Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Mental Health Practitioner to join our Community Mental Health Service. This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team providing high-quality, recovery-focused care to individuals with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.
In this role, you will act as a key member of our support and help line, offering timely and effective interventions via telephone and MS Teams. You will triage new referrals, liaise with referrers, carers, and other professionals, and undertake assessments using a collaborative, strengths-based approach. Your work will be central to promoting recovery, managing risk, and supporting service users in the community.
If you are passionate about mental health care, thrive in a dynamic environment, and want to make a real difference, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
- Provide telephone and virtual support to service users, carers, and professionals.
- Triage new referrals and gather essential information to support clinical decision-making.
- Undertake comprehensive assessments using recovery-focused and strengths-based models.
- Develop and communicate Recovery Care Plans and Risk Management Plans.
- Act as the first point of contact for clients in distress, offering reassurance and solution-focused interventions.
- Liaise with internal teams and external agencies to ensure coordinated care.
- Participate in team meetings, clinical governance, and service development initiatives.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and adhere to Trust policies and professional standards.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Clinical Practice: Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with service users, delivering evidence-based interventions such as motivational interviewing and solution-focused approaches. Assess and manage risk collaboratively, including safeguarding responsibilities for adults and children.
- Communication: Handle highly complex and sensitive information, often in emotive situations, and communicate effectively with service users, carers, and professionals. Use creative strategies to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.
- Collaboration: Work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues and external agencies, including GPs, voluntary sector partners, housing providers, and safeguarding teams, to ensure holistic care.
- Professional Standards: Act as a senior member of the team, role-modelling high standards of professional behaviour. Engage in regular supervision, reflective practice, and continuous professional development.
- Service Development: Contribute to audits, quality improvement projects, and clinical governance activities to enhance service delivery.
- Flexibility: Respond to unpredictable situations and manage challenging behaviour calmly and professionally. Be prepared to travel as required and complete PMVA training to the appropriate level.
This is a rewarding opportunity for a qualified RMN or equivalent professional with experience in community mental health services and a commitment to recovery-focused care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Clinical Practice: Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with service users, delivering evidence-based interventions such as motivational interviewing and solution-focused approaches. Assess and manage risk collaboratively, including safeguarding responsibilities for adults and children.
- Communication: Handle highly complex and sensitive information, often in emotive situations, and communicate effectively with service users, carers, and professionals. Use creative strategies to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.
- Collaboration: Work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues and external agencies, including GPs, voluntary sector partners, housing providers, and safeguarding teams, to ensure holistic care.
- Professional Standards: Act as a senior member of the team, role-modelling high standards of professional behaviour. Engage in regular supervision, reflective practice, and continuous professional development.
- Service Development: Contribute to audits, quality improvement projects, and clinical governance activities to enhance service delivery.
- Flexibility: Respond to unpredictable situations and manage challenging behaviour calmly and professionally. Be prepared to travel as required and complete PMVA training to the appropriate level.
This is a rewarding opportunity for a qualified RMN or equivalent professional with experience in community mental health services and a commitment to recovery-focused care.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration with relevant professional bodyRMNEvidence of post qualifying professional development in an acute setting.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration experience in multi-disciplinary community mental health services.Experience of managing risk of clients in crisis.Experience of assessment, care-plan, development, and evaluation in conjunction with clients and carers.Experience and knowledge of working with people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Experience of mental health difficulties.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Access to regular transport.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration with relevant professional bodyRMNEvidence of post qualifying professional development in an acute setting.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration experience in multi-disciplinary community mental health services.Experience of managing risk of clients in crisis.Experience of assessment, care-plan, development, and evaluation in conjunction with clients and carers.Experience and knowledge of working with people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Experience of mental health difficulties.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Access to regular transport.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
