Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Community Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 31 August 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker to work in the Rough Sleepers Mental Health Service (RSMHS) as part of the exciting new Single Homeless Accommodation Programme (SHAP). SHAP aims to provide accommodation for some of Leeds' most entrenched rough sleepers, with considerable wrap-around support which this role will be a key part of. The RSMHS will be supporting the SHAP project in partnership with other statutory and third-sector organisations according to the principles of a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE). This role will be based in a part of the SHAP project which is dedicated to supporting vulnerable young people who are at risk of rough sleeping, so you will be primarily working with young adults aged 18-25.

The RSMHS is a newly developed team, working collaboratively with the city's other street support teams to provide exceptional holistic treatment to rough sleepers and those at most risk of sleeping rough. We are proud to be part of a partnership delivering SHAP, and this role will be key in influencing service culture and the skills development of housing and healthcare staff, using a trauma-informed approach. The service has a real opportunity to use relational approaches to embed Psychologically Informed Environment principles and in doing so to have a significant impact on people's lives.

Main duties of the job

Our Team is a Monday to Friday service with the core hours being 9am to 5pm, however we offer a hybrid model of working and flexible working arrangements. We require a motivated individual, with good initiative and organisational skills. You will ensure that the service users' goals are identified and central to their formulation and care planning needs.

It is important to us that you have significant experience working in the community with people who struggle to access mainstream services. Our client group have experience of rough sleeping/ living in precarious environments, and like other vulnerable groups they often face difficulties and barriers in accessing and engaging with NHS and other support services.

We are a specialist mental health team; you will need to have significant experience of working with people with severe and complex mental health difficulties. You will be person centred, have good risk assessment skills and be able to provide a range of therapeutic interventions supported by evidence-based practice. You will have experience of working with younger adults with complex mental health difficulties and who struggle to access services.

The postholder will have a Trust base but will be required to work at and travel between various accommodation sites.

About us

The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.

There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.

We also have an incredible bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.

Applicants should be aware that any individual requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only (this does not include Healthcare Support Workers). This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Details

Date posted

08 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

173-35925-COMM

Job locations

Rough Sleepers Service Across Leeds

Leeds

LS12 3QE


Job description

Job responsibilities

This post will provide a trauma-informed service for people experiencing poor mental health who are housed within SHAP accommodations.

The Rough Sleepers Mental Health Service (RSMHS) is a small multi-disciplinary team that consists of a Clinical Team Manager, Principal Psychological Therapist, Mental Health Practitioner, Community Support Worker and an Administrator. The team works work closely with partner services who also support rough sleepers, including Forward Leeds drug and alcohol service, Community Mental Health Teams, Leeds City Council, York Street GP practice and third sector street support services.

The RSMHS is expanding due to an exciting new opportunity to be involved in a partnership with Leeds City Council and other organisations to deliver the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP). SHAP aims to accommodate some of the most entrenched rough sleepers in Leeds, through providing both appropriate accommodation and significant housing and healthcare support for residents. You will work alongside the SHAP Senior Psychological Professional, with the support of the wider RSMHS team, with a focus on supporting younger adults who are accommodated in SHAP housing.

With access to appropriate clinical and management supervision, you will be able to demonstrate and practice a range of appropriate skills to include assessment (including risk assessment), formulation, safety planning and clinical interventions.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience of working as a qualified Mental Health Nurse/ Social Worker/ Occupational Therapist, including post-qualification experience relevant to the specialty, and with younger adults. You will have experience of working with people who are homeless, socially excluded and/or otherwise difficult for services to engage through traditional means.

The service operates Monday to Friday and the hours can be flexible, depending on the needs of the post-holder, the service, and the client group. There may be a small requirement to work some evening hours, in order to meet service users needs.

You will need to have the ability to travel between work bases around the Leeds area.

This job role description sets out in generic terms the role and competencies needed to be a band 6 Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner in the Trust. A more detailed job plan will be provided to the post holder specific to the Rough Sleepers mental health service.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This post will provide a trauma-informed service for people experiencing poor mental health who are housed within SHAP accommodations.

The Rough Sleepers Mental Health Service (RSMHS) is a small multi-disciplinary team that consists of a Clinical Team Manager, Principal Psychological Therapist, Mental Health Practitioner, Community Support Worker and an Administrator. The team works work closely with partner services who also support rough sleepers, including Forward Leeds drug and alcohol service, Community Mental Health Teams, Leeds City Council, York Street GP practice and third sector street support services.

The RSMHS is expanding due to an exciting new opportunity to be involved in a partnership with Leeds City Council and other organisations to deliver the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP). SHAP aims to accommodate some of the most entrenched rough sleepers in Leeds, through providing both appropriate accommodation and significant housing and healthcare support for residents. You will work alongside the SHAP Senior Psychological Professional, with the support of the wider RSMHS team, with a focus on supporting younger adults who are accommodated in SHAP housing.

With access to appropriate clinical and management supervision, you will be able to demonstrate and practice a range of appropriate skills to include assessment (including risk assessment), formulation, safety planning and clinical interventions.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience of working as a qualified Mental Health Nurse/ Social Worker/ Occupational Therapist, including post-qualification experience relevant to the specialty, and with younger adults. You will have experience of working with people who are homeless, socially excluded and/or otherwise difficult for services to engage through traditional means.

The service operates Monday to Friday and the hours can be flexible, depending on the needs of the post-holder, the service, and the client group. There may be a small requirement to work some evening hours, in order to meet service users needs.

You will need to have the ability to travel between work bases around the Leeds area.

This job role description sets out in generic terms the role and competencies needed to be a band 6 Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner in the Trust. A more detailed job plan will be provided to the post holder specific to the Rough Sleepers mental health service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant Core Professional Qualification - ie Registered MH / LD Nurse, BSc, Dip social Worker, DipCoT,
  • Evidence of post qualification development

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience of working effectively at a high level with people with mental health problems.
  • Experience of supervising other staff.
  • Experience of working with people at risk.
  • Can demonstrate experience of formulating care plans for people with ongoing complex and acute mental health needs.
  • Experience of complex care co-ordination and developing need / age specific care packages
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant Core Professional Qualification - ie Registered MH / LD Nurse, BSc, Dip social Worker, DipCoT,
  • Evidence of post qualification development

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience of working effectively at a high level with people with mental health problems.
  • Experience of supervising other staff.
  • Experience of working with people at risk.
  • Can demonstrate experience of formulating care plans for people with ongoing complex and acute mental health needs.
  • Experience of complex care co-ordination and developing need / age specific care packages

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

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rough Sleepers Service Across Leeds

Leeds

LS12 3QE


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rough Sleepers Service Across Leeds

Leeds

LS12 3QE


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

.

Bethan Davies

Bethan.davies5@nhs.net

07980956474

Details

Date posted

08 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

173-35925-COMM

Job locations

Rough Sleepers Service Across Leeds

Leeds

LS12 3QE


Supporting documents

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