN, RNLD) or equivalent as an AHP, Social Worker or Clinical Psychologist
• Evidence of post-registration training in clinical/ psychological interventions / skills relevant to the post.
• Proven track record of post registration clinical experience relevant to the post.
• Training in CPA (Care Programme Approach), Safeguarding, MAPPA (Multi Agency Panel for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults) and Child Protection.
• Up-to-date knowledge/experience of relevant legislation.
• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area

Knowledge and Experience

• Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
• Experience working with people with mental ill health in a care environment.
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team
• 12 to 24 month band 5 qualified nurse experience dependent upon service need.
• Awareness and understanding of professional accountability, NMC standards and other local and national initiatives.
• Experience of working in a community environment
• Providing clinical supervision to individuals or groups as professionally appropriate.
• Quality improvement activities

Skills and Competencies

• Proven ability to carry out and provide comprehensive written assessments of individuals with complex mental health needs.
• Risk Assessment and Risk Management / Safety Planning skills.
• Demonstrate an understanding of effective & appropriate treatment options including a range of evidence based clinical approaches as identified in N.I.C.E. Guidance).
• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Evidence of a high level of professional, organisational and leadership skills (self & others).
• Ability to adapt within a changing environment.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment
• Clinical Governance and its application in practice

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

Please ensure to check out all of the supporting documents linked to this advert, for useful information about working for us, information from our Chief Executive and much more.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.