Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner

Haringey GP Federation; Dawlish; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Dawlish seeks a Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner to join their forensic team. The role involves managing a complex caseload, delivering expert assessments and treatments, and collaborating with various agencies. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in mental health and relevant qualifications, providing the chance to make a significant difference in patient care.

Qualifications

• A professional mental health qualification is required.
• Experience with learning disability, autism, and acquired brain injury.
• Skills in assessing, planning, and evaluating profession-specific interventions.

Responsibilities

• Core member of a multi-disciplinary team with case management responsibilities.
• Provide expert assessment and treatment for complex difficulties.
• Liaison with statutory and non-statutory agencies is essential.

Skills

Understanding of recovery principles

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to assess and develop plans to manage risk

Good working knowledge of health legislation

Education

Professional mental health qualification (RMN, Social Work Degree, etc.)

Post graduate qualification relevant to forensic mental health

Evidence of Post Graduate Courses

Job description

Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner

We are seeking a dynamic, highly motivated & enthusiastic senior Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) to join the Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental disorder team (FIND) based at Easby House.

The FIND Team is managed within the Secure Services directorate in Devon Partnership NHS Trust. This role is in the FIND team which is based in the Community Forensic Services (CFS). The CFS is comprised of three teams including the Specialist Community Forensic team (SCFT), FIND and the Forensic Personality Disorder service (FPDs). Since 2021 the CFS have been working to integrate the management of the SCFT, FIND and FPD teams to ensure a single point of entry to the service, centralising triage and gate‑keeping functions. This is an exciting opportunity to join our FIND team at one of the country’s most respected providers of secure mental health services.

FIND aims to reduce length of stay for secure care patients with a primary diagnosis of Learning Disability (LD), Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and/or Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and reduce the use of out‑of‑area or specialist placements in order to support / facilitate the use of South West network beds. This involves the development of a structured approach of direct work with patients (e.g. intervention, specialist assessment, case management) as well as indirect work with staff teams (e.g. consultation, training, supervision).

• The interview date is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 30th December 2025

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be a core member of a multi‑disciplinary FIND service, and will be responsible for taking an active role in carrying out the functions of that team; including carrying a case load of varying complexity, with a principal focus on service users who would benefit most from a specialist forensic LD and A intervention. The post holder will provide expert assessment and treatment for people with complex difficulties and their carers. This will include recovery care co‑ordination (design and co‑ordination of treatment packages that are personalised and evaluated).

The post holder will deliver care management, assessment, care planning, review and evaluation. The liaison with a wide range of statutory and non‑statutory agencies is central to this role. The post holder will contribute to the clinical leadership of the team, providing supervision for other members and participating in team and service development, and evaluation.

You will often work under pressure and without direct supervision, so we are looking for someone confident and capable. You will prioritise tasks, and manage your own workload, providing support for your colleagues where required.

Working as part of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, you will make a difference to peoples lives from the moment you start.

We expect all our staff to embrace this way of working, recognising the equal value of everyone involved in service design and delivery.

About us

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 Trust’s 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.

Job responsibilities

For further information regarding this role, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, Social Work Degree or equivalent, BSc/Diploma in OT.
• Post graduate qualification relevant to forensic mental health.
• Student supervisor/assessor or Practice Educator accreditation or equivalent.
• Evidence of Post Graduate Courses, on‑going training and development in theory and practice in chosen profession.

Knowledge and Skills

• An understanding of the Mental Health Act and Mental Health Capacity Act requirements.
• Awareness of community structures and social care management responsibilities.
• Understanding of recovery principles.
• Good working knowledge of health legislation and current practice including CPA, CeTR and risk assessment and management.
• Training and presentation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.
• Ability to assess and develop plans to manage risk.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance and ethical issues.
• Skilled in assessing, planning and evaluating profession specific interventions.
• Demonstrate an ability and awareness to maintain personal and professional boundaries.
• Able to plan creatively to maximise effectiveness of care plans, including complex multi‑agency care plans.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent self‑management skills and ability to set own priorities.
• Ability to take initiative and develop new ideas.

Additional Criteria

• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
• To be able to respond promptly to physical and mental health emergencies, to think quickly and to deal with situations in a calm and sensible manner.

Experience

• Established learning disability, autism and acquired brain injury experience.
• Experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload of clients with a range of complex forensic needs.
• Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
• Experience of clinical supervision for qualified and/or support staff.
• Experience of working in a multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency environment.
• Understanding of current issues within secure services, clinical governance issues, practice education and implications for your chosen profession.
• Application of health and safety and risk management policies.
• Awareness of the implications of long‑term institutional care.
• Understanding of team dynamics.

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.