Lead Practitioner - Horsham Early Intervention in Psychosis Service

Transformationunitgm; Horsham; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a full-time Lead Practitioner for their Early Intervention in Psychosis Service in Horsham. The successful candidate will support clients with First Episode Psychosis, developing and implementing personalized care plans. Responsibilities include managing a caseload, conducting assessments, and working collaboratively within a supportive team environment. This position offers competitive salary and career development opportunities within a dedicated mental health support framework.

Benefits

£2,000 Golden Hello or Relocation Incentive

Flexible working options

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant post qualifying experience in the relevant care group.
• Experience of providing clinical interventions to people with health problems.
• Understanding of clinical governance.

Responsibilities

• Support a caseload of clients with First Episode Psychosis.
• Develop care and recovery plans using NICE recommended interventions.
• Conduct assessments and triaging of referrals to the services.

Skills

Experience with psychosis

Clinical assessment skills

Caseload management

Education

Registered Practitioner

Completion of Mentorship Course

Job description

Main area Mental Health Grade NHS AFC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Mon - Fri 9am- 5pm excluding Bank Holidays) Job ref 354-CS-21767

Employer Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site New Park House Town Horsham Salary £31,049 - £46,580 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/01/2026 23:59

Lead Practitioner - Horsham Early Intervention in Psychosis Service

NHS AFC: Band 6

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join a small, progressive Early Intervention in Psychosis Service based in Horsham, supporting clients with First Episode Psychosis to have a positive, hopeful and meaningful experience of mental health services.

We are looking to recruit a full time Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Social Worker to work as a Lead Practitioner, to complement our existing multidisciplinary Early Intervention in Psychosis service based at New Park House in Horsham. Horsham Early Intervention Service is a small team of passionate, talented and creative individuals, offering a wide range of specialisms.

If you would like to make a real difference to the lives of those living with Psychosis and their recovery, using your professional training and skills, please apply.

Although the advert is for Band 6 Clinician, we would also consider applicants applying for a developmental role (Band 5-6)

This post offers the Trust's £2,000 Golden Hello or Relocation Incentive for Band 6 Nurses & Practitioners, (pro rata and subject to terms and conditions; please see attached Protocol Document for full details).

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will support a small caseload of clients aged 14-65, with suspected/ confirmed First Episode Psychosis in the community from point of referral to discharge, providing effective care co-ordination for up to 3 years.

Through developing therapeutic relationships, you will work collaboratively with clients to create person centred care and treatment plans which aim to reduce their distress, maintain independence, prevent relapse, promote recovery and social inclusion. Involving and working with friends and family members is seen as a key component to the way care is delivered.

Previous experience of supporting clients with mental health and social care difficulties is beneficial, and you will be supported to develop specialist knowledge and skills to support those presenting with First Episode of Psychosis. It is important the successful applicants have a keen interest in understanding the principles and ethos of early intervention and this client group. You can find out more information about our approach here: What is Early Intervention in Psychosis? (likemind.nhs.uk)

Working for our organisation

This small, friendly, multi-disciplinary team is based at New Park House in Horsham, situated in front of Horsham Park, a short walk from the train station and within walking distance of the town centre shops and cafes. Horsham is within easy reach of Brighton, Crawley and the surrounding areas.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an expanding team within Sussex EIP. The Horsham EIP team is one of 6 Early Intervention in Psychosis teams provided by the Trust. The teams have a single service-wide governance group which oversees and leads on the delivery of care.

You will be supported by the team leader and the wider MDT via clinical supervision, managerial supervision, and professional supervision with our EIP Professional leads. We also have regular MDT zoning meetings and risk discussions, team learning spaces and case formulation meetings.

As a service we offer a real commitment to support your continuing professional development through a variety of internal and external training opportunities and university accredited courses.

The base for this post is in Horsham however the team regularly works flexibly and remotely using a range of digital solutions for meetings and consultations.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The role of Lead Practitioners is to work in partnership with service users with complex health and social care needs, developing their care and recovery plans to enable them to lead fulfilling lives, using NICE recommended interventions and an assertive outreach approach. The successful applicants will demonstrate an understanding of interventions relevant to clients with Psychosis, working closely with carers, families and partner agencies to facilitate this.

The post holder will work at all times to promote the safety and the well-being of service users and their families/carers. They will be involved in the triaging and assessment of referrals to the services, as well as assess, plan and implement care, provide specialist advice and carry out specialist assessments.

For more details, please see Job Description and Person Specification.

If you are looking to increase your community experience or want to gain experience of working in a specialist mental health service, please don't hesitate to contact Rachel Yard for more information.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Practitioner with current registration [mental health/LD/Adult/Social Work/OT], appropriate to the job role
• Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge/Experience

• Significant post qualifying experience in the relevant care group
• Experience of working alongside people with psychosis and complex health and social care problems in the designated care group
• Experience of managing a caseload
• Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
• Experience of working consultatively with professionals
• Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments
• Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non statutory teams and agencies
• Experience of working within the CPA process
• Understanding of clinical governance
• Previous experience of working in the community

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.

Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.

SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.

If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. However, we’ll always do our best to keep you informed as we know how much time and care goes into applying for a role.

In the event of a high number of applications, we may close this vacancy early.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.