Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner

Devon Partnership Nhs Trust; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Devon Partnership NHS Trust in Exeter is seeking a Band 6 Senior Mental Health Practitioner (RMN/OT/Social Worker) for a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role offers flexible and hybrid working, with leadership responsibilities and supervision of junior staff within a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team.

The post involves complex assessments, risk management, and care planning for adults with severe mental health needs, plus service development and governance compliance.

Qualifications

• Current registration with no restrictions.
• Experience in mental health leadership.
• CPD evidence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise multidisciplinary team members.
• Deliver high-quality adult mental health care.
• Coordinate care planning and risk management.
• Engage with partners across agencies.

Skills

Leadership

Risk assessment

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

RMN registered

Social Work Degree

BSc/Dip OT

Job description

Job Summary

THIS IS A 12 MONTH FIXED TERM CONTRACT / SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Band 6 Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN), Occupational Therapist (OT), or Social Work professional to join our Exeter City Core CMHT as a Senior Mental Health Practitioner.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a leadership role within a dynamic, innovative, and supportive multidisciplinary team, delivering high-quality care to adults with complex mental health needs. The post is full-time and substantive, with flexible and hybrid working options to support your professional and personal wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake complex assessments, risk management, and care planning for individuals with severe and enduring mental health conditions.
• Act as a key worker under the Community Mental Health Framework, ensuring personalised, recovery-focused support and continuity of care.
• Provide clinical leadership and supervision to junior staff and students.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to deliver integrated, person-centred services.
• Support crisis management, safeguarding interventions, and multi-agency working.
• Contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintain high standards of clinical documentation and compliance with governance protocols.
• Participate in team leadership activities, including case discussions and operational planning.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted: 30 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number: C9369-26-0693-1

Closing date: 15 November 2026

Job responsibilities

The post holder will deliver high quality comprehensive mental health services. The role involves managing a defined caseload with a focus on providing expert assessment and treatment for people with complex mental health difficulties and their carers. This will include recovery co-ordination (design and co-ordination of treatment packages that are personalised and evaluated in line with payment by results). To provide statutory Adult Social Care, Care Management functions (assessment, care planning and reviewing). The liaison with a wide range of statutory and non-statutory agencies is central to this role.

The post holder will contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, providing supervision for other members and participating in team and service development, and evaluation.

Essential qualifications

• A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, Social Work Degree or equivalent, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, on the appropriate professional body register and hold current registration with no restrictions.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development

Desirable qualifications

• Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism
• Clinical Supervision qualification
• Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff
• Evidence of leadership/management training within a core service
• Mentoring students in line with professional requirements

Essential knowledge

• An understanding of the NSF and Mental Health Act/ Mental Health Capacity Act requirements.
• Knowledge of the Community Mental Health Framework and Personalised Care Framework

Desirable knowledge

• Awareness of community structures and social care management responsibilities
• Understanding of recovery principles in Mental Health

Essential experience

• Extensive post registration experience working at band 5 in mental health care working
• Evidence of acting as nurse in charge on a regular basis;
• Experience of managing/leading a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health conditions
• Experience of clinically supervising junior and unqualified staff and mentoring students
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Desirable experience

• Participation in user involvement in services.
• Experience in deputising for more senior staff
• Evidence of following through specific pieces of work or projects as delegated by ward managers or others

Essential skills and abilities

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems.
• Able to produce well written reports.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.
• Ability to think and work independently/autonomously and with complex case load
• Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
• Ability to manage risk.
• Able to plan creatively to maximise effectiveness of care plans.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to manage own time and that of the teams.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Excellent clinical assessment skills.

Desirable skills and abilities

• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
• Computer literacy.
• Ability to manage change in a positive manner.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name: Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address: Wonford House, Dryden Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5AF, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:

Community Team Manager, Bryn Cresswell, [e-mail]

Devon Partnership NHS Trust's privacy notice.