Devon Partnership NHS Trust

IPP Repatriation Co-ordinator

The closing date is 11 January 2026

Job summary

Are you an experienced, committed and dynamic registered Senior Mental Health Practitioner; Social Worker, Registered Mental Nurse or Occupational Therapist who wants to use their skills to make a real difference?
Can you work effectively with people who use our services, their families, clinicians, staff and a wide range of stakeholders to deliver exceptional quality care that genuinely changes lives?
Have you ever wanted to live and work in one of the UKs most beautiful areas?

We are seeking a highly motivated and passionate professional to join our Individual Patient Placement (IPP) Directorate as an IPP Repatriation Co-ordinator. You will be responsible for undertaking comprehensive assessments, designing bespoke care packages and procuring services for some of the most vulnerable people in our care, many of whom have complex and enduring needs.

You will be skilled in liaising with independent providers and statutory and non-statutory services, working collaboratively with people who use services, their families and carers, and professionals from diverse backgrounds. Working independently, you will make informed, person-centred decisions that have a meaningful and lasting impact every single day.

Main duties of the job

We are searching for qualified and experienced mental health practitioners with significant post-registration experience, ideally within complex personality disorder, trauma-informed care, community mental health or forensic services. You will have proven experience of working in partnership across statutory and non-statutory organisations.

This role sits within the Individual Patient Placement (IPP) Directorate, based at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish. The IPP Directorate commissions high-quality, value-for-money services as close to home as possible for people with complex mental health needs and their families. The team works to prevent out-of-area placements wherever possible and to facilitate timely repatriation back to Devon when clinically appropriate, supporting people into the least restrictive environment.

You will work closely with people who use services and their care providers to plan, coordinate and deliver smooth, timely transitions from hospital settings. Applicants must be natural problem-solvers who are forward-thinking, innovative, compassionate and creative. The role requires a willingness to travel and stay across England and Wales to support effective placements and successful repatriation.

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

22 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9369-25-0998

Job locations

Plym Building, Langdon Hospital

Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Operate effectively in a flexible and demanding environment and proactively engage with key internal and external stakeholders
Communicate and Impart highly complex and sensitive information to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. (verbal, written and numerical) for example
Patients and families/carers re assessment, care planning, treatment and review where persuasive, motivational and negotiating skills may be required especially where there may be barriers to understanding and acceptance
Multi disciplinary teams to ensure the provision of consistent well-coordinated care as part of the commissioning team there will be a need to hold providers to account
Primary care teams regarding client care and treatment
External agencies also involved in the provision of care e.g. voluntary and private sector, police, social services, housing, employment etc
Service user/carer groups
Liaise with a wide range of other professionals and agencies.
Provide specialist advice and guidance through the IPP Duty service.
Deal with potentially aggressive/antagonistic situations as required particularly when managing service user and family expectations
Nurture key relationships and maintain networks internally and externally but always be ready to challenge poor practice to ensure patients receive high quality evidence based care and treatment.
Contribute to the safe and effective day to day operations of the service including the handling of clinical enquires.
Present information some of which may be contentious to patients and their families/carers.
Work and engage constructively with stakeholders on a range of business sensitive issues
Deputise for the team manager if required.
To be part of the IPP duty rota.
Partnership and cross boundary working.
Work across multiple providers within the NHS and Independent Sector to support delivery of successful outcomes for service users.
Work in collaboration with local authorities, third sector and other statutory bodies (such as MAPPA, Police, HMPPS, Ministry of Justice and CJS) in the management of effective usage of the specialised mental health services.
Work collaboratively with others and part of cross-directorate teams (including community forensic team and forensic case manager) to deliver the expected outcomes and targets of the Directorate.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Use a collaborative and influencing style of working, negotiating with others to achieve the best outcomes and embed this approach across IPP commissioned services.
Ensure safe and effective care pathways are in place to facilitate the movement of service users through specialised services, including the identification and reporting of deficits and trends within service provision by utilising judgements involving consideration of complex facts or situations which require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options to ensure the appropriateness and safety of the placement for the service user
Lead the process to identify patients ready to be repatriated back into local services or moved along their care pathway from a higher to a lower level of resource need.
To liaise with the local Community Mental Health Services to facilitate care pathways.
To provide expertise in the management of complex cases.
To have the expertise in organising comprehensive and creative packages of care for patients with complex needs.
To be a local champion for the management of individuals with complex needs at the lowest level of restriction necessary to manage their needs safely.
To identify gaps in local mental health provision in order to start to plan future services.
To ensure record keeping is kept up to date, accurate and adheres to trust standards, including information and governance regulations.
Provide clinical assurance of the quality of care provided by commissioned services and escalate any concerns through IPP processes and raise safeguarding concerns where appropriate.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Responsible for planning and co-ordinating own day to day work load in collaboration with the needs of the service users and the wider needs of the service.
Plan and organise a number of complex activities e.g. case conferences liaising and co-ordinating with other professional and with other agencies as required to meet the needs of their clients which may require adjustments
Ensure that interventions are planned in an integrated and co-ordinated manner particularly where dependent on other external agencies.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

Primary focus on this transition work and quality assurance. This will involve travelling to independent provider sites, assessing clinical progress and ongoing mental health needs, identifying treatment objectives together with the patient, and locating suitable step-down or next step placements.
Act as a champion for service users and their interests and involve them and their carers in the policy development and decision-making of the Directorate.
Maintain a caseload of appropriate clients, acting as a care co-ordinator.
Responsible for developing care packages including assessing, planning, intervention and evaluation. Ensuring active involvement of service users and their carers.
Triage referrals by assessing and advising on eligibility criteria.
Provide specialist advice to referrers/other multi-disciplinary staff in relation to the care of the client.
Participate in safeguarding children to level 3 as set out in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
Ensure all public and service user and family contact is of the highest professional standard
Uphold organisational polices and principles on the promotion of equality.
The post holder will need a comprehensive understanding of safe guarding process and raise concerns where appropriate.
Report incidents through the Trusts RMS system. Ensure in depth investigations are undertaken by the provider and appropriate mitigation actions are taken to eliminate/reduce the risk of recurring incidents.
Embed service user and public involvement within the Directorate at all levels of decision making.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Participate in programmes of audit and research within the team and implement the findings, where required e.g. annual provider review audits.
Contribute to professional clinical governance arrangements in order to ensure the quality of the service provided.
Participate in the development of Mental Health Services.
Provide clinical assurance of the quality of the care provided by specialised commissioned services.
Support the team in the assurance of specialised services compliance to applicable specifications and guidance.
Manage individual service user pathways to ensure high quality services and care planning outcomes are achieved.
Take action in respect of Safeguarding Policies and Procedures as required.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

Responsible for care of own equipment.
Where appropriate handles or processes cash or patients valuables.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

Periodically co-ordinate the activity of the team and facilitate handover meetings.
Mentor students allocated to the team.
Take a clinical lead in the absence of the team leader.
Contribute to recruiting of staff as required.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

Maintain up to date client records in a timely and accurate manner.

Responsibility for Research and Development

To provide systematic information about the needs of people with complex needs including those requiring secure accommodation, identifying gaps in service provision in order to enable planning for future local resources.
To facilitate service user and carer questionnaires.
To undertake audits as required making recommendations for improvements.

Freedom to Act

Responsible for managing own workload and act as named care coordinator.
To represent the Trust and work independently with visiting OOA hospitals.
To co-ordinate the handover of patients between services in a timely and safe manner.
Expected outcomes are defined by the Directorate, but the post holder is required to decide how this can best be achieved as defined by their caseload.
Work within general policies with a need to establish interpretation.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

Ensure that statutory training associated with the post is undertaken in a timely way.
To take responsibility for own development to ensure the highest clinical practice.
Participate in own clinical supervision and PDR.
Practice in a way that actively minimises dependency and promotes recovery.
Communicate information in a way that makes it relevant and understandable for service users and carers, working to the principles of the functions policy implementation guidelines and practice in line with the standards and values set out in them.
Aim to uphold the principles and approach of CPA, whether people are formally in CPA or not.
Work co-operatively with staff colleagues including accepting staff recent assessment of the client, if the client is transferred to them, in order to minimise the disruption to the client.
Ensure a duty of care to your patients and clients, who are entitled to receive safe and competent care. The Service User wishes, feelings, values and beliefs should be taken into consideration as well as the views of the people close to them.
Take personal accountability for your own practice. This means that you are answerable for your actions and omissions, regardless of advice or directions form another professional.
Ensure that you remain professionally competent by participating in your own and others clinical supervision.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Operate effectively in a flexible and demanding environment and proactively engage with key internal and external stakeholders
Communicate and Impart highly complex and sensitive information to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. (verbal, written and numerical) for example
Patients and families/carers re assessment, care planning, treatment and review where persuasive, motivational and negotiating skills may be required especially where there may be barriers to understanding and acceptance
Multi disciplinary teams to ensure the provision of consistent well-coordinated care as part of the commissioning team there will be a need to hold providers to account
Primary care teams regarding client care and treatment
External agencies also involved in the provision of care e.g. voluntary and private sector, police, social services, housing, employment etc
Service user/carer groups
Liaise with a wide range of other professionals and agencies.
Provide specialist advice and guidance through the IPP Duty service.
Deal with potentially aggressive/antagonistic situations as required particularly when managing service user and family expectations
Nurture key relationships and maintain networks internally and externally but always be ready to challenge poor practice to ensure patients receive high quality evidence based care and treatment.
Contribute to the safe and effective day to day operations of the service including the handling of clinical enquires.
Present information some of which may be contentious to patients and their families/carers.
Work and engage constructively with stakeholders on a range of business sensitive issues
Deputise for the team manager if required.
To be part of the IPP duty rota.
Partnership and cross boundary working.
Work across multiple providers within the NHS and Independent Sector to support delivery of successful outcomes for service users.
Work in collaboration with local authorities, third sector and other statutory bodies (such as MAPPA, Police, HMPPS, Ministry of Justice and CJS) in the management of effective usage of the specialised mental health services.
Work collaboratively with others and part of cross-directorate teams (including community forensic team and forensic case manager) to deliver the expected outcomes and targets of the Directorate.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Use a collaborative and influencing style of working, negotiating with others to achieve the best outcomes and embed this approach across IPP commissioned services.
Ensure safe and effective care pathways are in place to facilitate the movement of service users through specialised services, including the identification and reporting of deficits and trends within service provision by utilising judgements involving consideration of complex facts or situations which require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options to ensure the appropriateness and safety of the placement for the service user
Lead the process to identify patients ready to be repatriated back into local services or moved along their care pathway from a higher to a lower level of resource need.
To liaise with the local Community Mental Health Services to facilitate care pathways.
To provide expertise in the management of complex cases.
To have the expertise in organising comprehensive and creative packages of care for patients with complex needs.
To be a local champion for the management of individuals with complex needs at the lowest level of restriction necessary to manage their needs safely.
To identify gaps in local mental health provision in order to start to plan future services.
To ensure record keeping is kept up to date, accurate and adheres to trust standards, including information and governance regulations.
Provide clinical assurance of the quality of care provided by commissioned services and escalate any concerns through IPP processes and raise safeguarding concerns where appropriate.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Responsible for planning and co-ordinating own day to day work load in collaboration with the needs of the service users and the wider needs of the service.
Plan and organise a number of complex activities e.g. case conferences liaising and co-ordinating with other professional and with other agencies as required to meet the needs of their clients which may require adjustments
Ensure that interventions are planned in an integrated and co-ordinated manner particularly where dependent on other external agencies.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

Primary focus on this transition work and quality assurance. This will involve travelling to independent provider sites, assessing clinical progress and ongoing mental health needs, identifying treatment objectives together with the patient, and locating suitable step-down or next step placements.
Act as a champion for service users and their interests and involve them and their carers in the policy development and decision-making of the Directorate.
Maintain a caseload of appropriate clients, acting as a care co-ordinator.
Responsible for developing care packages including assessing, planning, intervention and evaluation. Ensuring active involvement of service users and their carers.
Triage referrals by assessing and advising on eligibility criteria.
Provide specialist advice to referrers/other multi-disciplinary staff in relation to the care of the client.
Participate in safeguarding children to level 3 as set out in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
Ensure all public and service user and family contact is of the highest professional standard
Uphold organisational polices and principles on the promotion of equality.
The post holder will need a comprehensive understanding of safe guarding process and raise concerns where appropriate.
Report incidents through the Trusts RMS system. Ensure in depth investigations are undertaken by the provider and appropriate mitigation actions are taken to eliminate/reduce the risk of recurring incidents.
Embed service user and public involvement within the Directorate at all levels of decision making.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Participate in programmes of audit and research within the team and implement the findings, where required e.g. annual provider review audits.
Contribute to professional clinical governance arrangements in order to ensure the quality of the service provided.
Participate in the development of Mental Health Services.
Provide clinical assurance of the quality of the care provided by specialised commissioned services.
Support the team in the assurance of specialised services compliance to applicable specifications and guidance.
Manage individual service user pathways to ensure high quality services and care planning outcomes are achieved.
Take action in respect of Safeguarding Policies and Procedures as required.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

Responsible for care of own equipment.
Where appropriate handles or processes cash or patients valuables.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

Periodically co-ordinate the activity of the team and facilitate handover meetings.
Mentor students allocated to the team.
Take a clinical lead in the absence of the team leader.
Contribute to recruiting of staff as required.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

Maintain up to date client records in a timely and accurate manner.

Responsibility for Research and Development

To provide systematic information about the needs of people with complex needs including those requiring secure accommodation, identifying gaps in service provision in order to enable planning for future local resources.
To facilitate service user and carer questionnaires.
To undertake audits as required making recommendations for improvements.

Freedom to Act

Responsible for managing own workload and act as named care coordinator.
To represent the Trust and work independently with visiting OOA hospitals.
To co-ordinate the handover of patients between services in a timely and safe manner.
Expected outcomes are defined by the Directorate, but the post holder is required to decide how this can best be achieved as defined by their caseload.
Work within general policies with a need to establish interpretation.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

Ensure that statutory training associated with the post is undertaken in a timely way.
To take responsibility for own development to ensure the highest clinical practice.
Participate in own clinical supervision and PDR.
Practice in a way that actively minimises dependency and promotes recovery.
Communicate information in a way that makes it relevant and understandable for service users and carers, working to the principles of the functions policy implementation guidelines and practice in line with the standards and values set out in them.
Aim to uphold the principles and approach of CPA, whether people are formally in CPA or not.
Work co-operatively with staff colleagues including accepting staff recent assessment of the client, if the client is transferred to them, in order to minimise the disruption to the client.
Ensure a duty of care to your patients and clients, who are entitled to receive safe and competent care. The Service User wishes, feelings, values and beliefs should be taken into consideration as well as the views of the people close to them.
Take personal accountability for your own practice. This means that you are answerable for your actions and omissions, regardless of advice or directions form another professional.
Ensure that you remain professionally competent by participating in your own and others clinical supervision.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, CQSW/ASW, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, Chartered Clinical Psychologist.
Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in a specialist area.

Desirable

Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism.
Clinical Supervision qualification.
Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.

Knowledge

Essential

Detailed knowledge of legal issues pertaining to the specialist service, including MHA 1983, after care under supervision, sex offender legislation, probation orders and life licence, Ministry of Justice procedures and child protection legislation
Extensive knowledge of one or more specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training, plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent e.g. Personality Disorder / Psychosis with a dual diagnosis / Adult Secure / Older Peoples Mental Health / Deaf services / Learning Disability and or Autism / Other specialist conditions
Understanding of recovery principles in Mental Health

Desirable

CPA Process.
Awareness of community structures and social care options and processes

Experience

Essential

Significant years post qualifying with leadership experience at Band 6 or above.
Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Participation in user involvement in services.
Hold current accreditation with relevant professional body.

Desirable

Providing clinical supervision.
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Essential

Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information; negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues.
Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems where understanding may be challenging.
Able to produce well written reports.
Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Essential

Able to plan creatively to maximise effectiveness of care plans.
Able to work independently and as part of a team must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities to others.
Able to work under direction within limited and often changing timescales.
Demonstrate capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resources requirements accordingly.
Must be able to use own initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

Essential

Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
Ability to manage risk.
Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of actions with support from senior team members.
Strategic thinking ability to anticipate problems before they arise.

Other

Essential

Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
Computer literacy.
Excellent clinical assessment skills.
Ability to manage change in a positive manner.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, CQSW/ASW, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, Chartered Clinical Psychologist.
Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in a specialist area.

Desirable

Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism.
Clinical Supervision qualification.
Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.

Knowledge

Essential

Detailed knowledge of legal issues pertaining to the specialist service, including MHA 1983, after care under supervision, sex offender legislation, probation orders and life licence, Ministry of Justice procedures and child protection legislation
Extensive knowledge of one or more specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training, plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent e.g. Personality Disorder / Psychosis with a dual diagnosis / Adult Secure / Older Peoples Mental Health / Deaf services / Learning Disability and or Autism / Other specialist conditions
Understanding of recovery principles in Mental Health

Desirable

CPA Process.
Awareness of community structures and social care options and processes

Experience

Essential

Significant years post qualifying with leadership experience at Band 6 or above.
Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Participation in user involvement in services.
Hold current accreditation with relevant professional body.

Desirable

Providing clinical supervision.
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Essential

Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information; negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues.
Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems where understanding may be challenging.
Able to produce well written reports.
Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Essential

Able to plan creatively to maximise effectiveness of care plans.
Able to work independently and as part of a team must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities to others.
Able to work under direction within limited and often changing timescales.
Demonstrate capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resources requirements accordingly.
Must be able to use own initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

Essential

Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
Ability to manage risk.
Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of actions with support from senior team members.
Strategic thinking ability to anticipate problems before they arise.

Other

Essential

Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
Computer literacy.
Excellent clinical assessment skills.
Ability to manage change in a positive manner.

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.