Opmh Mental Health Practitioner

Somerset Nhs Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options to help you

NHS pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Career development

Blue Light Card and NHS perks

Job summary

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 mental health professional to join the Older Persons' Community Mental Health Team in Mendip. You will manage a caseload, undertake assessments and risk assessments, and deliver recovery-focused psychosocial interventions with patients, families and carers.

You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team, provide memory assessments and dementia care where required, and travel across the locality to support community and home-based care while

Qualifications

• Registered Practitioner with a membership of the relevant Professional Body.
• Experience in community mental health and multidisciplinary settings.
• Strong risk assessment and safeguarding awareness.
• Ability to travel across the locality to provide cross-cover.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload and complete assessments, care plans and risk assessments.
• Deliver recovery-focused psychosocial interventions with patients, carers and families.
• Act as key worker and provide home, care home and community support.
• Contribute to memory assessments and dementia care where required.
• Work with health, social care and primary care colleagues to ensure coordinated care.

Skills

Caseload management

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Registration with professional body

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job summary

The post holder will work as a member of the Neighbourhood Team in Older Persons' Mental Health providing a high quality, comprehensive mental health service for older people in Mendip, for those with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.

The post holder will be personally responsible and professionally accountable for a caseload within the community working with individuals and their significant others who have multiple and complex needs. Acting as a key member of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will provide assessment, psycho-social, evidence-based interventions using a collaborative recovery approach and will be skilled at positive risk management. There will be a focus on undertaking mental health assessments and working with a caseload of patients considering their goals for recovery.

The post holder may also be asked to undertake memory assessments and support those who have been diagnosed with Dementia.

The post holder may be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and must have a valid driving licence and access to a vehicle. The role will be based with the East Mendip team at Chantry House in Frome; however, the post holder may be required to provide cross-cover for the West Mendip team, based at Willow Bank in Wells.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work within the Older Persons' Community Mental Health Team, providing recovery-focused care for older adults with severe, enduring and complex mental health needs. They will manage a caseload, complete assessments, care plans and risk assessments, and deliver psychosocial interventions with patients, carers, families and the multidisciplinary team. The role includes acting as key worker, supporting patients at home, in care homes and community settings, contributing to memory assessments and dementia care, and helping people remain safely in the community during crisis. The post holder will work with health, social care, voluntary sector and primary care colleagues to ensure coordinated care. They will participate in multidisciplinary meetings, referral discussions and duty work, and signposting, maintain accurate records, complete returns, share information appropriately, and comply with confidentiality, safeguarding and Trust policies. The post holder will contribute to service improvement, governance, supervision, staff development and training. They may supervise junior staff, students and support induction and appraisals, take part in audits and research, deputise for the Team Manager when required, and work flexibly to meet service and patient needs. The post holder must be able to travel across the locality, to provide cross-cover for the West Mendip team, attend meetings, support duty arrangements and undertake community visits in patients' homes and care settings.

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.

Details

Date posted: 28 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 184-OL-BL-5987
Closing date: 15 November 2026

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Practitioner with a membership of the relevant Professional Body
• Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training
• Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio
• Trained in PMVA techniques or willing to be trained.

Desirable

• Experience of mentorship role

Experience

Essential

• Experience as a Band 5 or equivalent Mental Health Professional
• Experience of care co-ordination
• Experience of working with families, careers, and significant others
• Proven leadership skills
• Relevant experience in a community setting
• Experience of Recovery focused practice

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Strong communication and team-working skills.
• Able to lead, delegate, supervise and act as a role model for junior staff and colleagues.
• Skilled in risk assessment, risk management and positive risk taking.
• Able to manage a caseload, prioritise work and contribute effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Confident using influencing, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Able to work with a range of agencies and build effective working relationships.
• Computer literate, including Word, Excel, email, PowerPoint and electronic records.
• Compassionate and patient-focused, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations.
• Able to follow direction, use initiative within delegated responsibility, and work effectively as part of a team.
• Able to record and retrieve information accurately in paper and electronic systems.
• Experience of training junior staff and students.
• Good standard of literacy and English language skills.
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively with patients, carers, relatives, colleagues and a wide range of professionals.
• Able to write concise, relevant and accurate notes.
• Able to communicate sensitively and empathetically, including in complex or emotionally difficult situations.
• Demonstrates a caring and intuitive approach when engaging with others.
• Able to work autonomously and manage own caseload.
• Able to prioritise workload and respond flexibly to the needs of a fast-paced and changing service.
• Flexible and adaptable to meet patient and service needs.
• Able to organise work while maintaining dignity, respect and compassion for colleagues, patients, carers and relatives.
• Able to manage challenging situations calmly and professionally.
• Basic keyboard skills and physical dexterity required for IT and record keeping.
• Able to undertake PMVA training to the required level for the role.
• Willing to use technology to improve standards of care and support for patients.
• Able to work with people who may be highly distressed and manage exposure to distressing information.
• Demonstrates awareness of the impact of distressing circumstances on care and compassion.
• Acts in a way that supports equality, diversity, dignity and respect.
• Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence, access to transport and appropriate business insurance to travel across the Trust as required.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Chantry Day Hospital, Chantry Day Hospital, Frome, Somerset, BA11 4BS, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Hiring Manager, Alice Ryan, [e-mail], 07831853701