Mental Health Practitioner in the Assertive Outreach Team

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension scheme

Flexible working options

Generous annual leave

Blue Light Card

Job summary

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting for a Mental Health Practitioner in the South Somerset Assertive Outreach Team, based at Holly Court, Yeovil. You will assess, plan and deliver therapeutic interventions for adults with complex mental health needs, coordinating care across community and inpatient settings.

The role requires leadership, supervision and working within a multidisciplinary team to promote recovery, independence and social inclusion in the local community.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing, Social Work or Occupational Therapy.
• Current registration with relevant professional body.
• Experience in community mental health services is essential.
• Experience in supervision and leadership is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments and develop person-centred care plans.
• Manage a defined caseload and coordinate care with service users and carers.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions to support recovery and social inclusion.
• Assist with risk assessments and maintain clinical risk management.
• Provide mentorship and clinical supervision to junior staff and students.

Skills

Assessment

Care planning

Risk management

Leadership / supervision

Communication

Teamwork

Education

RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapy Qualification

Current professional registration

Tools

Electronic patient records

Job description

Mental Health Practitioner in the Assertive Outreach Team

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced Community Mental Health Professional to join the South Somerset Assertive Outreach Team based at Holly Court, Yeovil. Working within the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Directorate, you will provide high-quality assessment, care planning and therapeutic interventions for people living with serious and enduring mental health difficulties.

As a key member of a multidisciplinary team, you will manage a caseload of service users, delivering recovery-focused care that promotes independence, wellbeing and meaningful community living. You will work closely with service users, carers, families and partner agencies to develop personalised care plans and ensure continuity of care across community and inpatient settings.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for a registered mental health professional who is passionate about supporting individuals who can be difficult to engage, working creatively to help service users achieve positive outcomes while contributing to service development and the ongoing delivery of high-quality community mental health care.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments and develop person-centred care plans for individuals with serious and enduring mental health conditions.
• Manage a defined caseload, coordinating care and regularly reviewing progress in partnership with service users and carers.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions that support recovery, independence and social inclusion.
• Support service users with daily living activities, housing matters, financial management, community integration and the management of challenging behaviours.
• Promote service user involvement in care planning, reviews and decision-making processes.
• Work collaboratively with inpatient teams, community mental health services, primary care, voluntary organisations and partner agencies to ensure seamless care pathways.
• Undertake risk assessments and contribute to the safe management of clinical risk.
• Provide professional advice, mentorship and clinical supervision to junior staff, students and colleagues where appropriate.
• Support the Team Manager in maintaining high standards of service delivery, achieving operational targets and contributing to service improvements.
• Maintain accurate and timely patient records using electronic patient record systems and ensure compliance with Trust policies and professional standards.
• Participate in audit, evaluation, research and quality improvement initiatives to support service development.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities

The Community Mental Health Professional will play a central role in delivering specialist assertive outreach services to adults with complex and enduring mental health needs. The successful candidate will provide assessment, treatment planning and ongoing care coordination, ensuring that service users receive high-quality, recovery-focused support tailored to their individual needs.

Working within a multidisciplinary environment, you will build collaborative therapeutic relationships with individuals who may find it difficult to engage with traditional mental health services. You will adopt a flexible and proactive approach, providing support within community settings and service users' own homes to help maximise independence and improve quality of life.

You will work closely with carers, relatives and partner agencies to ensure care is coordinated and effective. This includes liaising with inpatient services, community teams, GPs, consultants, housing providers and voluntary sector organisations to support continuity of care and positive outcomes.

As a senior practitioner, you will contribute to leadership within the team by supporting junior colleagues, supervising staff and students, participating in recruitment and induction processes, and assisting the Team Manager with operational responsibilities where required. You may be required to deputise for the Team Manager in relation to day-to-day service coordination, referral allocation and team meetings.

The role requires strong assessment, care planning and risk management skills, together with an understanding of current developments in community mental health and assertive outreach practice. You will be expected to work autonomously, prioritise competing demands effectively and maintain excellent professional standards at all times.

Applicants should hold a professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing, Social Work or Occupational Therapy, together with current professional registration. Experience within community mental health services and working with individuals experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties is essential. Experience of supervision, leadership and working with people who are difficult to engage would be highly advantageous.

This is a rewarding opportunity to join a supportive and dedicated team committed to delivering compassionate, person-centred care and helping individuals achieve their recovery goals within their local communities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapy Qualification
• Current registration with relevant professional body
• Commitment to Continuing Professional Development
• Evidence of recent relevant training.

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.