Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Community Practice Lead

The closing date is 17 July 2025

Job summary

Are you someone looking for a career in one of the UK's most respected mental health and learning disability trusts

Would you like to be part of a dedicated leadership team who are committed to the positive development of community mental health services for people living in Exeter

Are you looking for a better work/life balance with no weekend working?

We are looking for a skilled and highly motivated Practice Lead to join the Exeter Community Mental Health teams. This is a fulltime post for 6 months fixed term contract.

The service is embarked on a challenging but exciting journey with the implementation of the Community Mental Health Framework. The successful applicant will be an innovative and compassionate clinical leader, who is motivated to support the teams to deliver individualised, person-centred care and will make a significant contribution to service development of the Exeter City Community Team.

You will join a rich multi-disciplinary team which includes Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Peer Support Workers, Clinical Associate Psychologists and Community Support Workers. We are also forming closer working relationships with colleagues in Primary Care and the Voluntary Sector.

We welcome you getting in touch to ask questions about the role and the service. It is also possible to visit the teams, if you would find this helpful.

Main duties of the job

The Community Practice Lead is responsible for ensuring compliance with quality & safety standards within their assigned clinical pathways / teams. They will ensure that all individuals receiving care and treatment from DPT services do so in line with Trust strategic objectives (safe, timely, personalised, sustainable and recovery focused) and are safeguarded from any harm.

Workforce planning, audit, compliance with CQC standards, serious untoward incidents, complaints and compliments and associated learning, and clinical practice education are the key responsibilities of this role. The post holder will ensure clinicians work within DPT policy and practice standards, and that they adhere to professional registration requirements.

The post holder will be an effective role model for clinical excellence across their assigned clinical pathway. They will demonstrate visible leadership and take responsibility for ensuring a therapeutic environment.

The post holder will be required to undertake regular clinical work which will be subject to an agreed job plan, including leading Safeguarding enquiries when required.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

03 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0472

Job locations

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Communication Skills
Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with large groups who may be antagonistic.
Able to produce well written reports.
Ability to communicate complex information across multi-agency
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
Ability to manage risk.
Planning & Organising Skills
Supervisory skills.
Negotiation skills.
Ability to manage own time and that of the teams.
Ability to work flexibly.
Physical Skills
Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
Computer literacy.
Other
Excellent clinical assessment skills.
Ability to manage change in a positive manner.

Experience

Essential

Extensive experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
Substantial experience of working at a senior clinical level.
Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Providing clinical supervision and managing staff.
Experience of assessing and managing complex risk / safety for both individuals and teams
Ability to assess and co-ordinate care that includes physical health presentations

Desirable

Resource management.
Setting up or working within a new service

Qualifications

Essential

A professional mental health qualification to degree level or equivalent

Desirable

Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism
Training in specific therapeutic skills that facilitate the care pathway e.g. Non-medical prescribing, CBT, DBT
Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff

Person Specification

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Communication Skills
Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with large groups who may be antagonistic.
Able to produce well written reports.
Ability to communicate complex information across multi-agency
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
Ability to manage risk.
Planning & Organising Skills
Supervisory skills.
Negotiation skills.
Ability to manage own time and that of the teams.
Ability to work flexibly.
Physical Skills
Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
Computer literacy.
Other
Excellent clinical assessment skills.
Ability to manage change in a positive manner.

Experience

Essential

Extensive experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
Substantial experience of working at a senior clinical level.
Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Providing clinical supervision and managing staff.
Experience of assessing and managing complex risk / safety for both individuals and teams
Ability to assess and co-ordinate care that includes physical health presentations

Desirable

Resource management.
Setting up or working within a new service

Qualifications

Essential

A professional mental health qualification to degree level or equivalent

Desirable

Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism
Training in specific therapeutic skills that facilitate the care pathway e.g. Non-medical prescribing, CBT, DBT
Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff

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.