Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 07 October 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated mental health practitioner to join our thriving team at Knowsley CYPMHS Team.

The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and who is able to work well autonomously and as part of a team.

We care for children and young people with varying mental health issues, providing treatment and therapy to them and their families/carers using the think family approach.

We work towards the THRIVE model of care and work very closely with our partners across the borough so excellent communication skills and organisation is essential in this role. Although we would prefer someone with experience, Mersey care offers a fantastic preceptorship programme which can help newly qualified clinicians develop their experience and skills effectively within the first 12 months.

Main duties of the job

Hold a caseload of CYP to coordinate their care and treatment

Assess new cases to ascertain suitabilityAct as part of an MDT to deliver evidence based treatments and therapies

Liaise with outside agencies to co-ordinate care

Act as an advocate for children and young people in your care ensuring the voice of the child is heard

Attend meetings and events to develop experience and skills as well as share relevant information

To attend and assist with training

To ensure safeguarding is considered at every opportunity and follow policies and procedures in relation to any safeguarding concerns

To ensure policies and procedures of Mersey Care are followed at all times to ensure safe delivery of care.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Details

Date posted

01 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

350-CC7507562

Job locations

Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre

Dragon Lane

Prescot

L35 5DR


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To coordinate the care of service users carrying out assessment planning, implementation and evaluation of their care under the guidelines of the care programme approach and under the supervision of the line manager.

To ensure that the service users care plan is developed to meet the assessed need of the individual and that unqualified staff are delivering care as laid down in the care plan.

To liaise with family members, carers and significant others when completing the assessment and developing a care plan.

To develop a risk management plan for service users, taking note of the contributions from other members of the team. Ensure that all significant people are aware of the risk management plan and are actioning it appropriately.

To direct unqualified staff in order to ensure delivery of a high standard of care to service users.

To participate in setting standards for care based on sound evidence based and research findings.

To participate in the systematic monitoring and evaluation of service users for with guidance from a supervisor.

To communicate with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure the communication of any relevant information which has an impact on the service users care.

To use verbal and non-verbal communication skills gained through training or experience to impart sensitive information. 10. To check understanding of information where there are often barriers to effective communications due to distress, psychiatric symptoms or where English is not the first language.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To coordinate the care of service users carrying out assessment planning, implementation and evaluation of their care under the guidelines of the care programme approach and under the supervision of the line manager.

To ensure that the service users care plan is developed to meet the assessed need of the individual and that unqualified staff are delivering care as laid down in the care plan.

To liaise with family members, carers and significant others when completing the assessment and developing a care plan.

To develop a risk management plan for service users, taking note of the contributions from other members of the team. Ensure that all significant people are aware of the risk management plan and are actioning it appropriately.

To direct unqualified staff in order to ensure delivery of a high standard of care to service users.

To participate in setting standards for care based on sound evidence based and research findings.

To participate in the systematic monitoring and evaluation of service users for with guidance from a supervisor.

To communicate with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure the communication of any relevant information which has an impact on the service users care.

To use verbal and non-verbal communication skills gained through training or experience to impart sensitive information. 10. To check understanding of information where there are often barriers to effective communications due to distress, psychiatric symptoms or where English is not the first language.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Appropriate professional qualification RMN AHP Social Worker

Desirable

  • Degree
  • Evidence of post registration study
  • Approved training in CYPMHS

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with a range of people with mental health problems
  • Effective Care Co-ordination
  • Care Planning and evaluation
  • Quality and clinical audit
  • Health & Safety/Risk Management Mental Health Act
  • Demonstrate knowledge in the concepts of mentorship, preceptorship and supervision

Desirable

  • Experience in working in multi disciplinary teams
  • Experience of working with young people
  • Appreciate the process of standard setting and audit

Values

Essential

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High Professional Standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging Leadership Style
  • Strong Customer Service belief
  • Transparency and Honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change Oriented

Other

Essential

  • Access to transport
  • Ongoing post registration development

Skills

Essential

  • Able to communicate effectively
  • Possess good listening and negotiation skills
  • Ability to work as a member of a team
  • Professional attitude
  • Flexibility
  • Possess a caring, compassionate and empathic attitude
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Appropriate professional qualification RMN AHP Social Worker

Desirable

  • Degree
  • Evidence of post registration study
  • Approved training in CYPMHS

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with a range of people with mental health problems
  • Effective Care Co-ordination
  • Care Planning and evaluation
  • Quality and clinical audit
  • Health & Safety/Risk Management Mental Health Act
  • Demonstrate knowledge in the concepts of mentorship, preceptorship and supervision

Desirable

  • Experience in working in multi disciplinary teams
  • Experience of working with young people
  • Appreciate the process of standard setting and audit

Values

Essential

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High Professional Standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging Leadership Style
  • Strong Customer Service belief
  • Transparency and Honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change Oriented

Other

Essential

  • Access to transport
  • Ongoing post registration development

Skills

Essential

  • Able to communicate effectively
  • Possess good listening and negotiation skills
  • Ability to work as a member of a team
  • Professional attitude
  • Flexibility
  • Possess a caring, compassionate and empathic attitude

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

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre

Dragon Lane

Prescot

L35 5DR


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre

Dragon Lane

Prescot

L35 5DR


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Team Manager

Alana Waring

Alana.waring3@merseycare.nhs.uk

01513518610

Details

Date posted

01 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

350-CC7507562

Job locations

Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre

Dragon Lane

Prescot

L35 5DR


Supporting documents

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