Senior Mental Health Assistant Practitioner

NHS; Norwich; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a part-time Senior Mental Health Assistant Practitioner in Norwich. This role involves supporting young people, families, and professionals via phone and digital communication, conducting assessments, and delivering clinical advice. The ideal candidate holds a relevant degree and has experience in mental health, particularly with children and young adults. The position is 0.6 WTE, requiring effective communication skills and knowledge of risk assessment practices.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young adults in mental health.
• Effective risk assessment and management skills.
• Experience in delivering clinical interventions.

Responsibilities

• Gather information via phone or video call for assessments.
• Work with the team to develop evidence-based care.
• Provide advice to children and families regarding emotional health.
• Support care-planning and act as a link for schools and GPs.
• Contribute to digital resources promoting self-help material.

Skills

Clinical expertise in mental health

Risk assessment knowledge

Proficient keyboard skills

Communication through IT

Education

Degree in a relevant area of study

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Job Summary

We are excited to announce that we have a vacancy for a Band 5 Senior Mental Health Assistant Practitioner in the Mental Health Advice, Support and Access team (MHASA) based at Just One Number (JON).

MHASA provides triage of all non‑emergency referrals for mental health for 0‑25 year olds within Norfolk and Waveney.

The post holder will gather information from a wide range of sources, have direct telephone contact with young people, families and other professionals, support senior clinicians with the triage of more complex cases, and provide advice, guidance, and support to people with mental health care needs via the telephone and other digital technologies.

This is a part‑time post: 0.6 WTE (9 am‑5 pm Monday‑Friday), in person at the team base in Cringleford, Norwich.

The role is non‑patient facing – contact with young people, their carers and other professionals is made via the telephone and written information.

Responsibilities

• Use clinical expertise in the mental and emotional health needs of children, young people and families (0–25 years) to elicit information from professionals, carers and young people, enabling full assessments via telephone or video call which support timely clinical decisions.
• Work effectively with other members of the skill‑mix team within JON, attending and supporting teaching and clinical supervision to develop needs‑led, evidence‑based care that aligns with local and national priorities, policies and clinical guidelines.
• Have a robust understanding of local emotional‑health provision, providing children, young people, families and referrers with appropriate advice and guidance, and making or supporting appropriate referrals.
• Gather information, assess (including risk assessment) and care‑plan with children, young people, parents and teachers, acting as an active link for schools, GPs, mental health and voluntary sector organisations.
• Support colleagues within Just One Number by building confidence in understanding current mental‑health need, risk and care‑planning.
• Contribute to the production and maintenance of digital resources on Just One Norfolk, promoting these within JON and with other stakeholders, aiding the identification of suitable self‑help material and discerning when further clinical assessment is indicated.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications and Training

• Degree in a relevant area of study and relevant experience working in a mental‑health field.

Essential Experience

• Previous experience working with children and young adults with mental‑health needs.
• Effective risk assessment and risk management experience.
• Experience delivering clinical interventions.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to work regularly unsupervised.
• Risk assessment knowledge and skills.
• Proficient keyboard skills and ability to communicate through IT using Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desirable

• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Degree in Mental Health.
• Experience undertaking a clinical role that includes multi‑disciplinary working, safeguarding, complex assessments, care‑planning and evaluation, and caseload management.
• Partnership working.
• Clinical/Safeguarding risk assessment skills.
• Experience navigating service users to other services and resources.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check to confirm no previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

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

Employer Details

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
Unit 3 Cringleford Business Centre
Norwich, NR4 6AU