SPOE Practitioner | Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

Pennine Care NHS FT; Stockport; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health services provider in Stockport seeks a professional to deliver mental health assessments and manage crisis interventions. The role includes screening referrals, developing care plans, and working collaboratively with other professionals. Ideal candidates will have relevant mental health qualifications and strong communication skills. This position supports a vision for hope and quality care in the community.

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health services, preferably in an assessment role.
• Ability to carry out comprehensive mental health assessments.
• Understanding of the Mental Health Act and legislation.

Responsibilities

• Screen, triage, and assess all referrals into the service.
• Coordinate assessment clinics and prioritize appointments.
• Develop individual packages of care for service users.

Skills

Crisis management

Mental health assessment

Risk assessment

Communication

Education

Relevant mental health qualification

Job description

Overview

To provide single point of entry and first level gatekeeping into mental health services for older people. To screen, triage and assess all referrals into the service and allocate to the most appropriate service to meet the needs of the service user. To undertake comprehensive assessments of the health and social care needs of individuals who are referred to the service in addition to comprehensive risk assessments. To coordinate assessment clinics and prioritise appointments. To provide assessment for individuals who present through the urgent care pathway with acute mental health needs. Following assessment to be responsible for identifying appropriate management plans, follow up care, referrals and fast tracking of patients into specialist services within the SPOE function. To provide brief crisis interventions, and follow up appointments for individuals to support crisis management and harm minimisation. 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.

• To triage all referrals that are made to the service as the single point of entry and first level gatekeeper to 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 crisis 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

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.

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.

To provide assessment for individuals who present through the urgent care pathway with acute mental health needs. Following assessment to be responsible for identifying appropriate management plans, follow up care, referrals and fast tracking of patients into specialist services within the SPOE function. To provide brief crisis interventions, and follow up appointments for individuals to support crisis management and harm minimisation. To participate in the overall development of the service ensuring that the principles of Clinical Governance underpin all developments.

• To provide advice and information to non-mental health trained medical and nursing staff regarding the management of patients with mental health problems
• To undertake evidence based practice
• To observe and practice within the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983
• To maintain professional awareness by keeping abreast of changing trends in clinical/professional practice
• To be aware of professional accountability, with due regard to your professional Code of Conduct
• To provide education and appropriate self-help resources to patients specific to individual needs
• To maintain accurate and up to date clinical documentation on all service user contacts, ensuring confidentiality at all times
• To develop a thorough understanding of deliberate self-harm, suicide and possible management strategies
• To possess a sound knowledge of issues surrounding violence and aggression and to be able to diffuse potentially difficult and volatile situations
• To contribute to the establishment and review of policies, procedures and practice guidelines relating to the work of the SPOE and the interface between primary, secondary and specialist mental health service

This advert closes on Monday 22 Sep 2025