South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Community Practitioner

The closing date is 30 September 2025

Job summary

This post is open to current band 5s who wish to broaden their experience and further develop their assessment and care planning skills in a community setting. There will be an expectation for the post holder to have completed, be in the process of completing, or be willing to attend the Trust Preceptorship.

The Assessment & Liaison Team provides a service for people aged 18-65 who live in the Borough of Croydon. We are a short-term service who provides mental health assessment to service users who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties within the community. We also provide advice on the best treatment and care options available on mental health illnesses such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, or personality disorder.

We work with a team of health and social care professionals including nurses, doctors, social workers and psychologists. We also work closely with service users, their carers, local organisations and GPs.

The Croydon Assessment and Liaison team is made up of three teams (North, South, and Central) and is situated at Jeanette Wallace House, Croydon. The team generally works with individuals for up to 12 weeks providing a holistic package of care in collaboration with local care networks.

Main duties of the job

To oversee and provide assessment, planning, of care to a group of service users within Croydon Assessment and Liaison team

Ensuring records associated with this process are maintained.

To work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and across other agencies.

To provide a high quality of care to individuals with complex bio psychosocial needs.

The post holder will carry out procedures to a standard that ensures safe and effective care, and complies with their relevant professional code of conduct.

There will be an expectation that the post holder will facilitate user involvement in all aspects of service delivery.

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Details

Date posted

16 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£35,763 to £43,466 a year Pro rata inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NUR-7404025-LF

Job locations

Jeanette Wallace House

Croydon

CR0 1ER


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide assessment and planning of care to a group of service users within Croydon Assessment and Liaison team. Ensuring records associated with this process are maintained.

To work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and across other agencies.

To provide a high quality of care to individuals with complex bio psychosocial needs.

The post holder will carry out procedures to a standard that ensures safe and effective care, and complies with their relevant professional code of conduct.

We are looking for a motivated and dynamic Nurse / Occupational Therapist or Social Worker to be part of our front-line team. You will work with senior nurse practitioners within a GP clustered team delivering an enhanced liaison approach using an engagement and stabilisation model.

This involves liaising with primary care, completing baseline mental health assessments, crisis management supporting individuals to identify and understand their mental health difficulties and working out a joint treatment plan that will support them through the 12 weeks process, getting them the right treatment and care as soon as possible.

Excellent assessment skills are essential including an interest in working with mood anxiety and personality service users within a highly skilled team.

We offer peer, group and 1-1 supervision including on-going training opportunities within the PDP structure.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide assessment and planning of care to a group of service users within Croydon Assessment and Liaison team. Ensuring records associated with this process are maintained.

To work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and across other agencies.

To provide a high quality of care to individuals with complex bio psychosocial needs.

The post holder will carry out procedures to a standard that ensures safe and effective care, and complies with their relevant professional code of conduct.

We are looking for a motivated and dynamic Nurse / Occupational Therapist or Social Worker to be part of our front-line team. You will work with senior nurse practitioners within a GP clustered team delivering an enhanced liaison approach using an engagement and stabilisation model.

This involves liaising with primary care, completing baseline mental health assessments, crisis management supporting individuals to identify and understand their mental health difficulties and working out a joint treatment plan that will support them through the 12 weeks process, getting them the right treatment and care as soon as possible.

Excellent assessment skills are essential including an interest in working with mood anxiety and personality service users within a highly skilled team.

We offer peer, group and 1-1 supervision including on-going training opportunities within the PDP structure.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health) or other professional registration e.g. Social Work and Occupational Therapy
  • Preceptorship course (or other relevant teaching/assessment course).

Desirable

  • Diploma/Degree Course. A.- Mentorship Training.

Experience

Essential

  • Ability to assess formulate and plan care
  • An ability to develop therapeutic relationships with service users, identifying their care needs
  • Experience of working in community mental health settings (i.e. Home Treatment Team, CMHT) or acute inpatient settings
  • Experience in managing safeguarding issues

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an MDT setting
  • Experience of managing a caseload.

Knowledge / Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • A knowledge and understanding of the needs of people with mental health problems
  • Current up to date knowledge of relevant legislation.
  • Awareness of bio-psycho-social assessments and the safe and effective management of risk
  • Skilled in the communication of sensitive issues
  • Skilled in the assessment and monitoring of common physical health problems and able to deliver appropriate care

Desirable

  • Knowledge of wider local organisations to support recovery plans for service users Ability to role model, reflect and provide evidence of conflict resolution

Personal attributes

Essential

  • Recognition of own limitations, strengths and weaknesses and an ability to seek advice when necessary

Desirable

  • Ability to use computerised information and communication systems
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health) or other professional registration e.g. Social Work and Occupational Therapy
  • Preceptorship course (or other relevant teaching/assessment course).

Desirable

  • Diploma/Degree Course. A.- Mentorship Training.

Experience

Essential

  • Ability to assess formulate and plan care
  • An ability to develop therapeutic relationships with service users, identifying their care needs
  • Experience of working in community mental health settings (i.e. Home Treatment Team, CMHT) or acute inpatient settings
  • Experience in managing safeguarding issues

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an MDT setting
  • Experience of managing a caseload.

Knowledge / Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • A knowledge and understanding of the needs of people with mental health problems
  • Current up to date knowledge of relevant legislation.
  • Awareness of bio-psycho-social assessments and the safe and effective management of risk
  • Skilled in the communication of sensitive issues
  • Skilled in the assessment and monitoring of common physical health problems and able to deliver appropriate care

Desirable

  • Knowledge of wider local organisations to support recovery plans for service users Ability to role model, reflect and provide evidence of conflict resolution

Personal attributes

Essential

  • Recognition of own limitations, strengths and weaknesses and an ability to seek advice when necessary

Desirable

  • Ability to use computerised information and communication systems

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Jeanette Wallace House

Croydon

CR0 1ER


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Jeanette Wallace House

Croydon

CR0 1ER


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Manager

Patricia Phillip

patricia.phillip@slam.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

16 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£35,763 to £43,466 a year Pro rata inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NUR-7404025-LF

Job locations

Jeanette Wallace House

Croydon

CR0 1ER


Supporting documents

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