Duty Practitioner

Compass Bloom (MHST); Leyland; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday + bank holidays, pro‑r

Life assurance at 2 x basic salary

Pension scheme (competitive contributo

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and

OH service

Enhanced sick pay

Learning & development opportunities

Annual salary review

Job summary

Compass Bloom (MHST) is seeking a Duty Practitioner in Leyland to help children and young people access timely support for mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing difficulties within education settings.

You will coordinate referrals, oversee triage and assessment bookings, and work with parents, carers, schools and partner agencies to ensure referrals reach the most appropriate service. You will support safeguarding, information sharing, and service improvement in a busy team.

Qualifications

• Qualified in mental health or work with children and young people with CPD evidence.
• Experience in children and young people’s mental health services or education settings.
• Experience coordinating or delegating duties across agencies.
• Understanding safeguarding, confidentiality, consent and information sharing.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate referrals, oversee triage and assessment bookings.
• Collaborate with parents, carers, schools and partner agencies to ensure referrals reach appropriate services.
• Develop and support the duty system, provide information, advice and signposting.
• Escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately and work with colleagues for service improvement.

Skills

Communication

Organisation

IT skills

Safeguarding

Collaboration

Initiative

Problem solving

Experience with EY PYP MH services

Education

Mental health or children's services qualification

Postgraduate therapeutic qualification (beneficial)

Job description

About The Role

Help children and young people access the right support.

You’re someone who cares about making a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

As a Duty Practitioner, you’ll join our Leyland Mental Health Support Teams (MHST), helping children and young people access timely support for mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing difficulties across education settings.

You’ll coordinate referrals, oversee triage and assessment bookings, and work closely with parents, carers, education settings and partner agencies to ensure referrals reach the most appropriate service.

You’ll also help develop our duty system, provide information, advice and signposting, and work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure safeguarding concerns are recognised and escalated appropriately.

About You

You’re an organised, proactive practitioner who thrives in a busy environment and is passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

• A relevant qualification in mental health or working with children and young people, alongside evidence of continued professional development.
• Experience of working within a children and young people’s mental health service, community or educational setting, engaging effectively with children, young people and families.
• Experience of working across agencies and multidisciplinary teams, including coordinating or delegating duties.
• An understanding of safeguarding, child protection, confidentiality, consent and information sharing, with the ability to recognise and elevate concerns appropriately.
• Strong communication, organisation and IT skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure and maintain accurate records.
• A collaborative, adaptable and solution focused approach, with the confidence to use your initiative, build positive relationships and contribute to service improvement.

Knowledge of common mental health difficulties experienced by children and young people, MHST service models or relevant legislation would be welcomed. A therapeutic postgraduate qualification would also be beneficial.

Access to your own transport, or evidence of being able to commute efficiently between community venues, is essential.

About Us

Compass is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. For 40 years, Compass is a national charity which works in communities across the UK providing services spanning substance misuse treatment and rehabilitation, early interventions for vulnerable young people, school-aged health programmes and associated prevention as well as treatment and health promotion initiatives.

All Compass posts are subject to appropriate level DBS checks.

We positively encourage applications from all members of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age, or sexual orientation, and encourage applications from people who have experiences in life which enrich skills and empathy. This is part of our commitment to equality and developing a truly inclusive and representative workforce.

We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process, on commencement, or once in post.

Benefits

We offer a range of benefits including:

• 27 days holiday + bank holidays, rising to 32 days over time (pro rata)
• Life assurance at 2 x basic salary
• Competitive contributory pension scheme
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and OH service
• Enhanced sick pay
• Excellent learning & development opportunities and career progression
• Annual salary review

Closing Date: 13.11.2026

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