Senior Mental Health Practitioner | Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

Pennine Care NHS FT; Ashton-under-Lyne; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Ashton-under-Lyne is seeking a Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner for their Older Peoples Community Mental Health Team. The role involves triaging referrals, conducting assessments, and developing care plans for older adults. Suitable candidates must have a relevant qualification and experience working with this age group. This position offers a supportive environment with mentorship opportunities as well as a commitment to professional development.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Flexible working opportunities

Access to professional development

Qualifications

• Previous experience working in mental health services.
• Commitment to working with older people.
• Ability to conduct thorough assessments.

Responsibilities

• Triage referrals to the service.
• Conduct assessments of mental health needs.
• Develop individualized care packages.

Skills

Experience with community patients over 65 years of age

Strong communication skills

Knowledge of mental health care

Education

Relevant Nursing or Social Work qualification

Job description

Overview

A vacancy has become available within our Older Peoples Community Mental Health Team, Single Point of Entry service, based in the Etherow Building at Tameside General Hospital.

As a Band 6 you would work with the existing team of staff to triage new referrals. This will involve offering advice, support, signposting, initial assessments and onwards referrals to older people who are experiencing a mental health problem. There are two clinical pathways within our team, organic/dementia and functional. You need a real commitment to working with this client group.

Previous experience of working with community patients over 65 years of age is essential. You will be supported by the team manager and existing team through clinical and managerial supervision.

Responsibilities

• To triage all referrals that are made to the service as the single point of entry and first level gatekeeper to older peoples community mental health services
• To make onward referral to the most appropriate service to meet the individual needs of the service user following triage
• To carry out a thorough assessment of the 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 provide short term psychotherapeutic interventions as appropriate
• To provide short term risk management as appropriate
• 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
• To evaluate systematically and record, outcomes of mental health assessments, adapting care on the basis of these outcomes
• To involve family and carers in the assessment and care planning with service users consent

About us

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

Equal opportunities

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
• Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
• Access to Continued Professional Development
• Involvement in improvement and research activities
• Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
• Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel

To assist the Team Leader in monitoring activity, caseload management, and allocation of work. To report any concerns or under-achievements to the team leader.

· To demonstrate practice as a clinical expert in the field of mental illness in old age and its management.

· To provide and/or facilitate clinical supervision in individual or group settings and to all grades of staff. Where necessary undertake live supervision and mentorship. To participate in mandatory individual and group supervision.

· To be involved in the clinical development of junior staff, including training and development planning; updates and research awareness. To notify Team Leader of any training needs identified in yourself or your supervisees.

· To deliver training to health staff and other agencies as directed by the Team Leader either in conjunction with other staff or individually.

· To plan, implement and review individualised care plans, ensuring standards are maintained regarding the quality of interventions provided.

· Provision of reports as required for the purposes of care planning, case conferences and case reviews.

· Participate in Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings, Ward Rounds, CPA reviews, Section 117 reviews and care planning meetings as required.

· To work within the framework of the CPA, acting as assessment Co-ordinator.

· To work closely with service users, care home staff and carers ensuring they are involved as far as possible in planning and reviewing interventions.

· Maintain confidentiality and a high professional standard at all times.

· Participate in the promotion of research, audit and quality initiatives.

This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process.

This advert closes on Thursday 6 Nov 2025