Mental Health Practitioner

NHS; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Shrewsbury seeks a Mental Health Practitioner. You'll provide assessments and interventions for autistic children and young people in distress. The role demands effective treatment planning and family collaboration for holistic support. Candidates should have considerable experience with autism and therapeutic work with young people. This position ensures meaningful impact on the wellbeing of those you serve.

Qualifications

• Evidence of working with autism.
• Knowledge of autism.
• Experience working therapeutically with young people with learning disabilities.
• Experience working therapeutically with families.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment and care planning for autistic young people.
• Evaluate individual treatment plans and provide direct intervention.
• Manage a complex caseload with ongoing evaluation.

Skills

Experience working with Autism

Therapeutic skills with young people

Job description

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 01 October 2025

As a CAMHS practitioner, you will have an active role in providing assessments and interventions to autistic children and young people experiencing a high level of distress, and who require specialist, trauma-informed intervention. You will work within the remit of relevant local, national and professional guidelines, for example NICE guidelines.

You will be involved in carrying out holistic assessments (including risk management) and actively be involved in holding and managing a small caseload, in which you will have the opportunity to deliver person-centred, effective treatment and interventions, with the aim of helping autistic children and young people develop the skills and strategies to enable them to thrive.

You will work directly with children and young people who may have mental health needs, or who are experiencing a high level of distress, in order to improve their quality of life and enhance their wellbeing. Additionally, you will work with their carers/families and support networks including schools, social care, voluntary and partnership agencies to ensure a holistic approach to facilitate positive outcomes in relation to young people\'s mental and emotional wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

• Provide specialist assessment and care planning in conjunction with autistic young people, their families and carers.
• Provide direct intervention to autistic young people, and evaluate individual treatment plans.
• Participate in safe and effective discharge planning, working alongside other services to \'step-down\' young people.
• Take responsibility for the management of a small, complex caseload, which includes, specialist assessment (within service specification), care-planning in conjunction with service user and carer, evaluation of individual treatment plans.
• To routinely work effectively and collaboratively with autistic young people who have experienced trauma and have psychological treatment needs in respect of both simple and complex psychological trauma/s. Using your own expertise, and under the direction of other members of the team, support appropriate intervention to address the young person\'s needs in relation to trauma, and help other stakeholders to understand and best meet young people\'s trauma-related treatment needs.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are \'United in our Uniqueness\' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Job responsibilities

For further information relating to this position please refer to the attached job description and job specification

Person Specification

Experience of working with Autism

• evidence of working with autism
• Autism knowledge

Experience

• Working therapeutically with young people with Learning disabilities
• Working therapeutically with families

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.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust