Mental Health Practitioner

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Newton Abbot; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare organization is seeking a Mental Health Practitioner to join their Crisis Resolution Team. This role will involve providing community-based mental health support and assessments, ensuring high-quality care for clients in need. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical assessment skills and a relevant professional qualification. Join a dedicated team focused on improving the lives of those experiencing mental health challenges in the community.

Qualifications

• Experience working in mental health settings, ideally in crisis or urgent care.
• Ability to work flexibly in a 24/7 rota.
• Registered with a relevant professional body.

Responsibilities

• Deliver timely, evidence-based mental health assessments.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Formulate risk assessments and safety plans with service users.
• Provide clinical leadership and supervision to junior staff.

Skills

Strong clinical assessment

Risk management skills

Excellent communication

Knowledge of safeguarding procedures

Recovery-oriented practice

Education

Registered professional qualification (e.g., RMN, Social Worker)

Job description

Overview

The Crisis Resolution HomeTreatment Team is a county-wide service whose main focus is to offer an alternative to inpatient admission and provide intensive treatment as required within the community. The service operates within locality-based leadership teams to ensure effective gatekeeping for all service users referred for hospital admission. Outreach is at the heart of the service, with most assessments taking place in non-hospital environments.

As an active member of the integrated multi-disciplinary team, the post holder will contribute to a 24-hour community-based Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service, available across the county as an alternative to hospital admission. The role involves delivering rapid assessments and planning effective, evidence-based home treatment in collaboration with service users, carers, and professionals from both established services and locality teams.

Mental Health Practitioners are responsible for delivering high-quality mental health services and effectively managing a defined caseload. This role emphasises ongoing assessment and treatment for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, as well as support for their carers. Duties include recovery coordination, care management, and collaboration with both statutory and non-statutory organisations. The postholder will also contribute as an active and effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver timely, evidence-based mental health assessments and interventions to individuals in acute distress or crisis.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide rapid response and short-term support in community settings.
• Formulate risk assessments and safety plans collaboratively with service users and carers.
• Liaise with internal and external services to ensure continuity of care and appropriate onward referrals.
• Provide clinical leadership and supervision to junior staff and support workers where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service audits and quality improvement initiatives.
• Promote recovery-focused, trauma-informed, and person-centred approaches in all aspects of care.
• Participate in rota-based working, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays to ensure 24/7 service coverage.
• Uphold Trust values and contribute to a culture of compassion, inclusion, and excellence.

Job summary

The Crisis Resolution HomeTreatment Team is a pivotal, county-wide service whose main focus is to offer an alternative to inpatient admission and provide intensive treatment as required within the community. The service operates within locality-based leadership teams to ensure effective gatekeeping for all service users referred for hospital admission. Outreach is at the heart of the service, with most assessments taking place in non-hospital environments.

As an active member of the integrated multi-disciplinary team, the post holder will contribute to a 24-hour community-based Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service, available across the county as an alternative to hospital admission. The role involves delivering rapid assessments and planning effective, evidence-based home treatment in collaboration with service users, carers, and professionals from both established services and locality teams.

Mental Health Practitioners are responsible for delivering high-quality mental health services and effectively managing a defined caseload. This role emphasises ongoing assessment and treatment for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, as well as support for their carers. Duties include recovery coordination, care management, and collaboration with both statutory and non-statutory organisations. The postholder will also contribute as an active and effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Under the direction and leadership of a Senior Mental Health Professional the team are responsible for

• Develop, deliver and oversee treatment plans for clients open to the Crisis Resolution Team.
• Assess, manage and formulate clinical risk with each client.
• Offer crisis resolution as an alternative to hospital admission, available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
• Serve as the gatekeeper for inpatient beds.
• Conduct initial in-person follow-up after hospital discharge.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region and nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on peoples recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Locations:

• Exeter (Wonford House, Exeter)
• East & Mid Devon (Wonford House, Exeter)
• Teignbridge (Estuary House, Newton Abbot)
• North (North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple)

When applying, candidates are required to clearly state their preferred location from the available sites to ensure optimal alignment with service needs and individual circumstances.

Person Specification

Location preference

Essential

• Please list your preferred Team / location(s) from the advertised list

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Strong clinical assessment and risk management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team in high-pressure environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, MCA).
• Commitment to recovery-oriented and trauma-informed practice.
• Ability to work flexibly across a 24/7 rota.

Desirable

• Familiarity with local services and pathways within the integrated care system.
• Leadership or supervisory experience.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered professional qualification (e.g. RMN, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist) with current registration.

Desirable

• Training in psychosocial interventions (e.g. CBT, DBT-informed approaches).

Experience

Essential

• Experience working in mental health settings, ideally in crisis or urgent care.

Desirable

• Experience in community-based crisis intervention or home treatment teams.

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

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/