Mental health Practitioner

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner for the Connect Team 0-18, Ipswich. The role offers hybrid working, 15 hours per week, and maternity cover with potential flexible options.

The post requires registration in nursing, OT or social work, with experience in child and family mental health, attachment and systemic approaches. Training and development are supported within a collaborative MDT environment.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse, Registered Nurse (Mental Health) or Registered OT or Registered Social Worker with current registration
• Higher degree or postgraduate certificate in clinical/therapeutic practice
• Experience in delivery of mental health interventions with children and families
• Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor training (NMC registrants) or Practice Educator (AHP & Social Worker Registrants)

Responsibilities

• Contribute to specialist therapeutic services within NSFT as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Carry a caseload of clients and receive regular supervision.
• Provide appropriate therapeutic interventions to children and young people and carers.
• Maintain accurate records and participate in MDT meetings and child & family planning.
• Work with families, foster carers and education partners to meet service users' needs.

Skills

Child development

Attachment knowledge

Systemic working

Multi-disciplinary team

Education

NMC/HCPC registration

Postgraduate clinical practice

Tools

Practice Assessor training

Job description

Main area Mental Health with Children and Young People Grade Band 6 Contract 12 months (Fixed term/secondment) Hours Part time - 15 hours per week (2 days per week) Job ref 246-ESU8094210-A

Site Walker Close Ipswich Town ipswich Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 14/09/2026 23:59

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.

Please note due to the nature of our roles and patient demographic, you will be required to undertake physical intervention training and remain trained, as required by your role.

Job overview

Hybrid working and a warm welcome accompany this opportunity to work creatively with young people and their families. We are the Connect Team 0-18, a specialist therapeutic needs led service working with Children in Care and permanently placed across Suffolk. An opportunity has arisen for a qualified Mental health Practitioner, Band 6 to work within the Connect Team. The team are currently based between Walker Close, Ipswich and Ickworth Lodge, Bury St Edmunds. Our team prides itself on highly skilled practitioners, currently we consist of a Consultant psychiatrist, clinical psychologists, Arts and Drama Psychotherapists, Psychodynamic psychotherapist and Mental health practitioners. We learn, develop and work together to ensure the young person and their families receive a tailored package of care. We are committed to reflective practice and formulations that strengthen the team in all aspects.

We are looking for a highly skilled practitioner who holds a nursing or social work registration. Experience of working with children, young people and their families and carers with knowledge of attachment, child development and working systemically would be especially welcome.

This post is on a fixed term basis as Maternity leave Cover and is advertised as 0.4WTE for 12 months but applications for 0.8WTE for 6 months would be considered.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a passionate individual who loves to work creatively with children and their families. We are a dynamic and experienced team who are committed to multi-disciplinary working. This role would include responsibilities such as undertaking assessments, processing of referrals, participating in duty, case management, risk assessments, multi agency consultations and emergency safety planning. We ensure that the emotional wellbeing and placement stability of our young people are top of our agenda.

The role includes multi agency working alongside the family (foster carers, special guardians, adopters) social care, education and voluntary services to ensure the service users’ needs are best met. We also work in close collaboration with other NSFT CYP teams such as Suffolk Wellbeing, Youth Teams, Child & Family Teams, ADHD services and the Emotional Wellbeing Hub.

Working for our organisation

At Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, inclusion is at the heart of how we work. We are committed to creating a fair, transparent and accessible recruitment process where every candidate has the opportunity to succeed.

We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, particularly those currently underrepresented in our workforce. We recognise that not everyone has equal access to opportunities and are working to address this.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and ensuring all candidates receive a positive and equitable experience.

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

Contribute to the specialist therapeutic services within NSFT as part of the multi-disciplinary team, carrying a case load of clients. Receive regular supervision in line with the Trust Policies and be responsible for management of own caseload, ensuring high standards of care are maintained in line with Trust policies and professional codes of practice. Providing appropriate therapeutic interventions to children and young people. Maintaining respectful, effective professional interpersonal relationships with others. Initiate, create and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, ensuring that the practice is patient centred. Consultation to other professionals and carers within the locality to offer support and advice.

Apply a high level of communication skills, recognising and reflecting the need for different styles and methods of communication to meet therapeutic needs. Attend and contribute to regular multi disciplinary meetings. Demonstrate an ability to work autonomously within the levels of competence and set own priorities to organise and manage an efficient schedule of clinical work to ensure a high standard of service delivery.

Professional

Adhere to local and professionally prescribed codes of conduct

Ensure accurate and timely recording of contacts as per Trust policy

Be responsible for personal time management. Attend all mandatory training as required by the Trust and to undertake further training and updating as required to carry out the role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist OR Social Worker with the relevant professional registration
• Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor training (NMC registrants) or Practice Educator (AHP & Social Worker Registrants)
• Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice

Experience

• Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions
• Experience of managing a caseload and the provision of Mental Health Care services to people with mental health care needs
• Experience in supporting service development and quality improvement initiatives

Skills

• Care planning and Risk assessment knowledge and skills
• Prevention and Management of Suicide training

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

As a part of the Disability Confident Employer Guaranteed Interview Scheme we interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job vacancy (outlined in the Person Specification).. We encourage you to indicate your eligibility through TRAC jobs when applying.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post may be 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.

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.