Job summary
Are you ready for a unique and challenging opportunity in Acute Mental Health Services?
The Mental Health Single Point of Access (MH SPA) is seeking Band 6Crisis Care Practitioners to join our dynamic team in Ealing. This role offers a blend of telephone and face-to-face patient interaction across the MH SPA and NHS111, set in a fast-paced crisis care environment.
As part of the MH SPA, you'll be pioneering service delivery innovations and providing crucial support to a large community.
Our team is diverse, motivated, and deeply committed to making a tangible difference in mental health care. Here, you'll gain frontline experience in communitymental health, enhancing your skills to meet a wide range of clinical needs.
We value our staff's expertise and are dedicated to their professional growth
Main duties of the job
As a Crisis Care Practitioner, your primary responsibility will be to assistindividuals concerned about mental health, whether their own or others',particularly in high-risk situations.
You'll assess those in mental health crisis, assess risk and develop action plans. Collaborating closely with Mental Health Advisors and Telecoaches, you'll ensure cohesive responses and maintain detailed case records.
Your role includes responding to calls for mental health support or information, rapidly assessing urgent needs, and conducting in-depth face-to-faceassessments for at-risk individuals. This will involve liaising with various groups, including police, ambulance services, and mental health providers, to ensure well coordinated care.
Additionally, you'll contribute to refining crisis care services and developing effective care pathways. You'll also offer guidance and mentorship to junior staffand manage referrals efficiently to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
This position operates on a 24 hour rota system to provide continuous support, demanding high motivation, adaptability, and effective communication across a multi-professional team
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant professional qualification, e.g. Nurse (RMN/RGN/RNLD), Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language Therapist, Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Counsellor
- Current registration with relevant professional body (e.g. NMC, HCPC, SWE, BACP, UKCP, NCPS, BPS)
- Educated to degree level standard plus postgraduate diploma or equivalent level of experience
- Specialist knowledge of mental health in relation to crisis, including assessment and management of risk
- Demonstrable clinical knowledge and experience of mental health, including triage, assessment and support for individuals with complex needs
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development within a mental health setting
- Understanding of the barriers and challenges faced by people with serious mental health issues
Desirable
- Degree in a health-related subject
- Qualification in psychosocial interventions in mental health
- KUF training
- Additional training in brief interventions for people in crisis or emotional distress
- Knowledge of local services available to support people in crisis
- Full UK driving licence
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing clinical support to people in mental health crisis or acute emotional distress
- Experience of carrying out crisis mental health assessments and risk formulations
- Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative in pressured environments
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
- Experience of prioritising tasks in a busy clinical environment
- Experience of receiving and engaging in clinical supervision
Desirable
- Experience in psychiatric liaison or home treatment services
- Experience supervising or mentoring staff and/or students
- Experience facilitating wellbeing sessions with colleagues or service users
- Experience of working to agreed targets and demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of working with people across the lifespan
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential
- High standard of written and spoken English
- Excellent telephone manner and ability to engage empathetically in high-risk or emotive situations
- Knowledge of relevant mental health law (MHA, MCA)
- Competence in structured risk assessment and crisis safety planning
- Strong and adaptable communication skills (written and verbal)
- IT literacy, including MS Office and electronic health records
- High level of analytical and judgement skills
- Ability to recognise own wellbeing needs and maintain resilience
- Ability to work without direct supervision
Desirable
- Ability to speak another community language
- Ability to work effectively with interpreters
- Knowledge of RiO or other NHS electronic record systems
- Knowledge of outcome measures and use in audit
- Knowledge of different mental health models and evidence-based psychosocial interventions
- Ability to appropriately challenge and resolve conflict
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure in high-risk situations
- Flexible and positive approach to shift work, including nights and weekends
- Empathy and ability to contain distress while maintaining professional boundaries
- Proactive, reflective, and self-aware approach to practice
- Ability to manage potentially distressing or traumatic situations
Desirable
- Evidence of supporting others in their development
- Evidence of self-development
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Availability to work a shift rota covering 7 days a week 365 days a year
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant professional qualification, e.g. Nurse (RMN/RGN/RNLD), Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language Therapist, Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Counsellor
- Current registration with relevant professional body (e.g. NMC, HCPC, SWE, BACP, UKCP, NCPS, BPS)
- Educated to degree level standard plus postgraduate diploma or equivalent level of experience
- Specialist knowledge of mental health in relation to crisis, including assessment and management of risk
- Demonstrable clinical knowledge and experience of mental health, including triage, assessment and support for individuals with complex needs
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development within a mental health setting
- Understanding of the barriers and challenges faced by people with serious mental health issues
Desirable
- Degree in a health-related subject
- Qualification in psychosocial interventions in mental health
- KUF training
- Additional training in brief interventions for people in crisis or emotional distress
- Knowledge of local services available to support people in crisis
- Full UK driving licence
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing clinical support to people in mental health crisis or acute emotional distress
- Experience of carrying out crisis mental health assessments and risk formulations
- Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative in pressured environments
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
- Experience of prioritising tasks in a busy clinical environment
- Experience of receiving and engaging in clinical supervision
Desirable
- Experience in psychiatric liaison or home treatment services
- Experience supervising or mentoring staff and/or students
- Experience facilitating wellbeing sessions with colleagues or service users
- Experience of working to agreed targets and demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of working with people across the lifespan
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential
- High standard of written and spoken English
- Excellent telephone manner and ability to engage empathetically in high-risk or emotive situations
- Knowledge of relevant mental health law (MHA, MCA)
- Competence in structured risk assessment and crisis safety planning
- Strong and adaptable communication skills (written and verbal)
- IT literacy, including MS Office and electronic health records
- High level of analytical and judgement skills
- Ability to recognise own wellbeing needs and maintain resilience
- Ability to work without direct supervision
Desirable
- Ability to speak another community language
- Ability to work effectively with interpreters
- Knowledge of RiO or other NHS electronic record systems
- Knowledge of outcome measures and use in audit
- Knowledge of different mental health models and evidence-based psychosocial interventions
- Ability to appropriately challenge and resolve conflict
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure in high-risk situations
- Flexible and positive approach to shift work, including nights and weekends
- Empathy and ability to contain distress while maintaining professional boundaries
- Proactive, reflective, and self-aware approach to practice
- Ability to manage potentially distressing or traumatic situations
Desirable
- Evidence of supporting others in their development
- Evidence of self-development
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Availability to work a shift rota covering 7 days a week 365 days a year
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).
