Senior Mental Health Practitioner

NHS; Stockport; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is looking for a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join their Home Treatment Team based at Stepping Hill Hospital. This role focuses on supporting patients in the community, preventing hospital admissions, and providing individualized care. Ideal candidates will hold relevant qualifications and experience in mental health services, demonstrating strong assessment and communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for career development in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in working with clients with complex needs.
• Proven experience in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience of providing supervision to junior staff.

Responsibilities

• To undertake Initial assessments of new referrals to the service.
• To develop individualised packages of care for service users.
• To provide supervision/mentorship to the support workers and students.

Skills

Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to form productive working relationships

Education

RMN/RNMH/Social Worker equivalent

Completion of Preparation for Mentorship qualification or willingness to complete

Job description

Job summary

The Home Treatment Team is a busy and fast-paced service that provides an alternative to acute psychiatric hospital admission, being the least restrictive option. The aim of the service is to support patients in the community and prevent hospital admission wherever possible. We support people who are unwell in the community, providing a vast range of support. This includes psychological formulations, medical reviews, Occupational Therapy assessments and plans, crisis breaks in our crisis flats, practical support, low level CBT interventions, safety planning, medication management and monitoring.

Main duties of the job

You will complete gatekeeping referrals identifying if either, a hospital admission or core Home Treatment is required.

You will undertake comprehensive assessments of the mental health needs of individuals who are referred to the service, in addition to comprehensive risk assessments. You will formulate and review safety plans and care plans. No one day is the same and you will need a flexible, creative and supportive approach within the team.

Following assessment you will be responsible for reviewing the risk of the patient and participating in MDT's to formulate a plan for the patient along with your colleagues and peers.

As a senior mental health practitioner you will offer support and guidance to junior members of staff on the team.

About us

The Team operates 7 days a week 24hrs a day

The Home Treatment Team works closely with both psychiatric wards at Stepping Hill, the Crisis Flats, Community Mental Heath Teams, adult and children social care, Early Intervention Team, Patient Flow, Hospital Liaison Team.

Staff are expected to participate in the overall development of the service, ensuring that the principles of Clinical Governance underpin all developments.

It is expected that you will deliver care in accordance with all Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust policies and procedures, the Mental Health Act and community care legislation.

Details Date posted

05 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

311-S652-25-A

Job locations

Stepping Hill Hospital

Poplar Grove

Stockport

SK2 7JE

Job description Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To participate in shift coordinator and Gatekeeping rotation
• To undertake Initial assessments of any new referrals to the service.
• To carry out thorough assessment of service users current mental health problems and individual needs, including a risk assessment.
• To develop individualised packages of care for service users with mental health problems, including signposting where necessary.
• To identify the need for protection in line with safeguarding children and the Protection of Vulnerable Adult Policy and to comply with statutory obligations.
• To liaise and negotiate with other professions, statutory and independent agencies to ensure the best possible service is provided to service users and carers and to appropriately signpost to other agencies.
• To assist service users to effectively manage their emotional distress, using psychological evidence-based interventions.
• To promote medication concordance through medication follow-up, where appropriate.
• To evaluate systematically and record, outcomes of mental health interventions, adapting care on the basis of these evaluations.
• To provide education and appropriate self-help resources to patients specific to individual needs.
• To keep and store up to date written records and follow appropriate Pennine Care policies.
• To participate in audit of the primary care mental health service if requested.
• To provide supervision/mentorship to the support workers and students.
• To utilise managerial and clinical supervision to ensure that care and treatment are tailored to service users, family and community needs; that learning needs are identified and acted upon to ensure professional and personal development.
• To work with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a culturally sensitive manner.
• To make and sustain good working relationships with colleagues, peers across all services.
• To attend and participate in regular team meetings, clinical team meetings, reflective practice and MDT's

Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.

Job description Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To participate in shift coordinator and Gatekeeping rotation
• To undertake Initial assessments of any new referrals to the service.
• To carry out thorough assessment of service users current mental health problems and individual needs, including a risk assessment.
• To develop individualised packages of care for service users with mental health problems, including signposting where necessary.
• To identify the need for protection in line with safeguarding children and the Protection of Vulnerable Adult Policy and to comply with statutory obligations.
• To liaise and negotiate with other professions, statutory and independent agencies to ensure the best possible service is provided to service users and carers and to appropriately signpost to other agencies.
• To assist service users to effectively manage their emotional distress, using psychological evidence-based interventions.
• To promote medication concordance through medication follow-up, where appropriate.
• To evaluate systematically and record, outcomes of mental health interventions, adapting care on the basis of these evaluations.
• To provide education and appropriate self-help resources to patients specific to individual needs.
• To keep and store up to date written records and follow appropriate Pennine Care policies.
• To participate in audit of the primary care mental health service if requested.
• To provide supervision/mentorship to the support workers and students.
• To utilise managerial and clinical supervision to ensure that care and treatment are tailored to service users, family and community needs; that learning needs are identified and acted upon to ensure professional and personal development.
• To work with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a culturally sensitive manner.
• To make and sustain good working relationships with colleagues, peers across all services.
• To attend and participate in regular team meetings, clinical team meetings, reflective practice and MDT's

Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.

Person Specification Education / Qualifications Essential

• RMN/RNMH/Social Worker equivalent
• Completion of Preparation for Mentorship / Practice Teacher / Fieldwork Educator qualification or willingness to complete
• Evidence of on-going CPD

Desirable

• Degree - or working towards completion.
• Non-medical prescribing qualification
• Formal teaching qualification.
• Further training in brief psychosocial interventions.

Experience Essential

• Significant post registration experience.
• Proven experience of working with clients with complex needs.
• Experience of working with individuals who present to mental health services in crisis and have symptoms of mental health illness
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience of providing supervision to junior staff

Desirable

• Primary care mental health work experience
• Experienced in the use of outcome measures such as CORE, PHQ9 and GAD7
• Experience of working with a psychological model of care
• Experience of triaging referrals.

Knowledge Essential

• Understanding of current mental health legislation, Safe Guarding and Child Protection Legislation
• Awareness of NICE Guidance in the treatment of mental health problems and knowledge of treatments and interventions appropriate for individuals with mental health needs
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues.
• Knowledge of psychosocial assessment and risk assessment/management processes

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to construct effective safety plans, care plans and risk management plans
• Ability to deliver a range of evidence based interventions.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Comprehensive I.T Skills
• Ability to form productive working relationships with service users, carers and multi-disciplinary staff
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills.

Desirable

• CBT/DBT qualification or training/further learning
• Experience in leadership/mentorship
• Supervisor or practice educator/preceptorship role experience

Person Specification Education / Qualifications Essential

• RMN/RNMH/Social Worker equivalent
• Completion of Preparation for Mentorship / Practice Teacher / Fieldwork Educator qualification or willingness to complete
• Evidence of on-going CPD

Desirable

• Degree - or working towards completion.
• Non-medical prescribing qualification
• Formal teaching qualification.
• Further training in brief psychosocial interventions.

Experience Essential

• Significant post registration experience.
• Proven experience of working with clients with complex needs.
• Experience of working with individuals who present to mental health services in crisis and have symptoms of mental health illness
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience of providing supervision to junior staff

Desirable

• Primary care mental health work experience
• Experienced in the use of outcome measures such as CORE, PHQ9 and GAD7
• Experience of working with a psychological model of care
• Experience of triaging referrals.

Knowledge Essential

• Understanding of current mental health legislation, Safe Guarding and Child Protection Legislation
• Awareness of NICE Guidance in the treatment of mental health problems and knowledge of treatments and interventions appropriate for individuals with mental health needs
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues.
• Knowledge of psychosocial assessment and risk assessment/management processes

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to construct effective safety plans, care plans and risk management plans
• Ability to deliver a range of evidence based interventions.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Comprehensive I.T Skills
• Ability to form productive working relationships with service users, carers and multi-disciplinary staff
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills.

Desirable

• CBT/DBT qualification or training/further learning
• Experience in leadership/mentorship
• Supervisor or practice educator/preceptorship role experience

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Pennine Care NHS FT

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Poplar Grove

Stockport

SK2 7JE

Employer's website

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Pennine Care NHS FT

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Poplar Grove

Stockport

SK2 7JE

Employer's website

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)