Senior Community Practitioner | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in London seeks a Senior Practitioner to deliver specialist care in mental health. The role involves conducting assessments, supervising staff, and ensuring high-quality patient care in a collaborative environment. Ideal candidates will possess a relevant mental health qualification and demonstrated experience within multidisciplinary teams. Flexible working options are available, along with generous benefits.

Benefits

Generous pay and pensions

Flexible working options

Career development opportunities

NHS discounts

Wellbeing events

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health services.
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively.
• Proficient in managing caseloads and assessments.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist mental health assessments.
• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments.
• Supervise and support community practitioners.

Skills

Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN)

Mental Health Social Worker

Occupational Therapist

Collaborative teamwork

Autonomous clinician skills

Experience in mental health assessments

Education

Relevant mental health qualification

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN), Mental Health Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist looking to take the next step in your career?

This is a fantastic opportunity to broaden your professional experience and deepen your expertise within a supportive and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team. We provide specialist mental health services to adults aged 18–65 living in the London Borough of Croydon. Our team offers timely assessments, expert advice, and tailored care planning for individuals experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and personality disorders.

Working alongside dedicated professionals, you’ll collaborate closely with service users, their carers, and GPs to ensure holistic, person-centred care.

Responsibilities

• As a Senior Practitioner you will operate as a highly skilled and autonomous clinician, delivering specialist mental health assessments, care planning, and brief interventions for adults referred to the service.
• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and develop tailored care plans.
• Provide short-term interventions (up to 12 weeks) to support recovery and wellbeing.
• Signpost service users to appropriate external services and facilitate safe discharge to primary care where suitable.
• Supervise and support community practitioners, contributing to their development and ensuring high standards of care.
• Offer comprehensive initial assessments and formulations to service users and manage a small caseload of individuals with transitional mental health problems.
• Exercise autonomous professional judgement for assessment, coordination, and transfer to the relevant team; provide ongoing assessment and outcome monitoring; participate in team assessment and the duty rota; liaise with crisis services and out-of-hours services; provide evidence-based care as outlined in NICE guidance.
• Attend regular clinical and management supervision and appraisal; provide specialist teaching and training to mental health professionals and other staff; undertake mentorship of students.
• Maintain standards of practice and confidentiality in accordance with employer and regulatory bodies (NMC/HCPC); participate in supervision and performance reviews; maintain accurate records.
• Form and maintain effective working relationships with services in the borough, including Home Treatment, Promoting Recovery, inpatient units, and psychiatric liaison teams; maintain primary care liaison with aligned GP practices; incorporate the views of users and carers into care.
• Contribute to the development of best practice and stay up to date with legislation, policies, and procedures related to Mental Health and Primary Care Services; take responsibility for health and safety.
• Deputise in the absence of the clinical lead and undertake duty senior responsibilities on a regular basis; perform other duties as appropriate to grade as requested by the Clinical Service Lead.
• Comply with statutory requirements and the Trust's employment policies; ensure information processed for patients and staff is handled securely and in line with data protection and confidentiality policies.
• Be encouraged to develop skills and participate in projects and training events; duties may evolve to reflect changing needs of the organisation.

Working with Others

You will work collaboratively with a wide range of professionals and services on a daily basis, including:

• Multidisciplinary colleagues within the team
• Other borough-based mental health teams
• External agencies and primary care providers

Team Leadership and Service Delivery

In addition to clinical responsibilities, you will support the Team Leader and Service Manager in maintaining service delivery, which includes:

• Monitoring performance against key targets
• Managing staff absences and ensuring adequate team coverage
• Providing supervision to junior staff
• Offering management support and leadership in the Team Leader’s absence

Our Values and Working Arrangements

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users; our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what we say we’re going to do are at the heart of everything we do.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Benefits

• Generous pay, pensions and leave; comprehensive package dependent on role and length of service
• Work-life balance; flexible working and support for a range of flexible options
• Career development with mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
• Accommodation through keyworker housing on selected sites
• NHS discounts up to 10% from various well-known brands
• Croydon Carers parking permit
• Counselling services
• Wellbeing events

Additional Notes

1) This advert includes responsibilities related to initial assessments, caseload management, supervision, liaison with crisis services, and adherence to NICE guidance.

2) Attendance at regular supervision and appraisal, teaching, and mentoring duties are part of the role.

3) Compliance with codes of conduct and data protection regulations is required; confidentiality must be maintained at all times.

4) The post supports ongoing professional development; duties may evolve to meet organisational needs.

This advert closes on Tuesday 30 Sep 2025