Senior Mental Health Practitioner - Crisis Pathway

Islet Systems; Exeter; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A local NHS Trust in Exeter is seeking a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join their Urgent Care Pathway. The ideal candidate will deliver crisis assessments and safety plans for young people in distress. A professional mental health qualification and substantial experience in complex caseload management are essential. The role offers competitive salary and a full-time working pattern, contributing to a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Clinical supervision

Peer support

CPD opportunities

Qualifications

• Substantial experience managing a complex caseload.
• Experience in community CAMHS mental health setting.
• Experience in a multi-disciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver crisis assessments and safety plans for young people.
• Respond flexibly to urgent presentations.
• Liaise with education, social care, and acute services.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Flexibility

Computer literacy

Education

Professional mental health qualification

Active registration with professional body

Job description

Overview

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is recruiting a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join our Urgent Care Pathway based in Exeter and East Devon. This role is offered as a one-year fixed-term contract. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

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, provided by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership NHS Trust. We work with other organisations to deliver locality and county-wide integrated access to our services, based on the i-Thrive Framework. We collaborate with local universities to support clinical training placements and post-graduate training for staff.

Candidate Information

Our children and young people say: We would like staff who are understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy, make us feel safe and comfortable, listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. Positive and friendly staff help create an informal environment without pressure.

Details

Date posted: 13 October 2025

• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 1 year
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Location: Evergreen, Victoria Park Road, Exeter, EX2 4NU

Job Description

Job responsibilities and person specification are provided in the attached job description. The following outlines include essential and desirable qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

Essential

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

Desirable

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

Experience

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills with children/young people of all ages and a wide range of professionals.
• Ability to produce well-written reports and to work flexibly.
• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area in a timely manner, and to work extended hours as required.
• Computer literacy.
• Service operates 9am-10pm, 7 days a week for unplanned crisis care; planned hours are 9am-8pm Monday-Friday and 9am-5pm Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays.

Compliance

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check required. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. UK registration with a professional body is required. Applications from sponsored visa applicants are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications.

Employer

Employer: Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Address: Evergreen, Victoria Park Road, Exeter, EX2 4NU. Website: https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/