Mental Health Practitioner

Sussex Partnership Nhs Foundation Trust; Tudhoe; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working patterns

Learning & development opportunities

NHS pension contributions

Reimbursed parking

Wellbeing support programmes

Job summary

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Mental Health Practitioner to join the Lewes Neighbourhood Mental Health Team. You will triage referrals, perform assessments, deliver brief interventions and coordinate onward referrals as part of a multidisciplinary group within GP practices and NHS Talking Therapies teams.

The role emphasizes collaboration with VCSE partners and senior professionals, with flexible working and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health professional with current registration.
• Experience in assessing and triaging mental health referrals.
• Experience in working with GP practices, NHS Talking Therapies and third sector partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide triage and timely assessments for referrals into NMHT and NHS Talking Therapies.
• Deliver brief interventions and onward referrals as needed.
• Work with GP practices and other partners to coordinate care and signpost where appropriate.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to advance the Neighbourhood model.

Skills

MH professional registration

Clinical assessment

Partnership working

Education

Registered Mental Health qualification or equivalent

Job description

We are pleased to be able to offer an exciting opportunity to join the Primary Care and Partnerships team within the Lewes Neighbourhood Mental Health Team (NMHT) as a Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) This role will be part of a team of Mental Health Practitioners working into the newly formed NMHT's. You will be part of the core team working alongside the Specialist Adult Service, Specialist Older Adult Service and VCSE Partners. You will be closely aligned and work with colleagues within GP practices as well as Health in Mind (NHS Talking Therapies- NHS TT). The MHP role will provide a critical function in triaging referrals into the service as well as those in NHS TT, providing timely and consistent assessments, brief interventions and onward referral as required. Liaison with key stakeholders and third sector organisations also forms part of this role., You will be working closely with a range of professional groups, including Mental Health Practitioners based within GP surgeries, NMHT colleagues, partner organisations, VCSE providers, and other aligned services within the Neighbourhood as well as NHS Talking Therapies Teams. Providing expert advice, guidance, and supporting colleagues will constitute a key element of this role.

It is essential that you are a registered Mental Health Professional (Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist). Your role will include carrying out assessments, brief interventions, triage, onward referrals to Secondary or Urgent Care Services (if this is needed) and signposting advice. The successful applicant should have excellent clinical skills in assessment, risk assessment and as well as strong communication skills., Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker with current registration appropriate to the job role. Evidence of continuous professional development. Experience/Knowledge Extensive post-qualifying experience of clinical work with people with a range of mental health problems across all age and disability categories. Experience of partnership working within and across various different statutory and non‑statutory teams and agencies. Experience in working consultatively with professionals. Experience of providing low intensity psychological interventions including, provision of self help, behavioural activation, solution focused, guided self help, and a CBT informed approach using a range of delivery models, telephone, face to face, individual and workshops. Experienced in conducting clinical assessments, including risk assessments.,

• Registered Mental Health qualification or equivalent
• Include relevant professional registration, Extensive post-qualifying experience of clinical work with people with a range of mental health problems
• Experience of partnership working within and across various different statutory and non‑statutory teams and agencies
• Experience in working consultatively with professionals
• Experience of providing low intensity psychological interventions including, provision of self help, behavioural activation, solution focused, guided self help, and a CBT informed approach using a range of delivery models, telephone, face to face , individual and workshops
• Experienced in conducting clinical assessments, including risk assessments, Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced., You must have appropriate UK professional registration. At SPFT we put people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You'll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it's part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we'll explore what works for you and the role. We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn't based on your real experience. Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we'll explore your examples further at interview, so it's important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page. We're shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we'd love to hear from you.

The post holder will also contribute to wider Service and Trust initiatives, including the development of the Triage function, the operation of local Triage Hubs, and the ongoing enhancement of the Mental Health Practitioner role across Sussex. As part of an increasingly integrated network of services, the post holder will play a pivotal role in advancing and shaping the Neighbourhood model, For further detail on our strategic vision, please refer to: https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/our-work/our-priorities/mental-health-learning-disability-and-autism/…Working for our organisation As a Mental Health Trust, Sussex Partnership offers a supportive working environment and the opportunity for staff to flourish and professionally develop. We have a strong philosophy of a collaborative and client centred approach, and staff wellbeing is integral in our philosophy and in our practice. We have a huge focus on the wellbeing of staff and our reward packages reflect the immensely important work our staff do. If you are looking for the opportunity to work within a busy but rewarding team in a town like no other, then we would love to hear from you. East Sussex offers coastal living along with independent shopping and a variety of cafes, bars and restaurants and a creative music and artistic scene.

As a practitioner in our team we can offer you:

• Access to numerous wellbeing and support programmes
• Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development
• Flexible working patterns
• Reimbursed parking
• Child care vouchers
• Access to a host of NHS discount schemes (including gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars)
• A position within a trust rated as 'Outstanding' for caring and 'Good' overall by the CQC
• Generous holiday entitlement (dependent on length of NHS service) starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays
• NHS Pension contributions