Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Main area: Community CAMHS
Grade: Band 6
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (shifts, 24/7 service)
Job ref: 350-CC-C

Site: Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre
Town: Whiston
Salary: £37,338 - £44,962 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing date: 16/07/:59

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We are committed to challenging racism and discrimination, and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We support disadvantaged groups and encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled, LGBTQIA+ individuals, reservists, and ex-armed forces personnel. We invite all applicants to share their equality information with us.

Job overview

We are seeking Senior Mental Health Practitioners to join our multidisciplinary team. The Crisis Response Team provides interventions to young people in mental health crisis, operating 24/7 with flexible hours. The role involves delivering high-quality, evidence-based, client-centered care to children and young people within the THRIVE Framework, including providing advice, consultation, and supervision to colleagues and external agencies. The position is aligned with the CYPMH strategy and will evolve with national and local initiatives. An enhanced DBS check is required. Part-time hours may be considered.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will demonstrate respect for service users and their carers, embracing the core values and principles of Recovery and THRIVE, promoting safe practices, social inclusion, and meaningful change. The team values innovative practice and enthusiasm.

Working for our organisation

Mersey Care is a large provider of physical and mental health services in the North West, serving over 1.4 million people. We offer inpatient and community services, including specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction, and brain injury services. We are committed to 'perfect care' and supporting staff to deliver high-quality services through ongoing transformation initiatives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• Manage a caseload of specialist and generic work, conducting assessments, treatments, and consultations based on evidence-based frameworks.
• Provide direct therapeutic interventions, including assessments and formulation for children, young people, and families.
• Undertake risk assessments and develop care plans in line with the THRIVE framework.
• Work sensitively with children and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Screen referrals, participate in duty rotas, and exercise clinical autonomy within supervisory structures.
• Deliver care coordination, involving multi-agency collaboration and ensuring effective assessment, planning, and risk management.
• Produce clinical formulations and intervention plans, ensuring standards of practice.
• Collaborate with team members, providing consultation, guidance, and contributing to risk management and safeguarding.
• Maintain accurate records, utilize outcome measures, and engage in service user participation.

Communication

• Communicate complex information sensitively and effectively with children, families, and professionals.
• Represent the service at child protection meetings, organize multi-agency reviews, and document progress.

Teaching, Training, and Supervision

• Participate in supervision, reflective practice, and ongoing professional development.
• Provide training and presentations to professionals and contribute to trainee assessments.

Management, Policy, and Service Development

• Identify priorities, contribute to service development, and support recruitment and workload management.

Research and Service Evaluation

• Stay updated with evidence-based practices, participate in audits, evaluations, and research activities.

Continuing Professional Development

• Engage in regular supervision, maintain professional registration, and participate in CPD activities.

Person specification Qualifications

• Qualifications in psychotherapy, CBT, person-centered counseling, systemic family practice, or parenting groups.
• Degree and postgraduate experience, with registration in a relevant professional body (e.g., HCPC, BACAP).

Knowledge/Experience

• Experience working with CAMHS, supervision, care planning, multi-agency frameworks, and leadership.
• Knowledge of mental health legislation, safeguarding, and evidence-based practices.

Values and Skills

• Accountability, support, professionalism, responsiveness, transparency, and change orientation.
• Leadership, communication, record-keeping, risk management, and interpersonal skills.

Additional notes on application process, DBS requirements, sponsorship, and equal opportunity statements are included at the end of the original description.