Complex Needs Service Mental Health Practitioner

Cheshire And Wirral Partnership Nhs Foundation Trust; Birkenhead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Birkenhead seeks a Mental Health Practitioner for the Wirral Complex Needs Service. You will carry a clinical caseload and deliver psychological interventions in one-to-one and group settings as part of a multidisciplinary team.

The role focuses on personality-based difficulties and complex trauma, with opportunities to learn Structured Clinical Management and other therapies, and to work with primary care and third sector partners.

Qualifications

• Educated to diploma/degree level and registered with the appropriate professional body.
• Experience with complex cases and a recovery-focused philosophy.
• Knowledge of delivering psychosocial interventions (PSI).
• Ability to work with commissioners and care providers.

Responsibilities

• Carry a clinical caseload delivering psychological interventions one-to-one and in groups.
• Provide low-level consultation as link worker to wider services.
• Collaborate with MDT to learn and develop knowledge in the area.
• Support system coordination for care plans.

Skills

Recovery-focused

PSI interventions

Assessments

Community collaboration

Clinical supervision

MHA knowledge

Complex cases

Programme development

Research & audits

Education

Diploma/degree with professional registration

Mentoring qualification

Job description

Job summary

Complex Needs Service Mental Health Practitioner Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust • Birkenhead, United Kingdom

An opportunity has arisen to apply for the role of Mental Health practitioner in the Wirral Complex Needs Service. The Complex Needs Service plays a role in delivering mental health care for adults with personality-based difficulties and complex trauma. The post-holder will be part of a team that helps co-ordinate and implement direct and indirect psychological care to our client group, whilst also helping to support the wider system that works with our clients.

Psychological approaches are highly valued within our team and Mental Health Practitioners are integral in this process, providing assessment and interventions, as well as contributing to the clinical thinking within the team.

The post-holder will join a supportive and friendly multi-disciplinary team involving mental health practitioners, clinical psychologists, assistant psychologist and support worker whom are trained in differing disciplines. The MDT provides great opportunity to learn within a team and develop knowledge and skills in this area of work.

Main duties of the job

The role will involve carrying a clinical caseload, working both directly and indirectly with service users delivering psychological interventions at a one to one and group level. The post holder will also provide low level consultation (when required) as the link worker to the wider services supporting individuals.

We are keen to recruit someone with experience, knowledge and skills of working with personality based difficulties and complex trauma. We also value the ability to develop innovative practice and value those who are able to work closely with colleagues in different parts of the system, including primary care and the third sector.

We prioritise investment in staff and would offer training in Structured Clinical Management with potential to train in other therapeutic models, such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. We would particularly welcome applications from people who are a already trained in the following therapeutic modalities: Cognitive Analytical Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Mentalisation Based Therapy and Structured Clinical Management although this is not essential.

About us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Details

Date posted: 12 August 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum pro rata

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: 373-SMH2731

Job locations: Stein Centre, Derby Road, Birkenhead, CH42 7HB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to diploma/degree level and registered with the appropriate professional body
• Professional knowledge acquired through a relevant degree or experience plus relevant experience working with complex cases
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Relevant mentorship qualification as required by governing body

Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

• In-depth knowledge and experience of working within the recovery focused philosophy framework
• Knowledge of delivering individual service user focused specialist assessments
• Knowledge of evidence based interventions which are measureable and which promote the service users journey along the recovery pathway
• An in-depth knowledge of delivering psychosocial interventions (PSI)
• Knowledge and understanding of physical health needs
• Professional knowledge acquired through a relevant degree plus relevant experience for working in the community
• Highly developed accurate physical skills and be able to manipulate fine tools and materials
• Knowledge of developing specialist programmes of care, care packages
• Knowledge of providing specialised advice in relation to care
• Knowledge of recording personally generated information
• Knowledge of working closely with commissioners and care providers
• Knowledge of legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
• Experience of undertaking surveys or audits necessary to own work
• Experience of undertaking research and development activity and clinical trials
• Knowledge of complex care management including the development of bespoke support packages
• A minimum of 2 years' experience working with adults with mental health problems with a complex nature
• Experience of planning and organising complex activities or programmes requiring formulation and adjustment
• Experience of developing specialist programmes of care, care packages
• Experience of providing specialised advice in relation to care
• Experience of working closely with commissioners and care providers
• Experience of following policies and providing comments to propose changes to practice/procedures in own work area
• Experience of safe management of equipment and resources
• Experience of being an authorised signatory
• Experience of conducting professional/clinical supervision
• Ability to undertake surveys, R&D activity or audits as necessary to own work
• Ability to regularly undertake equipment testing and adaptation
• Experience of working within a rehabilitation framework

Trust Values

Essential

• Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Stein Centre, Derby Road, Birkenhead, CH42 7HB, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Team Manager, Catherine Clack, [e-mail]

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.