Mental Health Practitioner (Band 5-6 Development)

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Castleford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Mental Health Practitioner to join their Crisis Team in Wakefield, supporting vulnerable children and young people. This role involves providing assessments, high-quality care, and collaboration within a multi-disciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have relevant qualifications and a commitment to improving mental health services for young people. The position is based in Castleford with some travel required within the Wakefield district.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Job security in a reputable organization

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Substantial post qualification experience working with children and young people in mental health.
• Experience in assessment and risk management.
• Ability to manage own caseload.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment and treatment to children and young people with mental health needs.
• Manage own caseload and provide high quality care.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team.

Skills

Communication skills

Team working

Risk assessment and management

Flexible working

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse / Social Worker / Occupational Therapist

Postgraduate qualification in mental health

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Mental Health Practitioner (Band 5-6 Development)

The closing date is 26 November 2025

Are you a Band 5 clinician who is looking to make the next step in your career?

We are keen to hear from enthusiastic and passionate professionals (including RMN/RN/Social worker/OT) and are able to offer an exciting opportunity for a development 5-6 post within a well established Crisis Team within Wakefield CAMHS.

The team was developed to promote our focus on supporting the most vulnerable and at risk young people, improving their access to services, and our response to young people in crisis.

The successful candidates will work both autonomously and as a part of an MDT providing timely access to specialist services for children and young people that present in crisis or who present a significant and immediate risk to themselves and/or others.

The post will be based in Castleford, however requires an ability to travel to different areas of the Wakefield district. The team operates 8am-8pm 7 days a week. All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Main duties of the job

You will manage your own caseload, providing high quality care appropriate to the young person's needs, including risk assessment and management.

You will work through the development competency framework supported by senior colleagues and management.

You will need to develop good working relationships with key professionals across the district; therefore excellent communication and engagement skills are essential.

A commitment to improving service delivery and developing new ways of supporting children, young people and families experiences is crucial to work within the wider CAMHS team.

This is a fast paced role and requires a can do attitude towards tasks.

The team offer outreach to those that are difficult to engage, providing intensive support to prevent admission to inpatient provision.

The team also support discharge from inpatient provision.

You will also offer clinical supervision to colleagues.

If you would like to be part of the developing ReACH Team we would love to hear from you!

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

Band 6:

JOB SUMMARY

The post-holder will:

Provide assessment and treatment to children and young people with mental health needs;

Work autonomously and collaboratively within the MDT, providing consultation for other agencies/professionals;

Promote the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people.

To provide routine and urgent assessment and interventions to young people with a wide range of emotional and psychological problems who are referred to specialist CAMHS, in keeping with evidence‑based practice with supervision from a senior clinician within professional guidelines and within the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1

To support the ongoing process of delivering a comprehensive CAMHS system.

2

To provide assessment, interventions, therapy to children, young people with the most severe, complex and persistent mental health problems, including those who are severely mentally ill or at suicidal risk and where appropriate, families as both an autonomous practitioner and as part of a multidisciplinary team in a variety of settings to address need. This will include working with the CAPA model.

3

To apply a sound knowledge of safeguarding children and guidelines in clinical work.

4

To be committed to a quality approach for patient care.

5

The post-holder will demonstrate high levels of concentration and provide sustained effort in assessment of complex family issues.

6

To manage own caseload, accessing support and guidance appropriate to individual need.

7

To operate within the clinical and case management supervision framework.

8

To provide training, consultation and supervision to other service providers, partner agencies and junior members of staff as required regarding intensive interventions with children, young people and families.

9

To participate in the development, audit and review of this extension to existing service provision.

10

To undertake extended hours of work alongside fellow specialist CAMHS practitioners.

Band 5:

JOB PURPOSE: The post holder will be responsible and accountable for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of skilled interventions to address identified needs and risk for allocated clients on a defined caseload. Works within a multi-disciplinary team as a member of Specialist CAMHS.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

• To work as a member of an integrated multi-disciplinary team providing comprehensive assessment of children, young people and their carers, planning, implementing and evaluating skilled interventions to address identified needs.
• To have knowledge of current issues and research relevant to the legislative framework and systems in which children's mental health care is delivered e.g. Children Act, Mental Health Act and Care Programme Approach.
• To contribute to service development within the clinical governance structure and policies and procedures of the Trust. Adhering to NHS guidance outlined by the relevant statutory registration bodies.
• Promote the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people.

Professional

• Assesses needs and identifies problems relevant to the care of children and young people referred. Devises a plan of care in partnership with the person and carers. Implements the planned programme of care to ensure a high standard is achieved. Reviews the effectiveness of the care provided and where appropriate initiates any action.
• To be competent in all aspects of care and risk management as defined within appropriate frameworks such as the care programme approach.
• To work collaboratively with clients, carers and multiple other agencies to provide effective care to optimise and maintain the holistic needs of children and young people with a range of emotional and mental health needs.
• Management of enquiries and direct referrals of children and young people in accordance with the service Operational Policy and participates in the in hours Single point of Access rota.
• Maintain professional registration and demonstrate commitment to statutory codes of practice and continued professional development requirements.
• To be responsible for the safe custody, transportation and administration of any medicines including I.M. preparations.(if appropriate to qualification and / or role )

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Band 6:
• Relevant professional qualification, e.g. nursing, or other professional allied to medicine
• Dip SW or relevant mental health profession
• Membership of professional body
• Band 5:
• Registered Mental Health Nurse / Social Worker / Occupational therapist
• Band 6:
• Post graduate qualification in mental health (e.g. CBT, Family Therapy, Counselling)
• A teaching and assessing qualification.
• Band 5:
• Mentorship Qualification or equivalent
• Expected to work towards practice educator

Special Knowledge and Skills

• Band 6:
• Good verbal and communication skills
• Ability to manage own caseload
• Good negotiation skills, and problem solving skills
• Effective record keeping and report writing skills to include care planning and risk assessments.
• Have good team working skills. Be able to work across disciplines with an ability to predict and manage inter-disciplinary tensions and foster good working practices.
• Band 5;
• Working knowledge of recent government legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Health & Safety, Care Programme Approach, Care Act & Safeguarding
• Able to work incorporating principles of Clinical Governance
• Knowledge of working collaboratively with people and their carers to ensure their involvement in the assessment and care planning process
• Shows awareness of cultural diversity and is able to incorporate this into care planning and the delivery of care
• Knowledge and evidence of using IT systems
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of audit processes
• Knowledge of carer services/ issues/ assessment
• Band 5:
• Knowledge of audit processes
• Knowledge of carers services / issues / assessment
• Skills and Knowledge working
• holistically with children and young people

Experience

• Band 6:
• Substantial post qualification experience, some of which must be working with Children, young people and their carers in a mental health or other complex care setting
• Multidisciplinary team working
• Inter-agency liaison and consultation
• Experience of supervising/mentoring junior staff
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance e.g. NHS plan, Mental Health Legislation, child act, education act, working together, children's nsf, every child matters, etc.
• Clinical/therapeutic knowledge and skills in mental health.
• Experience in assessment and risk management and ability to implement evidence based practice
• Proven ability to work with other agencies and disciplines and in partnership with other organisations.
• Experience of safeguarding children and young people.
• Band 5:
• Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing people / children and young people experiencing mental health problems
• Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing risk in a variety of settings
• Proven ability in assessing the needs and strengths of people and their carers
• Ability to deliver a range of therapeutic techniques which can be incorporated into one to one and / or group interventions
• Working within an integrated multi-disciplinary environment and co-working with other teams within team meetings, case conferences and professional meetings.
• Band 6:
• Experience of community settings
• Experience of working in different cultural contexts
• Knowledge and experience of working with equality and diversity.
• Band 5:
• Ability to support colleagues and supervise students/trainees
• Experience of working holistically with children and young people with an emphasis on a holistic assessment of emotional and mental health needs alongside coexisting physical and environmental factors that impacts on wellbeing

Personal Attributes

• Band 6:
• Able to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Commitment to multi‑agency approach
• Ability to work and make decisions under pressure.
• Calm, confident, innovative, creative and assertive
• Clarity of decision making
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptable in accordance with changing service priorities.
• Commitment to challenging discrimination and improving accessibility of services.
• Ability to cope calmly in a crisis
• To demonstrate good self care and encourage the same in team members
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
• Band 5:
• Ability to work on as part of MDT.
• Good communication skills. Ability to work on own initiative, with reference to policies and procedures.
• Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
• A willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of services users and the team including extended hours.
• Reliable and enthusiastic
• Motivated and resourceful
• Professional attitude.

Training.

• Band 5:
• Assessment and care planning skills and risk assessment and risk management.
• Band 6:
• Training and experience relating to specialist CAMHS
• Experience of delivering training to others.
• Band 5:
• Relevant Post basic qualification and training

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust