Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Assistant Practitioner - Urgent Care

This job is now closed

Job summary

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is seeking a motivated and compassionate Band 4 Assistant Practitioner to join our Assertive Outreach Team within CAMHS. The team provides intensive, community-based support for children and young people who are experiencing significant mental health needs and require enhanced, flexible intervention to help them stabilise and remain at home.

In this role, you will work as part of a supportive multi-disciplinary team, contributing to assessment, formulation, and brief, goal-focused interventions. You will help young people and families manage risk, increase safety, and build resilience, while supporting clinicians to deliver timely, needs-led care.

We welcome applicants who are committed to developing their clinical skills, working collaboratively, and improving outcomes for young people.

A Foundation Degree (or equivalent) in Health and Social Care is essential, as the team is currently unable to support Trainee Assistant Practitioners.

Main duties of the job

You will work directly with children, young people, and families to support assessment, safety planning, and targeted intervention. This includes contributing to observations, gathering information to inform clinical decision-making, and delivering structured sessions under the supervision of qualified clinicians.

The role involves: Supporting the assessment of young people presenting with high levels of distress or complexity Contributing to risk assessments and safety plans Delivering brief therapeutic and practical interventions as agreed with the MDT Supporting care planning and reviewing goals with young people and their families Working collaboratively with schools, social care, and wider services Maintaining accurate, timely documentation in line with CFHD standards

This is a dynamic and rewarding role where you will play a key part in helping young people stay safely in the community and avoid escalation to inpatient care.

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. 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.

Date posted

08 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0958

Job locations

C F H D

Tiverton Way

Tiverton Business Park

Tiverton

EX16 6TG

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

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
Experience that evidences an ability to tend to diversity and work in a way that promotes antidiscriminatory practice.
Experience of collaborative working in community settings, with professionals across a range of agencies in health, social care and education.
Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies as appropriate

Qualifications

Essential

Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment.
Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification
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

Desirable

Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders / Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder / Social Care.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

Able to travel and work across the area covered by the trust as requested by Line Manager

Person Specification

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
Experience that evidences an ability to tend to diversity and work in a way that promotes antidiscriminatory practice.
Experience of collaborative working in community settings, with professionals across a range of agencies in health, social care and education.
Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies as appropriate

Qualifications

Essential

Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment.
Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification
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

Desirable

Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders / Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder / Social Care.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

Able to travel and work across the area covered by the trust as requested by Line Manager

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.