Senior Mental Health Practitioner - Children's Crisis Service

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

Job summary

Children and Family Health Devon is seeking Senior Mental Health Practitioners for their Urgent Care Pathway. The role involves providing crisis care for children and young people, working within a supportive team. Candidates will deliver assessments, safety plans, and interventions, contributing to a rota that includes evenings and weekends. This is a chance to make a meaningful impact in youth mental health care.

Benefits

Clinical supervision

Peer support

Opportunities for CPD

Qualifications

• Substantial experience managing complex caseloads with children/young people.
• Experience working in community CAMHS mental health settings.

Responsibilities

• Deliver crisis assessments and safety plans for young people.
• Liaise with education and social care for joined-up care.

Skills

Communication

Flexibility

Computer Literacy

Education

RMN

Social Work Degree

BSc/Diploma in OT

Job description

Job summary

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is recruiting Senior Mental Health Practitioners to join our Urgent Care Pathway, with vacancies available in East Devon/Exeter and North Devon.

The Urgent Care team supports children and young people experiencing mental health crisis, delivering timely assessment, intervention and safety planning. The service operates 9am to 10pm, seven days a week, and successful candidates will contribute to a rota that includes evenings and weekends.

Working as part of a friendly, experienced multi-disciplinary team, you will provide crisis care that is trauma-informed, compassionate and youth-centred.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver crisis assessments, safety plans, and brief interventions for young people in distress

• Respond flexibly to urgent presentations, often in partnership with families and schools

• Participate in a rota covering daytime and evening hours, including weekends

• Liaise with education, social care and acute services to ensure joined-up care

• Support service development, quality improvement and reflective team practice

We Offer:

• A welcoming and supportive Urgent Care team in either locality

• Clinical supervision, peer support, and opportunities for CPD

• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact at a critical time for young people and families

If you are a qualified and compassionate mental health professional looking to specialise in youth crisis care, we would love to hear from you.

About us

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health which are provided by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services, based on the i-Thrive Framework.

CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

Our children and young people say

We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Details Date posted

16 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0362

Job locations

Evergreen

Victoria Park Road

Exeter

EX2 4NU

Integrated Childrens Services

Fishleigh Road

Roundswell Business Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 3UD

Job description Job responsibilities

For the full job description and person specification please refer to the job description attached to this advert, which will provide further information on this role.

Job description Job responsibilities

For the full job description and person specification please refer to the job description attached to this advert, which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, Social Work Degree, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, or equivalent
• Active registration as with the appropriate professional body e.g. NMC, HCPC

Desirable

• Recognised qualification in evidenced-based therapeutic, mental health interventions for children/young people and their families/carers

Experience Essential

• Substantial experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload and working with children/young people presenting with a range of complex mental health presentations.
• Working within a community CAMHS mental health setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Knowledge, skills and abilities Essential

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with children/young people of all ages experiencing a wide range of mental health presentations.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings, sharing own professional knowledge, skills and expertise, whilst valuing the perspective of others.
• Able to produce well written reports.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area in a timely manner and in accordance with service need.
• Computer literacy.
• There will be a requirement to work extended hours which may vary depending on agreed job plan. The Crisis service operates between the hours of 9am and 10pm, 7 days per week, for unplanned crisis care and between the hours of 9am and 8pm (Monday-Friday) and 9am and 5pm Sat/Sun/BH for planned

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, Social Work Degree, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, or equivalent
• Active registration as with the appropriate professional body e.g. NMC, HCPC

Desirable

• Recognised qualification in evidenced-based therapeutic, mental health interventions for children/young people and their families/carers

Experience Essential

• Substantial experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload and working with children/young people presenting with a range of complex mental health presentations.
• Working within a community CAMHS mental health setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Knowledge, skills and abilities Essential

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with children/young people of all ages experiencing a wide range of mental health presentations.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings, sharing own professional knowledge, skills and expertise, whilst valuing the perspective of others.
• Able to produce well written reports.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area in a timely manner and in accordance with service need.
• Computer literacy.
• There will be a requirement to work extended hours which may vary depending on agreed job plan. The Crisis service operates between the hours of 9am and 10pm, 7 days per week, for unplanned crisis care and between the hours of 9am and 8pm (Monday-Friday) and 9am and 5pm Sat/Sun/BH for planned

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.

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.

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

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Evergreen

Victoria Park Road

Exeter

EX2 4NU

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Evergreen

Victoria Park Road

Exeter

EX2 4NU

Employer's website

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