Mental Health Practitioner - Managing Risk Pathway

NHS; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare organization in Barnstaple is seeking a Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner to join the Crisis Service. The role involves conducting mental health assessments, delivering evidence-based interventions, and collaborating with various stakeholders in youth mental health care. Ideal candidates will hold a relevant degree and have experience in mental health settings. Excellent supervision and development opportunities are offered in this permanent role.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification at degree level or equivalent.
• Professional registration/accreditation with a recognized body.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
• Post graduate experience within mental health environments.
• Experience managing a caseload of clients.

Responsibilities

• Undertake timely mental health assessments for children and young people.
• Deliver short-term evidence-based interventions to reduce distress.
• Work collaboratively with families and health professionals to create care plans.

Skills

Mental health assessment

Evidence-based interventions

Collaborative care planning

Education

Degree in Nursing, Social Work, or Occupational Therapy

Job description

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is excited to advertise for a Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner to join our Crisis Service, part of the Urgent Care Pathway. This post is offered on a permanent basis and will be based in our North Devon Team based at Springfield Court in Barnstaple.

The Crisis Service provides rapid mental health assessment and brief intervention for children and young people experiencing acute emotional distress. We work to reduce risk, prevent hospital admissions, and support young people to stay safely in their communities, offering trauma-informed, collaborative care at a time of greatest need.

The service operates 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, with flexible rota-based working to support timely and responsive care.

The successful candidate will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to travel across Devon to meet the requirements of the role.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner in the Crisis Service, you will:

• Undertake timely mental health assessments for children and young people presenting in crisis.
• Deliver short‑term, evidence-based interventions to reduce distress and risk.
• Work collaboratively with families, schools, social care and other health professionals to create safe and effective care plans.

This role offers excellent supervision, ongoing development, and the chance to build specialist skills in youth crisis care and trauma-informed practice. Whether you are newly qualified or experienced, we would love to hear from you.

About us

Successful applicants will be employed by Devon Partnership Trust.

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health which are provided by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. We work closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services, based on the i‑Thrive Framework.

CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our staff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non‑patronising and non‑judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent e.g. Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy.
• Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body, e.g. NMC, HCPC, Social Work England.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.

Experience

• Post graduate experience working within mental health environments or willingness to complete the DPT preceptorship programme.
• Experience managing a caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
• Demonstrates sound theoretical knowledge of children and young people mental health practice.
• Working within a community setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
• Experience of working in a multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency environment.

Other

• The ability to travel across Devon to meet the requirements of the role.

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.