Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner

Devon Partnership Trust; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Supportive MDT

Job summary

Devon Partnership Trust in Exeter seeks a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to lead within the Exeter City Core CMHT. The role is full‑time, with flexible and hybrid working to support wellbeing and professional development.

The post requires senior staff with RMN, OT or social work credentials, delivering person‑centred care to adults with complex mental health needs, and providing clinical leadership, supervision and care planning.

Qualifications

• Professional mental health qualification and current registration.
• Postgraduate qualification relevant to specialism.
• CPD evidence and safeguarding training.
• Leadership/management training in a core service.
• Mentoring students in line with requirements.

Responsibilities

• 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 with personalised, recovery-focused support.
• 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 governance compliance.
• Participate in team leadership activities, including case discussions and operational planning.

Skills

Communication skills

Report writing

Interprofessional communication

Autonomy

Problem ownership

Risk management

Care planning

Teamwork

Time management

Flexibility

Clinical assessment

Mobility across area

Change management

Education

RMN or equivalent professional qualification

Social Work Degree or equivalent

BSc/Diploma in OT / SROT

Chartered Clinical Psychologist

Professional registration in body

CPD evidence

Job description

Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner

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

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• 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.

Job responsibilities

The post holderwill deliver high quality comprehensive mental health services. The roleinvolves managing a defined caseload with a focus on providing expertassessment and treatment for people with complex mental health difficulties andtheir carers. This will include recoveryco-ordination (design and co-ordination of treatment packages that arepersonalised and evaluated in line with payment by results). To provide statutory Adult Social Care, CareManagement functions (assessment, care planning and reviewing). The liaisonwith a wide range of statutory and non-statutory agencies is central to thisrole.

The post holderwill contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, providing supervisionfor other members and participating in team and service development, andevaluation.

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
• Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism
• 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

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

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.
• 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

Skills & 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.
• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
• 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.

Full-time,Flexible working,Compressed hours