Rough Sleeper Mental Health Practitioner

NHS; England; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in the UK is seeking a Mental Health Rough Sleepers Service Practitioner. This full-time role focuses on supporting vulnerable rough sleepers, ensuring they receive appropriate mental health care. The ideal candidate will be an experienced mental health professional, with qualifications in Occupational Therapy or Social Work, and expertise in working with complex mental health needs. This position is essential for addressing the significant mental health challenges faced by the rough sleeping population.

Benefits

Continuous professional development

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Significant post‑registration experience.
• Experience working in a community team.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Responsibilities

• Carry out regular outreach to identify unmet mental health needs.
• Visit vulnerable people in accommodation to assess support for mental health needs.
• Advise colleagues on best practices related to mental health support.

Skills

Registered RMN/OT or Social Worker

Specialist knowledge of dual diagnosis issues

Strong leadership skills

Knowledge of adult safeguarding

Education

Educated to degree level or equivalent in Occupational Therapy or Social Work

Job description

Job Summary

Job Title: Mental Health Rough Sleepers Service Practitioner

Internal requirement only – this role is open to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff on placement within our organisation) and staff employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board. Any individual at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is seeking an experienced mental health professional to work with the new East Kent Mental Health Rough Sleepers Service.

The team works closely with borough councils to enhance homelessness services for vulnerable rough sleepers and those at risk of sleeping on the streets. The project tackles the ongoing needs of rough sleepers who have fallen out of services or who will not engage with traditional pathways of support and housing, often with chaotic lives and a history of offending, drug and alcohol use, and exclusion from mainstream services.

With estimates ranging from 40% to 80% of the rough sleeping population living with mental illness, mental health is a major contributory factor to people not being able to find or maintain a home. Rough sleepers average age of death at 43 – we cannot let this need go unmet.

Main Duties of the Job

• Carry out regular outreach alongside homelessness staff to identify unmet mental health needs and make appropriate referrals.
• Visit vulnerable people in supported accommodation, housing first flats, or general needs accommodation to assess if they have the right level and type of support for their mental health needs.
• Identify where people need to be fast‑tracked into primary care services.
• Advise colleagues across the Mental Health Rough Sleeper Service and housing‑related support services regarding best practice.
• Take part in two monthly rough sleeper counts in the early hours of the morning.
• Attend operational groups and panels to agree best use of housing resources to meet the needs of rough sleepers.

About Us

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Covering the whole county – both hospital and community settings – we make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway.

Rated “Good” by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values – caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us – if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that’s doing well together.

Details

Date posted: 05 November 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 380‑WK0332

Job location: Laurel House, Canterbury, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3HH

Person Specification

Essential qualifications and training

• Registered RMN/OT or Social Worker
• Educated to degree level or equivalent in Occupational Therapy or Social Work

Desirable qualifications

• Management qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant post‑registration experience
• Previous experience of recovery‑focused service provision with individuals who have complex mental health needs, substance misuse and offending behaviour
• Previous experience of working in a community team

Desirable

• Experience working with marginalised groups
• Experience working in a primary care environment

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Specialist knowledge of dual diagnosis issues and experience working within mental health or substance misuse fields, including with alcohol users
• Strong leadership skills, including negotiating and influencing skills
• Knowledge and understanding of adult safeguarding
• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983

Desirable

• Understanding of the requirements of Quality Improvement Methodology including QSIR

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) will be required to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer Details

Employer: Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Address: Laurel House, Canterbury, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3HH

Website: https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk