Mental Health Practitioner - Connection | Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust; Poole; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Poole seeks experienced Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers, or Occupational Therapists to support individuals in crisis. The role involves direct assessments, supervising staff, and collaborating with various agencies. Applicants must be registered professionals and able to work flexible shifts, including weekends. The job offers comprehensive training and financial incentives upon employment.

Benefits

£3,000 Recruitment Premium

£1,500 Retention Premium per annum

Flexible working requests considered

Qualifications

• Experience as a professionally registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist.
• Commitment to professional development and training.
• Ability to work across a 24/7 service with flexible shifts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct clinical assessments and provide support.
• Supervise Mental Health Support Workers.
• Coordinate emergency responses and collaborate with agencies.

Skills

Professional registration

Effective communication

Crisis intervention

Supervision

Job description

Overview

We are looking for experienced professionally registered Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers or Occupational Therapists with a genuine passion for supporting those in mental health crisis, to complete the recruitment to our Connection team. We value all our team and offer a financial recruitment and retention premium on this post. Connection is moving forward and this is an exciting time to join us for the next stages of our service development; increasing face to face community assessment work, and working collaboratively with partner agencies to ensure people in mental health crisis receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time. Based at St Ann's Hospital, with a sea view from the office, Connection is Dorset’s 24/7 open access mental health crisis service. Access Mental Health Dorset

Responsibilities

• Direct clinical assessments, advice and support.
• Supervise Mental Health Support Workers and provide clinical advice to other agencies and emergency services.
• Co-ordinate urgent and emergency responses and liaise with a range of internal and external services.
• Deliver telephone and face to face mental health assessments, brief clinical interventions, signposting and referrals.
• Validate, de-escalate crisis and coach people in distress tolerance and emotional regulation strategies.
• Empower patients, carers and families to manage distress and crisis effectively using brief interventions.
• Occasionally complete urgent face to face assessments across Dorset when indicated.
• Provide clinical information, advice and support to other professionals and emergency services; support police and ambulance service in accessing appropriate support.
• Work as part of the Trust Access Mental Health services and coordinate with Home Treatment teams, Liaison Psychiatry and the Retreats; overnight Connection covers the Home Treatment Team caseload and manages referrals.
• Supervise and support the Mental Health Support Workers within the team, providing guidance and support.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Experience as a professionally registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist.
• Commitment to professional development and participation in training/education programmes and supervision.
• Ability to work across a 24/7 service with flexible shift patterns, including weekends, bank holidays and nights.
• Effective communication with patients, carers, families and multi-agency partners.
• Eligibility to work in the UK without sponsorship restrictions (note: applications requiring current Healthcare worker sponsorship are ineligible).

Team and Organisation

The team is part of the Trust Access Mental Health services and works closely with Home Treatment teams, Liaison Psychiatry and the Retreats. Overnight, Connection covers the Home Treatment Team caseload and manages referrals. Dorset HealthCare is committed to empowering people to make the most of their lives through joined-up healthcare services. We are an inclusive workplace that values diversity and equal opportunities.

Benefits and Additional Information

We offer internal and external training/education programmes, supervision, and a £3,000 Recruitment Premium on commencement, plus a further £1,500 Retention Premium per annum (pro-rata) subject to continued employment and review by the Trust. All reasonable flexible working requests will be considered. This advert closes on Wednesday 24 Sep 2025.