Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Newton Abbot; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health services provider in the UK is seeking to hire a professional for their Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team. The role involves conducting urgent assessments and planning effective home treatment within a multidisciplinary team, ensuring rapid responses to mental health crises. Candidates should possess relevant professional registration and experience in crisis intervention. This position promotes inclusive applications and offers opportunities for flexible working.

Qualifications

• Substantial post-qualification experience in mental health.
• Strong knowledge of legal frameworks and ethical practice.
• Ability to manage competing demands in high-pressure environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced clinical assessment for acute mental health crises.
• Lead the multidisciplinary team in crisis response and care planning.
• Support junior staff and supervise clinical activities.

Skills

Advanced clinical assessment

Excellent communication

Leadership skills

Understanding of safeguarding

Crisis intervention expertise

Education

Professional registration (e.g. RMN, Social Worker)

Training in advanced psychosocial interventions

Job description

The Crisis Resolution HomeTreatment Team is a pivotal, county-wide service whose main focus is to offer an alternative to inpatient admission and provide intensive treatment as required within the community. The service operates within locality-based leadership teams to ensure effective gatekeeping for all service users referred for hospital admission. Outreach is at the heart of the service, with most assessments taking place in non-hospital environments.

As an active member of the integrated multi-disciplinary team, the post holder will contribute to a 24-hour community-based Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service, available across the county as an alternative to hospital admission. The role involves delivering rapid assessments and planning effective, evidence-based home treatment in collaboration with service users, carers, and professionals from both established services and locality teams.

Main duties of the job

A key function of this role is the timely assessment of individuals referred to the service, with a requirement to provide initial clinical assessment within 4 hours for urgent cases and within 24 hours for referrals, ensuring prompt access to appropriate care and interventions. The post holder will utilise an approved UK triage tool to rigorously assess the urgency and complexity of each referral, supporting accurate prioritisation and efficient allocation of resources to those in highest need.

• Provide advanced clinical assessment, formulation, and intervention for individuals experiencing acute mental health crisis.
• Lead and coordinate crisis response within a multidisciplinary team, ensuring safe and effective care planning.
• Offer clinical supervision, mentorship, and support to junior staff and students.
• Act as a point of escalation for complex cases, providing expert guidance on risk management and safeguarding.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate integrated care and smooth transitions across services.
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives, and audit processes.
• Uphold and promote trauma-informed, recovery-focused, and person-centred approaches.
• Participate in the delivery of 24/7 crisis services, including rota-based working across evenings and weekends.
• Support the implementation of Trust policies, procedures, and strategic priorities within the crisis pathway.

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

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Candidate Note: If you choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in completing your application, please ensure that all responses accurately represent your own experience, skills, and suitability for the role. It is essential that your application remains authentic and truthful. We also encourage you to review the guidance attached before submission.

Locations:

• Exeter (Wonford House, Exeter)
• East and Mid Devon (Wonford House, Exeter)
• Teignbridge (Estuary House, Newton Abbot)

When applying, candidates are required to clearly state their preferred location from the available sites to ensure optimal alignment with service needs and individual circumstances.

Person Specification

Preferred location

• Please list your preferred Team / location(s) from the advertised list

Qualifications

• Professional registration (e.g. RMN, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist) with substantial post-qualification experience.
• Training in advanced psychosocial interventions (e.g. CBT, DBT, systemic approaches).

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of safeguarding, legal frameworks (e.g. MHA, MCA), and ethical practice.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work flexibly and manage competing demands in high-pressure environments.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and service improvement.
• Familiarity with local crisis pathways, community resources, and integrated care systems.

Experience

• Proven expertise in crisis intervention, mental health assessment, and risk management.
• Experience of leading clinical decision-making and supervising staff.
• Experience in service development or leading change initiatives.
• Experience in managing complex cases involving co-occurring needs (e.g. substance misuse, neurodiversity, trauma).

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.