Mental Health Practitioner

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A local NHS Trust is seeking a Mental Health Practitioner to join their Barnsley CAMHS team. The ideal candidate will assess and support young people with mental health needs while delivering tailored interventions. This full-time position emphasizes collaboration with families and requires strong interpersonal skills. The Trust values employee well-being and offers excellent training opportunities alongside a support-driven working environment. Applications are encouraged from all backgrounds, including newly qualified practitioners.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Ability to evaluate and implement training effects.
• Demonstrates understanding of anxiety and depression in Primary Care.

Responsibilities

• Assess young people referred to CAMHS and support their mental health.
• Deliver brief interventions for common mental health problems.
• Collaborate with families, carers, and mental health support teams.

Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Ability to manage own caseload

Ability to develop therapeutic relationships

Understanding of mild to moderate mental health problems

Strong interpersonal skills

Education

Post Graduate Certificate for Low Intensity Therapies

Registered Mental Health Nurse/Social Worker/Occupational Therapist

Job description

Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 04 January 2026

Are you looking for a new and rewarding progressive career in Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services? We’re excited to offer a permanent, full‑time opportunity for a Mental Health Practitioner to join our Assessment & Primary Intervention Team (APIT) within Barnsley CAMHS.

APIT is a dynamic multidisciplinary team delivering high‑quality mental health services to children and families. We provide timely assessments and tailored interventions to support emotional well‑being and promote positive outcomes.

This varied role suits a practitioner eager to make a difference. You’ll join a passionate, supportive team where staff wellbeing is a priority. We offer a thorough induction, regular supervision, and excellent opportunities for training and professional growth.

We’re seeking individuals who feel fulfilled helping young people and families, who are curious about others and want to help them thrive, who care deeply about emotional well‑being and mental health, and who are dynamic, flexible, creative, professional, and reflective. We welcome applications from people with limited experience and newly qualified staff, as well as those with more established backgrounds.

Please contact us if you would like to arrange an informal visit or to discuss the role.

At the time of advertising this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

Main duties of the job

This role involves assessing young people referred to CAMHS and delivering brief interventions for issues such as anxiety and low mood. It also includes close collaboration with Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) under the Branching Minds (BM) initiative, which acts as the front door to children’s mental health services in Barnsley, ensuring timely access to appropriate support. As a Mental Health Practitioner, you’ll play a key role in supporting referral reading, risk screening, signposting, and liaising with local partners in health, education, and social care.

You will work collaboratively with families, carers, and young people, adapting your approach to meet their needs. This includes managing a clinical caseload, multi‑agency working and considering neurodiversity.

Team wellbeing is a high priority. We support flexible working to promote a positive work‑life balance. You’ll receive robust managerial and clinical supervision, plus excellent training and professional development opportunities.

We welcome applications from allied Health Professionals including: Children’s Well‑being Practitioners, Registered Nurses (Paediatric, General, Mental Health, Learning Disability), Occupational Therapists, and Social Workers.

Please ensure you meet the essential requirements before applying.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we’re accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we’re run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The post‑holder will work within CAMHS providing assessment and interventions to individuals and groups.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

• CLINICAL
  • 1.1. Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
  • 1.2. Assess and support young people and families with a common mental health problem in the self‑management of their recovery.
  • 1.3. Ability to deliver a range of therapeutic techniques which can be incorporated into one‑to‑one and/or group interventions.
  • 1.4. Undertake patient‑centred interviews which identify areas where the person wishes to see change and/or recovery and make an accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
  • 1.5. Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the department’s referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or step‑up the person’s treatment to high intensity.
  • 1.6. Provide a range of information and support for evidence‑based high‑volume low‑intensity psychological treatments, including guided self‑help computerised CBT, information about pharmacological treatments. This work may be face‑to‑face, telephone or via other media.
  • 1.7. Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary.
  • 1.8. Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
  • 1.9. Attend multi‑disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
  • 1.10. Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
  • 1.11. Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
  • 1.12. Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step‑up and step‑down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
  • 1.13. Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process.
• PROFESSIONAL
  • 2.1. Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulatory bodies and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the Department of Health.
  • 2.2. Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
  • 2.3. Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of treatment for common mental health problems.
  • 2.4. Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
  • 2.5. Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.
  • 2.6. Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
  • 2.7. Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuing Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
  • 2.8. Attend relevant conferences/workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
• GENERAL
  • 3.1. To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.
  • 3.2. To maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.
  • 3.3. All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.
  • 3.4. All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.
  • 3.5. It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.
  • 3.6. Trust Values: Respectful; Person first and in the centre; Improve and be outstanding; Relevant today, ready for tomorrow; Families and carers matter.
  • 3.7. Safeguarding: Report any concerns regarding the safety or well‑being of children, adults, service users, members of their families etc., in accordance with Trust Policy; Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.
  • 3.8. Trust policies and commitments: comply with Whistleblowing Policy, confidentiality, GDPR, Health and Safety, Supervision, Appraisal, Equal Opportunities, diversity, safeguarding, professional responsibilities, quality improvement, code of conduct, flexible working, smoke‑free policy, environmental responsibilities, risk reporting.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills.
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients.
• Applicants should demonstrate evidence of interpersonal skills to engage and develop working alliances with colleagues and patients.
• Demonstrates an understanding of mild to moderate mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, and how it may present in Primary Care.
• High level of enthusiasm and motivation.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality.
• Ability to be self‑reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision.
• Received risk assessment training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work/employment and the impact it can have on mental health.
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems.
• Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence‑based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.

Personal Attributes

• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Qualifications

• Post Graduate Certificate for Low Intensity Therapies (IAPT) or equivalent qualification.
• OR
• Qualification from PWP Training Course (Post Graduate Certificate or Level 3 undergraduate course) or EMHP or equivalent e.g. Experienced and Qualified Graduate Mental Health Worker with relevant Primary Care experiences and competences as required.
• OR
• Registered Mental Health Nurse/Social Worker/Occupational Therapist or equivalent substantial CAMHS clinical experience.
• Post Graduate Mental Health Certificate or Mental Health Professional qualification (nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, etc).

Experience

• Substantial mental health working / working with Children/YP experience including voluntary work or expertise gained by experience of mental health problems.
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication.
• Able to write clear reports and letters.
• Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
• Ability to manage own caseload and time.
• Experience of working in Primary Care Services.
• Evidence of working in the local community.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust