Job summary
We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Mental Health Practitioner to join our Community Mental Health Service. The post is open to Registered Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists or Social Workers with current professional registration.
The post holder will provide assessment and evidence based psycho-social interventions to adults experiencing mental health difficulties, working with a defined caseload using a recovery focused, strengths based and collaborative approach. You will be part of a service that actively challenges traditional boundaries between primary and secondary care, working closely with Service Users, carers, and partners across the Voluntary Sector and Community Enterprise.
This is a varied and rewarding role that combines direct clinical work with opportunities for leadership, supervision and service development within a multidisciplinary community team.
Main duties of the job
- Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments and deliver evidence based psycho social interventions to service users with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.
- Manage a caseload using a recoveryfocused and strengthsbased approach, promoting autonomy, resilience and hope.
- Assess and manage risk in collaboration with service users, carers and partner agencies.
- Develop, implement and review Recovery Care Plans and Risk Management Plans.
- Contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, including providing supervision to other team members as agreed with the Team Manager.
- Work collaboratively with a wide range of partners across health, social care, voluntary and community services.
- Participate in team development, service evaluation, audit and quality improvement activity.
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
The post holder will be responsible for delivering high quality mental health care within a community setting, working autonomously while being supported by a multidisciplinary team. You will establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with service users and their families, using specialist knowledge and evidence based interventions such as recovery focused approaches, motivational interviewing and other psychosocial interventions.
You will undertake holistic assessments of mental health need, including risk assessment, safeguarding concerns and care coordination, and work proactively with individuals experiencing relapse or crisis to reduce risk and promote recovery. The role requires confident communication of complex and sensitive information to service users, carers and professionals, including during challenging or distressing situations.
As a senior practitioner, you will contribute to clinical leadership within the team, supporting colleagues through supervision, mentorship and shared decisionmaking. You may be required to support team coordination in the absence of the Team Manager, including allocation of work and liaison with partner services.
Liaison with a wide range of agencies is central to the role, including primary care, acute services, social care, housing, voluntary sector organisations and safeguarding services. Accurate and timely clinical documentation on electronic patient record systems is an essential part of the role, alongside participation in clinical governance, audit and service development.
The post holder must hold a full UK driving licence and have permanent access to their own vehicle with appropriate business insurance, as regular travel across the locality is required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for delivering high quality mental health care within a community setting, working autonomously while being supported by a multidisciplinary team. You will establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with service users and their families, using specialist knowledge and evidence based interventions such as recovery focused approaches, motivational interviewing and other psychosocial interventions.
You will undertake holistic assessments of mental health need, including risk assessment, safeguarding concerns and care coordination, and work proactively with individuals experiencing relapse or crisis to reduce risk and promote recovery. The role requires confident communication of complex and sensitive information to service users, carers and professionals, including during challenging or distressing situations.
As a senior practitioner, you will contribute to clinical leadership within the team, supporting colleagues through supervision, mentorship and shared decisionmaking. You may be required to support team coordination in the absence of the Team Manager, including allocation of work and liaison with partner services.
Liaison with a wide range of agencies is central to the role, including primary care, acute services, social care, housing, voluntary sector organisations and safeguarding services. Accurate and timely clinical documentation on electronic patient record systems is an essential part of the role, alongside participation in clinical governance, audit and service development.
The post holder must hold a full UK driving licence and have permanent access to their own vehicle with appropriate business insurance, as regular travel across the locality is required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapy QualificationCurrent registration with relevant professional bodyEvidence 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 with appropriate business insurance.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapy QualificationCurrent registration with relevant professional bodyEvidence 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 with appropriate business insurance.
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).
