Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 06 July 2025

Job summary

We are delighted to advertise an exciting opportunity for Assistant Practitioners to join the Managing Mood & Relationships (MERS) Pathway of Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD). We have opportunities available in our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) team.

This is a county-wide role suitable for individuals who already hold a Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care and are ready to apply their knowledge in a dynamic, high-impact setting. There will be a requirement to travel to our three locality bases in CFHD (Torbay, Exeter & Barnstable) and to support our skills groups that are in community bases sometimes in the late afternoon/early evening e.g. : 5-6.30pm.

The DBT Service provides long-term, intensive mental health support to young people (14-18 years) experiencing high levels of emotional and behavioural dysregulation, including self-harm. The team offers a 6-month therapeutic programme of individual therapy, groupwork and telephone coaching.

Main duties of the job

Support the assessment and delivery of therapeutic care under supervision of registered practitioners
Work collaboratively as part of the DBT team, and Skills Group
Experience in working with adolescents who have emotional & behavioural dysregulation disorders
Experience of adaptation of DBT for young people with neurodiversity, mental health & trauma.
Contribute to data collection, quality improvement and service evaluation.
Engage in activities to safeguard and support children, young people, and families
Maintaining accurate records and working to high clinical standards
Helping to prevent escalation of risk and hospital admissions through intensive support and skills teaching

As with all CFHD roles, you'll benefit from robust supervision, training, and a passionate team culture committed to the voices and needs of children, young people and families.

You will be well supported by experienced clinicians and receive regular clinical and line management supervision.

About us

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services, based on the i-Thrive Framework, in response to consultation with our service users and communities.

CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

Our children and young people say

We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Our vision is to be a successful, vibrant, partnership that benefits the communities we serve.

Date posted

19 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

1 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9369-25-0492

Job locations

South Devon Healthcare

187 Newton Road

Torquay

TQ2 7BA

Evergreen

Victoria Park Road

Exeter

EX2 4NU

Integrated Childrens Services

Fishleigh Road

Roundswell Business Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 3UD

Job description

Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families with a range of mental health difficulties. This will be achieved by:

Active involvement in the delivery of high quality, safe and compassionate mental health services as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Implementing specific assessment, review and care packages to individuals and groups within standard protocols, integrated care pathways.

Providing evidence based advice and consultancy to young people, family members/carers within standard protocols.

Organising and managing a defined caseload under distant guidance and work as lone workers where appropriate. The post holder will be accountable for their own actions within the delivery of this care.

Seeking advice and expertise of a registered practitioner when required through the use of regular managerial and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families with a range of mental health difficulties. This will be achieved by:

Active involvement in the delivery of high quality, safe and compassionate mental health services as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Implementing specific assessment, review and care packages to individuals and groups within standard protocols, integrated care pathways.

Providing evidence based advice and consultancy to young people, family members/carers within standard protocols.

Seeking advice and expertise of a registered practitioner when required through the use of regular managerial and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment
GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above) OR Level 2 Key Skills / Functional Skills in Maths and English
Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or qualification to diploma level or equivalent
Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders /Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder/Social Care.

Experience

Essential

Previous experience working in a range of different mental health care settings
Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
Working with young people with challenging behaviour and complex health needs

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of a range of Mental Health presentations and medications
An understanding of physical health problems which can impact on a persons mental health and monitoring of the same.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment
GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above) OR Level 2 Key Skills / Functional Skills in Maths and English
Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or qualification to diploma level or equivalent
Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders /Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder/Social Care.

Experience

Essential

Previous experience working in a range of different mental health care settings
Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
Working with young people with challenging behaviour and complex health needs

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of a range of Mental Health presentations and medications
An understanding of physical health problems which can impact on a persons mental health and monitoring of the same.

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.