Mental Health Practitioner

Islet Systems; Torquay; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider is seeking a Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner in Torquay. This role involves providing crisis resolution and home treatment services, focusing on mental health assessments and interventions. Applicants must be able to work within a multidisciplinary team and possess a relevant professional qualification along with strong clinical skills. The position offers flexibility in working arrangements and the opportunity to engage in impactful mental health services.

Qualifications

• Strong clinical assessment and risk management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver mental health assessments and interventions.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team for rapid response.
• Formulate risk assessments collaboratively.

Skills

Clinical assessment skills

Communication skills

Risk management skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Organizational skills

Education

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

Continuing professional development evidence

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner to work within the Torbay Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment Teams based at Wonford House. The CRHTT 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 gate‑keeping 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.

Please note that it is essential that you have the ability to be mobile across the geographical area to meet the requirements of this role.

Main Responsibilities

• 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.

Team Leadership & Gatekeeping

• 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 hospital beds.
• Conduct initial in‑person follow‑up after hospital discharge.

About Us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & 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 people’s recovery.

Our Values

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do. We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience – we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust’s core values. These include commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We are a Disability Confident Leader and encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities.

Employment Details

Band 5. Pay £31,049 – £37,796 a year pro rata. Permanent. Full‑time, Part‑time, Flexible working. Reference number C9369‑25‑0860‑2. Locations: Torbay Hospital, Lowes Bridge, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 7AA.

Person Specification

Essential

• Strong clinical assessment and risk management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team with a complex caseload.
• 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.
• Organisational skills and managing own time and workload.
• Knowledge of monitoring mental health medications and taking into consideration interactions with physical health needs.
• Experience of delivering evidence‑based interventions.
• Ability to work in a dynamic nature.
• Ability to provide well written reports.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
• Ability to manage change in a positive manner.

Desirable

• Familiarity with local services and pathways within the integrated care system.
• Leadership or supervisory experience.
• Understanding of Crisis and Home treatment Interventions and recovery principles in mental health.
• Knowledge of Gate‑keeping of inpatient admissions.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered professional qualification (e.g. RMN, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist) with current registration, practising with no restrictions.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Training in psychosocial interventions (e.g. CBT, DBT‑informed approaches).
• Qualified in Phlebotomy.

Experience

Essential

• Experience working in mental health settings.
• Experience of working within inpatient or community settings.
• Experience of managing risk.
• Experience of working autonomously.

Desirable

• Experience in community‑based teams.
• Experience of delivering crisis interventions.
• Experience of working within home treatment teams or crisis services.

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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Location

Torbay Hospital, Lowes Bridge, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 7AA.