Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and skilled mental health professional to join our Community Mental Health Team and make a real difference in the lives of people with complex mental health needs.
In this pivotal role, you'll be at the heart of our service, leading on the duty function - completing new assessments, responding to urgent referrals and supporting individuals already open to the team. Every day will bring new challenges and opportunities to use your clinical expertise, creativity and problem solving skills to deliver outstanding care.
You'll work closely with a supportive and experienced multi-disciplinary team who share your commitment to recovery-focused and person-centred care. This is an opportunity to contribute to a service that values collaboration, innovation and compassion where professional skills truly make a difference.
If you're qualified and have experience working with people with complex mental health presentations, we'd love to hear from you.
Shortlisting Date 12th November 2025
Main duties of the job
The postholder will primarily undertake the duty function, which includes completing new assessments and responding to the immediate needs of individuals already open to the Community Mental Health Team.
The successful candidate must be professionally qualified (e.g. Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist) and have demonstratable experience of working with people presenting with complex mental health needs. They will be expected to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, exercising sound clinical judgement and maintain a person centred, recovery focused approach to care.
Key responsibilities include:
- Triaging and assessing referrals.
- Collaboratively identifying and managing risk.
- Providing timely and appropriate support / interventions to service users experiencing crisis.
- Developing positive working relationships with service users, carers, general practitioners, third sector partners and members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Ensuring that clear channels of communication are established and maintained with clients, carers, GPs, Social Services and other partners.
- To promote and identify areas requiring development within the CMHT in the Cheshire East area and to take a lead role in the development of services in conjunction with the Team Operations Manager, Head of Clinical Services and other professionals.
About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to diploma/degree level and registered with the appropriate professional body
- Professional knowledge acquired through a relevant degree plus relevant experience for working with complex cases
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development
- NVQ A 1 qualification
- Relevant mentorship qualification as required by governing body
- Specialist practitioner qualification (SPQ)
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- In-depth knowledge and experience of working within the recovery focused philosophy framework
- Knowledge of delivering individual service user focused specialist assessments
- Knowledge of evidence based interventions which are measurable and which promote the service users journey along the recovery pathway.
- An in-depth knowledge of delivering psychosocial interventions (PSI)
- Knowledge and understanding of physical health needs
- Professional knowledge acquired through a relevant degree plus relevant experience for working in the community
- Highly developed accurate physical skills and be able to manipulate fine tools and materials
- Knowledge of developing specialist programmes of care, care packages
- Knowledge of providing specialised advice in relation to care
- Knowledge of recording personally generated information
- Knowledge of working closely with commissioners and care providers
Desirable
- Knowledge of legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
- Experience of undertaking surveys or audits necessary to own work
- Experience of undertaking research and development activity and clinical trials
- Knowledge of complex care management including the development of bespoke support packages
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 2 years post registration experience working with adults with mental health problems with a complex nature
- Experience of planning and organising complex activities or programmes requiring formulation and adjustment
- Experience of developing specialist programmes of care, care packages
- Experience of providing specialised advice in relation to care
- Experience of working closely with commissioners and care providers
Desirable
- Experience of following policies and providing comments to propose changes to practice/procedures in own work area
- Experience of safe management of equipment and resources
- Experience of being an authorised signatory
- Experience of conducting professional/clinical supervision
- Ability to undertake surveys, R&D activity or audits as necessary to own work
- Ability to regularly undertake equipment testing and adaptation
- Experience of working within a rehabilitation framework
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to diploma/degree level and registered with the appropriate professional body
- Professional knowledge acquired through a relevant degree plus relevant experience for working with complex cases
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development
- NVQ A 1 qualification
- Relevant mentorship qualification as required by governing body
- Specialist practitioner qualification (SPQ)
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- In-depth knowledge and experience of working within the recovery focused philosophy framework
- Knowledge of delivering individual service user focused specialist assessments
- Knowledge of evidence based interventions which are measurable and which promote the service users journey along the recovery pathway.
- An in-depth knowledge of delivering psychosocial interventions (PSI)
- Knowledge and understanding of physical health needs
- Professional knowledge acquired through a relevant degree plus relevant experience for working in the community
- Highly developed accurate physical skills and be able to manipulate fine tools and materials
- Knowledge of developing specialist programmes of care, care packages
- Knowledge of providing specialised advice in relation to care
- Knowledge of recording personally generated information
- Knowledge of working closely with commissioners and care providers
Desirable
- Knowledge of legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
- Experience of undertaking surveys or audits necessary to own work
- Experience of undertaking research and development activity and clinical trials
- Knowledge of complex care management including the development of bespoke support packages
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 2 years post registration experience working with adults with mental health problems with a complex nature
- Experience of planning and organising complex activities or programmes requiring formulation and adjustment
- Experience of developing specialist programmes of care, care packages
- Experience of providing specialised advice in relation to care
- Experience of working closely with commissioners and care providers
Desirable
- Experience of following policies and providing comments to propose changes to practice/procedures in own work area
- Experience of safe management of equipment and resources
- Experience of being an authorised signatory
- Experience of conducting professional/clinical supervision
- Ability to undertake surveys, R&D activity or audits as necessary to own work
- Ability to regularly undertake equipment testing and adaptation
- Experience of working within a rehabilitation framework
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
