Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Mental Health Practitioner - Urgent Care

The closing date is 21 September 2025

Job summary

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is excited to advertise for two Band 5 Mental Health Practitioners to join our Crisis Service, part of the Urgent Care Pathway. One post is based in our South & Torbay team, and one in our East Devon team.

The Crisis Service provides rapid mental health assessment and brief intervention for children and young people experiencing acute emotional distress. We work to reduce risk, prevent hospital admissions, and support young people to stay safely in their communities, offering trauma-informed, collaborative care at a time of greatest need.

The service operates 8am to 10pm, seven days a week, with flexible rota-based working to support timely and responsive care.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner in the Crisis Service, you will:

Undertake timely mental health assessments for children and young people presenting in crisis.
Deliver short-term, evidence-based interventions to reduce distress and risk.
Work collaboratively with families, schools, social care, and other health professionals to create safe and effective care plans.

This role offers excellent supervision, ongoing development, and the chance to build specialist skills in youth crisis care and trauma-informed practice. Whether you are newly qualified or experienced, we would love to hear from you.

About us

Successful applicants will be employed by Devon Partnership Trust (https://jobs.dpt.nhs.uk/locations/working-here )

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 which are provided by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. 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.

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.

Date posted

01 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0712

Job locations

South Devon Healthcare

Evergreen

Victoria Park Road

Exeter

EX2 4NU

Job description

Job responsibilities

Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.

Our approach is rooted in evidence-based practices and regular outcome assessments. We emphasise a strength-based methodology, promoting collaborative work with people. This role centers on managing risk and evaluating mental health presentations in the community. You will be expected to respond to both urgent and routine needs, whether planned or unforeseen. Flexibility is key, as you will work across various clinical, community, and home-based settings to meet the specific requirements of each child.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent e.g. Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy.
Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body, e.g. NMC, HCPC, Social Work England.
Q3 It will be an essential requirement for newly qualified social workers to demonstrate that they have completed The Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) before commencing in post or there will be a requirement to complete this within the first 12 months of employment with the Trust.
Evidence of relevant continuing professional development

Experience

Essential

Post graduate experience working within mental health environments or willingness to complete the DPT preceptorship programme

Desirable

Experience managing a caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems
Demonstrates sound theoretical knowledge of children and young people mental health practice
Working within a community setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent e.g. Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy.
Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body, e.g. NMC, HCPC, Social Work England.
Q3 It will be an essential requirement for newly qualified social workers to demonstrate that they have completed The Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) before commencing in post or there will be a requirement to complete this within the first 12 months of employment with the Trust.
Evidence of relevant continuing professional development

Experience

Essential

Post graduate experience working within mental health environments or willingness to complete the DPT preceptorship programme

Desirable

Experience managing a caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems
Demonstrates sound theoretical knowledge of children and young people mental health practice
Working within a community setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

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.