Locality Mental Health Practitioner

NHS; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-based health service in Rochdale seeks a Locality Mental Health Practitioner to provide support to children and young people with mental health needs. This role involves delivering therapeutic interventions, advice, and signposting while engaging with various community partners. Ideal candidates should have a relevant health qualification and experience working with neurodivergent conditions. Benefits include generous leave and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Flexible working opportunities

Access to Continued Professional Development

Health and Wellbeing activities

Qualifications

• Professional involvement with the users of mental health services.
• Experience of case management of young people.
• Experience of multi-agency working.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely mental health advice and signposting.
• Deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Build relationships within local communities.

Skills

Knowledge of mental health issues in young people

Ability to undertake appropriate mental health assessment

Ability to manage a caseload

Ability to work well with a team

Ability to deliver therapeutic interventions

Education

NMC nursing or social work or equivalent health/social care qualification

Significant post-qualification experience in community mental health services

Job description

The post holder will work as a member of the Neuro Hub for Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale (HMR) CAMHS, located in the heart of the community in Rochdale Town Centre.

The Neuro Hub is a dynamic, community‑based service for young people presenting with suspected or diagnosed neurodevelopmental conditions.

The role includes:

• Advice & Signposting: Provide timely mental health advice and signposting to children, young people, families and professionals accessing the service.
• Therapeutic Interventions: Deliver brief, evidence‑based therapeutic interventions (e.g. CBT‑informed, solution‑focused, psychoeducation) to young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• Community Engagement: Build relationships within local communities, working in partnership with schools, GPs, youth services and Early Help teams to deliver targeted locality work.
• Group Facilitation: Co‑facilitate wellbeing and psychoeducational group sessions to promote mental health awareness and emotional resilience.
• Multi‑Disciplinary Working: Work as part of the wider #Thrive MDT and local system, contributing to case discussions, joint assessments and collaborative care planning.
• Outcome Monitoring: Use appropriate tools to assess, review and document progress, maintaining accurate clinical records and contributing to service evaluation.
• Supervision: Engage in and deliver managerial and clinical supervision, including with appropriate consent, recording and reviewing of live clinical work.

Main duties of the job

• Good knowledge of neurodivergent conditions such as ASC, PDA, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourettes.
• Experience of working with neurodivergent children and families.
• Ability to practise in a neuro‑affirmative way.
• Non‑judgemental approach.
• Ability to hold space for strongly expressed emotions.
• Ability to run and develop workshops for parents/carers of neurodivergent children.
• Attend meetings in school and confidence to use respectful challenge as required.
• Comfortable working within a small team of professionals who specialise in neurodivergence.
• Confidence to liaise with other professionals.

As a Locality Mental Health Practitioner in the Neuro Hub, you will play a key role in delivering accessible, early support to children and young people with emerging mental health needs. You will provide advice, signposting, brief therapeutic interventions and contribute to group and community work. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about early help, enjoys working in fast‑paced, community‑based settings and values a whole‑system, trauma‑informed approach.

The post holder will at times work across the borough from community locations to offer consultations and support to a range of professionals and partner agencies.

About us

Our ambition is to maximise people's potential and we aim to promote an inclusive environment and improve the diversity of our workforce so our people truly represent the communities we serve.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We also encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our #PennineCarePeople.

Benefits and opportunities include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical & Dental staff.
• Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance.
• Access to Continued Professional Development.
• Involvement in improvement and research activities.
• Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service.
• Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel.

Job responsibilities

• Advice & Signposting: Provide timely mental health advice and signposting to children, young people, families and professionals accessing #Thrive drop‑ins, phone lines and outreach events.
• Drop‑In Support: Offer emotional wellbeing support to young people attending drop‑in sessions, using a warm, person‑centred approach and solution‑focused conversations.
• Therapeutic Interventions: Deliver brief, evidence‑based interventions (e.g. CBT‑informed, solution‑focused, psychoeducation) to young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Manage a defined caseload and undertake case‑management responsibilities.
• Community Engagement: Build relationships within local communities, working in partnership with schools, GPs, youth services and Early Help teams to deliver targeted locality work.
• Group Facilitation: Co‑facilitate wellbeing and psychoeducational group sessions to promote mental health awareness and emotional resilience.
• Multi‑Disciplinary Working: Work as part of the wider #Thrive MDT and local system, contributing to case discussions, joint assessments and collaborative care planning.
• Risk Management: Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding and mental health risks, escalating in line with policy and liaising with CAMHS or social care as needed.
• Outcome Monitoring: Use appropriate tools to assess, review and document progress, maintaining accurate clinical records and contributing to service evaluation.
• Supervision: Engage in and deliver managerial and clinical supervision, including with appropriate consent, recording and reviewing of live clinical work.

Education/Qualifications

• NMC nursing or social work or equivalent health / social care qualification.
• Significant post‑qualification experience in community mental health services to a post‑graduate diploma level.

Experience

• Professional involvement with the users of mental health services.
• Experience of case management of young people.
• Experience of multi‑agency working.
• Experience of relating to young people in a group or community setting.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of mental health issues in young people.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and national policies in relation to young people.
• Knowledge of therapeutic interventions with young people.
• Understanding of Youth Offending services.
• Knowledge of drug and alcohol issues relating to young people.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to undertake appropriate mental health assessment.
• Ability to carry out therapeutic interventions with this client group.
• Ability to work well with a team.
• Ability to manage a caseload.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work creatively and flexibly in a clinical context.

Work‑related circumstances

• Occasional evening and weekend working may be necessary.
• Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs.
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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