RAIS Senior Mental Health Practitioner | Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused NHS Trust in Lancashire is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join the RAIS Team in supporting children's mental health. Candidates will provide clinical assessments, stabilize mental health risks for young people, and work collaboratively with families and external agencies. Successful applicants must have a relevant degree and experience in mental health support. This role involves working weekends and holidays, ensuring a comprehensive approach to children's welfare.

Qualifications

• Experience in working with children and families facing mental health challenges.
• Ability to collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of child protection protocols.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical assessments for children and families.
• Work intensively with families to stabilize mental health risks.
• Liaise with various agencies to support families.

Skills

Crisis intervention skills

Empathy

Team collaboration

Child protection knowledge

Education

Relevant degree in mental health or social work

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for 3 enthusiastic and motivated individuals who are passionate about childrens mental health and crisis intervention to join the RAIS (Respond and Intensive Support) Team.

The RAIS team work with children and their families intensively over a period of 2 weeks and work 7 days a week/365 days a year.

We aim to stabilise Young people, instill hope, empower parents to maintain safety and try and improve mental health.

We work alongside each other and for the individual's overall care the team is responsible.

There are going to be changes made to the Blackpool RAIS Team and we want you to be part of that exciting change.

Responsibilities

• To work with YP's and their families to stabilise risk of mental health difficulties.
• To work within a multi-disciplinary team to develop the best pathway of care for every young person and their family.
• To work intensively for a period of 2 weeks until the YP's risk has stabilised and they can be managed by their care co-ordinator in the community.
• To provide comprehensive assessments, reviews and discharge to manage safety and to help in crisis.
• To work alongside local childrens mental health services and liaise on a regular basis.
• Liaise with the wider services to build relationships and help with scaffolding the Young Person and their families.
• To mentor and supervise junior members of staff.
• To attend regular morning meetings and provide up to date handovers of patients under the RAIS Team.
• To attend daily morning meetings, regular RAIS team meetings and complex case discussion meetings.
• To support students and other trainees on placement with the service.
• To work in the context of an equal opportunities framework and to promote equality in all areas of work.
• To understand and work within Child Protection protocols and guidelines.
• To regularly discuss clinical issues and concerns with the RAIS Team Manager along with other agencies as required.
• To collaborate with a range of other agencies to promote a network of services providing help and support to children, young people, parents and their carers.
• To participate in and provide training and supervision to other team members.
• To maintain a high standard of record keeping and reports and participate in clinical governance programs within RAIS Team.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and respond to changing needs of the clients and service.
• To attend and participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision within the multidisciplinary team.
• Whenever possible to attend team meetings on a regular basis for both the RAIS Team.
• To support students and other trainees on placement with the service.

About Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.

As one of the United Kingdom’s largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents – it’s not just a good place to work; it’s a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south.

Role details

To provide full clinical assessments of children, young people and their families referred to CASHER/RAIS in a variety of settings and situations including the children’s ward/A&E, Adolescent Unit, Place of Calm (POC) and various community settings. You could be asked to carry out an assessment in other locations including the clients home/care home.

You will be required to work weekends, evenings and Bank Holidays.

This role will include regular liaison and collaborative working with other agencies i.e. social services / education / CAMHS/ Resilience Team & external agencies. To regularly discuss clinical issues and concerns with the RAIS Team Manager along with other agencies as required. To work closely with other agency staff and provide regular professional consultation, training and advice in order to identify and address the mental health needs of children and young people as early as possible. To understand and work within Child Protection protocols and guidelines. To regularly raise awareness and promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people within the wider community. To collaborate with a range of other agencies e.g. Social Services, education, private and voluntary sector to promote a network of services providing help and support to children, young people, parents and their carers. To participate in and provide training and supervision to other team members. To maintain a high standard of record keeping and reports. Participate in clinical governance programs within RAIS Team. To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions e.g. individual work, family work, group work whilst responding to the changing needs of the clients and the service. To attend and participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision within the multidisciplinary team. Whenever possible to attend team meetings on a regular basis for both the RAIS Team To support students and other trainees on placement with the service. To work in the context of an equal opportunities framework and to promote equality in all areas of work.

This advert closes on Sunday 5 Oct 2025