Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Community Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 03 March 2026

Job summary

The post holder will work as a member of the Neighbourhood Team in Older Persons' Mental Health providing a high quality, comprehensive mental health service for older people in South Somerset with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.

The post holder will be personally responsible and professionally accountable for a caseload within the community working with individuals and their significant others who have multiple and complex needs. Acting as a key member of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will provide assessment, psycho-social, evidence-based interventions using a collaborative recovery approach and will be skilled at positive risk management.

Main duties of the job

The Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) for older people work with adults aged 65 and over who are experiencing moderate or severe mental illness. The CMHT's assess, treat, monitor, and support patients and their families predominately in their own homes and, where necessary, can refer to other teams such as the Intensive Dementia Support Service (IDSS) or Home Treatment Team. They can also arrange admissions to hospital when necessary. The CMHT's also provide an 'in-reach service', providing specialist support and assessments for patients' admitted to Community Hospitals.The CMHT'S consist of Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Support, Time & Recovery Workers, Assistant Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, and administration support. The CMHT's are also part of a bigger team known as the Integrated Team which bring together CMHT's, District Nursing Teams and Integrated Rehabilitation Teams.

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.

Details

Date posted

17 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

184-OL-BL-4103

Job locations

Bracken House

Crewkerne Road

Chard

Somerset

TA20 1YA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Acting as a key member of the multi-disciplinary team, the post holder will provide assessment, psychosocial, evidence-based interventions using a collaborative, recovery approach and will be skilled at positive risk management. The post holder will contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, providing supervision for other team members, as agreed with the Team Manager, and participate in team and service development and evaluation.

The post holder will provide a high standard of care and treatment for patients and work with other members of the team and other agencies to best meet the patients' health and social needs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Acting as a key member of the multi-disciplinary team, the post holder will provide assessment, psychosocial, evidence-based interventions using a collaborative, recovery approach and will be skilled at positive risk management. The post holder will contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, providing supervision for other team members, as agreed with the Team Manager, and participate in team and service development and evaluation.

The post holder will provide a high standard of care and treatment for patients and work with other members of the team and other agencies to best meet the patients' health and social needs.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current registration with relevant professional body i.e. NMC/HCPCRelevant degree or equivalent experienceEvidence of continuous professional developmentExperience of supervision and appraisal

Desirable

  • Experience of mentorship role

Experience

Essential

  • Experience as a Band 5 or equivalent Mental Health ProfessionalExperience of care co-ordinationExperience of working with families, careers, and significant othersProven leadership skillsRelevant experience in a community settingExperience of Recovery focused practice

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Please see the attached Job Description for additional Criteria
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current registration with relevant professional body i.e. NMC/HCPCRelevant degree or equivalent experienceEvidence of continuous professional developmentExperience of supervision and appraisal

Desirable

  • Experience of mentorship role

Experience

Essential

  • Experience as a Band 5 or equivalent Mental Health ProfessionalExperience of care co-ordinationExperience of working with families, careers, and significant othersProven leadership skillsRelevant experience in a community settingExperience of Recovery focused practice

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Please see the attached Job Description for additional Criteria

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

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bracken House

Crewkerne Road

Chard

Somerset

TA20 1YA


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bracken House

Crewkerne Road

Chard

Somerset

TA20 1YA


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Nicola Edmunds

Nicola.edmunds@somersetft.nhs.uk

07443447569

Details

Date posted

17 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

184-OL-BL-4103

Job locations

Bracken House

Crewkerne Road

Chard

Somerset

TA20 1YA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)