Senior Mental Health Practitioner
SKILLS
FULL DESCRIPTION
Senior Mental Health Practitioner
[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]
Dereham, NR19 1DN
£39,959 to £48,117 a year
Full-time, Permanent
Closing date: 20 May 2026
Job Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Community Perinatal Mental Health Service within the county wide Norfolk & Suffolk Perinatal Community Mental Health Service. This role provides a fantastic opportunity to develop specialist skills in perinatal mental health, with a strong focus on thinking about the whole family system, including the parent infant relationship. You will work as part of a large, supportive and dynamic multidisciplinary team, including Consultant Psychiatrists, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Therapies team, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Assistant Practitioners, Peer Support Workers, Nursery Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Community Team Managers, a Matron and an Operational Manager specialising in perinatal mental health. This post sits within the West and South Patch of the Norfolk teams, including King's Lynn. The service offers a range of interventions including therapeutic work, nursery nurse interventions, medication reviews, consultant appointments and peer support advocacy. As this is a community based role, most work is carried out face to face in service users' homes or community settings. Access to your own vehicle is preferred; however, pool cars are available through the Trust hire car system. We are a cohesive, friendly, and kind team and will support you every step of the way.
Main Duties of the Job
- Managing a caseload of women with moderate to severe mental health needs during the perinatal period
- Undertaking comprehensive initial assessments, including the use of outcome measures
- Developing and reviewing trauma informed, co produced care plans, including signposting to appropriate services
- Working collaboratively with maternity services, primary care, social services and tertiary services to improve outcomes for the birthing person, baby and wider family
- Maintaining a focus on the parent infant relationship
- Participating in the duty rota, responding to urgent clinical matters
- Escalating safeguarding concerns appropriately to Early Childhood and Family Services / Children's Services
- Ensuring all service users have a current combined assessment and care plan
About [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]
Here at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.
Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist OR Social Worker with the relevant professional registration
- Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor training (NMC registrants) or Practice Educator (AHP & Social Worker Registrants)
- Ongoing professional development working towards degree level (if professional registration is following a diploma level course)
Desirable
- Recognised Leadership/Management training
- Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice
Experience
Essential
- Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous experience
- Demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience
- Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions
- Demonstrable experience in assessment of mental health
- Experience supervising others/students including preceptorship programme, student placements etc
Desirable
- Experience in delivering group-based interventions
- Experience in supporting service development and quality improvement initiatives
- Experience working in the specific area
- Experience of interagency working
- Experience of supporting transitions
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and engagement skills
- Conflict resolution and Breakaway training (or requirement to undertake within first 12 weeks)
- Competent assessment skills
- Effective analytical and decision-making skills
- Computer skills and experience of using an Electronic Patient Record system
Desirable
- Able to time manage and reflect on clinical practice
- Prevention and Management of Suicide training
- Medicine Management
- Safeguarding training
Knowledge
Essential
- The ability to use clinical assessment tools and outcome measures effectively and collaboratively
- An understanding of the policies and guidelines both local and national e.g. National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines (Government initiative)
- Up to date knowledge of legal and ethical frameworks including Mental Health Act.
- Have the ability to discuss, identify and escalate safeguarding issues in a sensitive way to protect those who are vulnerable
- Ensure care is values-based, non judgemental and equitable, and supports the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity being met.
Desirable
- Developing knowledge of local wider systems and networks
- Knowledge of health promotion
- Knowledge of medication and the monitoring of its effects
Other
Essential
- Ability and willingness to travel independently to meet the needs and requirements of the service
Employer Details
Employer name: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]
Address: Springwell centre, Church Street, Dereham, NR19 1DN
Employer's website: https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
Contact: Tina Dube, Community Team Manager, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]
Additional Information
The post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and Disclosure and Barring Service check. Certificate of Sponsorship is available for overseas applicants. UK professional registration required.