Job summary
Surrey and Borders is looking for a Mental Health Practitioner for CAMHS Crisis Line who will provide telephone crisis support to children, young people, and their families, including out-of-hours advice and support to acute hospital colleagues. You will act as the front door for CYP in crisis, carrying out brief crisis assessments, de-escalation, safety planning, and signposting to appropriate services. The role includes facilitating safe discharge from A&E where appropriate, with follow-up by the Crisis Intervention Service the next day. You will work within a co-located, multi-disciplinary team and have opportunities for some face-to-face work across the wider CYPS Crisis Pathway. Shifts include a mix of days and nights, with job planning agreed through supervision. The post upholds organizational values of treating people well, involving families, creating respectful spaces, and working openly and accountably.
Location: Gatton Place, St Mathews Road, RH1 1TA
Shift Patterns :
- Early: 8:00-16:00
- Late: 15:00-23:00
- Night: 22:00-08:30
Main duties of the job
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Provide senior-level telephone crisis assessment, advice, and support to children, young people, families, carers, and professionals.
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Lead and coordinate crisis line activity during shifts, ensuring safe, timely access to appropriate levels of care.
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Undertake and oversee risk and safeguarding assessments, ensuring compliance with professional, legal, and Trust standards.
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Support continuity of care through effective communication, documentation, and liaison with internal and external services.
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Contribute to service quality, staff development, and continuous improvement through leadership, audit, and training participation.
About us
Working for our organization
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.
We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organizations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.
Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast.
Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach.
For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.
Would you like to work in an organisation that sits in the top 10 best NHS Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Services Trusts to work for?This ranking is based on staff feedback in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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Act in accordance with the vision and values of Surrey & Borders Partnership Foundation NHS Trust and uphold the NMC Code of Conduct at all times.
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Maintain professional accountability for clinical decision-making, personal practice, and leadership responsibilities during shifts.
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Lead the team on shift in delivering high-quality telephone crisis assessments, advice, de-escalation, and care planning.
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Complete comprehensive risk assessments for all service users, with particular focus on self-harm, safeguarding, and vulnerability.
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Ensure safe and appropriate onward referral, escalation, or connection to more intensive services when clinically indicated.
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Adhere strictly to confidentiality, information governance, safeguarding policies, and relevant legislation for CYP and families.
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Use advanced clinical expertise to assess, support, and manage complex crisis presentations sensitively and inclusively.
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Respect and support individuals cultural background, identity, values, sexuality, and spiritual beliefs in all interactions.
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Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed electronic care records to reflect assessments, interventions, and outcomes.
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Communicate effectively and promptly with other teams, services, GPs, and professionals to support continuity of care.
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Escalate concerns appropriately to the General Manager and relevant clinical leads when risks or service issues arise.
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Support service development by contributing to data collection, audits, benchmarking, and identifying areas for improvement.
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Co-lead the induction, orientation, and support of new staff joining the team.
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Participate in learning sets and professional forums related to CYP Crisis Pathways across Surrey.
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Maintain up-to-date statutory, mandatory, and role-specific training requirements.
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Implement and contribute to outcome measures and audits to monitor service effectiveness and quality
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
Act in accordance with the vision and values of Surrey & Borders Partnership Foundation NHS Trust and uphold the NMC Code of Conduct at all times.
-
Maintain professional accountability for clinical decision-making, personal practice, and leadership responsibilities during shifts.
-
Lead the team on shift in delivering high-quality telephone crisis assessments, advice, de-escalation, and care planning.
-
Complete comprehensive risk assessments for all service users, with particular focus on self-harm, safeguarding, and vulnerability.
-
Ensure safe and appropriate onward referral, escalation, or connection to more intensive services when clinically indicated.
-
Adhere strictly to confidentiality, information governance, safeguarding policies, and relevant legislation for CYP and families.
-
Use advanced clinical expertise to assess, support, and manage complex crisis presentations sensitively and inclusively.
-
Respect and support individuals cultural background, identity, values, sexuality, and spiritual beliefs in all interactions.
-
Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed electronic care records to reflect assessments, interventions, and outcomes.
-
Communicate effectively and promptly with other teams, services, GPs, and professionals to support continuity of care.
-
Escalate concerns appropriately to the General Manager and relevant clinical leads when risks or service issues arise.
-
Support service development by contributing to data collection, audits, benchmarking, and identifying areas for improvement.
-
Co-lead the induction, orientation, and support of new staff joining the team.
-
Participate in learning sets and professional forums related to CYP Crisis Pathways across Surrey.
-
Maintain up-to-date statutory, mandatory, and role-specific training requirements.
-
Implement and contribute to outcome measures and audits to monitor service effectiveness and quality
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post Graduate level qualification in Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Social Work - professional body registration required.
- Willingness to complete mentorship course
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years' post graduate experience
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post Graduate level qualification in Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Social Work - professional body registration required.
- Willingness to complete mentorship course
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years' post graduate experience
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
