Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

37.5 hours per week.

Are you ready for a role that genuinely stretches your clinical expertise while giving you the space to shape how community mental health services evolve? Are you passionate about psychosis and people getting the right care.

We are looking for an experienced, forward thinking practitioner to join us. Working across the organisation with specialist teams: Insight (Early intervention in psychosis), Specialist Outreach Recovery Team (SORT), and Community Mental Health Services. You will work with people with complex mental health needs; you will need excellent clinical skills. You will be able to assertively support discharges, transition across teams, and work with a caseload. You will work closely with family and carers, providing both direct support and working with staff to ensure safe and effective care. You will support the Specialist Mental Health Practitioner to deliver excellent care across the services.

This is an opportunity to step into a position where your clinical leadership, creativity and professional judgement will directly influence the quality of care we deliver across the city.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Job Share(s) Considered

Main duties of the job

What the role offers

You’ll be part of a senior leadership team that drives high quality, recovery focused mental health care. Your work will span direct clinical practice, staff development, service improvement and the implementation of evidence-based approaches.

You’ll also play a key role in embedding the Community Mental Health Framework, supporting teams to meet CQC standards, and ensuring that our services remain safe, effective and responsive.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees’ development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro‑diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Details

• Date posted: 13 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
• pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time, Job share, Flexible working
• Reference number: B9832‑2026‑NM‑10308‑3
• Job locations: 200 Mount Gould Road, Mount Gould, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 7PY, United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role works across multi‑disciplinary teams who proactively provide a range of evidence‑based interventions, including therapies and recovery orientated support for those with a diagnosis of a complex psychosis with the community. The role has been developed as part of the evolving provision of the Community Mental Health Framework.

This role links directly into three services: Specialist Outreach Recovery Team, Insight (first presentation psychosis) and Community Mental Health Services.

The three services are made up various mental health professionals who work with people to support recovery. Offering various therapeutic interventions to support individuals.

This role exists to make sure people receive the right support at the right time by coordinating care, strengthening communication between teams, and keeping a clear focus on safety and continuity. The postholder will work closely with partner agencies, families, and other professionals to ensure plans are joinedup and responsive to changing needs.

SCOPE AND RANGE

The services are dedicated to enhancing the quality of mental health care and improving outcomes for adults with mental health needs in Plymouth. They work collaboratively with colleagues across relevant departments and wards, developing tailored plans and delivering holistic biopsychosocial assessments and support to identify each patient's mental health needs and any risks they may pose to themselves or others.

The teams work in close collaboration with other services including the Home Treatment Team, hospital placements, crisis services and Adult Social Care.

The role includes a high level of autonomous working, with the post holder carrying out high‑quality skilled mental health assessments and providing risk formulation and care plans for patients using the service. This will be in close collaboration with family, friends and carers.

Care is generally provided in peoples homes and in other community settings. The post holder will work across various Livewell and community sites.

The post holder will provide support and supervision to junior staff such as preceptor nurses, community support workers and peer support workers within the team.

The post will include flexible working patterns over the 7‑day week to incorporate cover for a 24/7 service, including nights on‑call.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• The post holder will be expected to be able to make clear clinical decisions based on the analysis of often complex presenting difficulties; this can include being the decision maker in terms of the onward care plan for patients experiencing crisis mental health needs.
• To receive and triage referrals for the teams.
• Undertake holistic and comprehensive bio‑psychosocial assessment of patients referred to the service.
• Utilise a range of highly specialised clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical/ home setting in which they are seen.
• Ability to match patient need with available skills and resources.
• Work closely with peer support workers and volunteers to enhance patient experience.
• Provide a consultation‑liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams referring to the teams. This will include giving specialist advice on care, treatment and patients management issues.
• To be part of a multi‑disciplinary team approach responding to individuals requiring a same day response or signposting due to a mental health crisis.
• To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers.
• To provide skilled telephone‑based support to help contain a crisis and avoid further escalation of an issue.
• To offer an urgent mental health assessments and appointments in a location most convenient/appropriate for the patient; this may be in their home, GP surgery or Emergency Department.
• To provide MH assessment to patients deemed to be at risk of inpatient psychiatric admission, presenting with acute mental health disturbance of a functional nature.
• Identify the most appropriate intervention required for patient, with an emphasis on positive risk management, and refer, as necessary.
• Following assessments provide high quality assessment reports/letters to the relevant professionals. Monitor reports by junior staff to ensure they are of the same standards.
• Maintain high standards of integrity when communicating with patients and others.
• Demonstrate ability to use IT systems effectively including email and clinical systems used by the team.
• Possess a good working knowledge of mental health legislation including Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards and use this in relation to advising and planning care, independently or with other professionals.
• The post holder will provide nursing care and other interventions in the setting most appropriate to meet the patients needs.
• Emergency judgments and clinical decision‑making.
• Maintain high standards of clinical care to patients.
• Formulate care plans, implement, and evaluate them alongside patients and carers ensuring informed consent is obtained.
• Demonstrates safe clinical skills when providing care for patients receiving specialist treatments e.g., commencement of Clozaril in the community or supporting a patient through ECT treatment.
• To work within their professional registration (NMC, HCPC, BCAP) only.
• For full details please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of post registration development.
• Clinical Risk Assessment.
• Safeguarding Adults and Children.
• Clinical Governance.
• Care program approach & person‑centred framework .
• Psychological models of care and treatment.
• Sound working knowledge of Mental Health Act (1983), Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (2005).
• Understanding of National guidelines and initiatives related to provision of mental health services .
• Understanding of the provision of mental health care and recovery services in the community.
• Specialist knowledge of mental disorders and their impact on physical health.

Desirable

• CBT skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Solution focused therapy skills.
• Physical healthcare skills.
• Motivational interviewing skills.
• DBT skills.
• Cognitive assessment skills.
• Microsoft Outlook.
• Culturally competent assessment and intervention skills.
• SystmOne, Care First or other electronic records system also eCPA.

Qualifications

Essential

• One of the following:
• RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing NMC Registration.
• RGN/Dip HE/BSc Registered Nurse NMC Registration .
• Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration .
• Social Work Degree HCPC Registration.
• Paramedic Science Degree/BSc/Dip HE HCPC Registration Registered .
• Have completed a BABCP or BPS accredited IAPT/Psychological Wellbeing Training (PWP).
• Psychological well‑being practitioner. Degree/BCs in psychology and registered with British psychological Society as a Psychological wellbeing practitioner.

Desirable

• Post qualification experience/training in mental health and related issues.
• Clinical Supervision training.
• Evidence of completion of statutory and mandatory training.
• Mentorship qualification or equivalent experience.
• Non‑medical prescriber or willingness to work towards this where appropriate.
• Leadership qualifications. (Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Mental health nurse, psychological wellbeing practitioner).

Experience

Essential

• Significant post‑registration experience of working with people with complex mental ill health within the community, including those who may abuse drugs and/or alcohol.
• Significant experience as a care coordinator/ or Home Treatment/Crisis worker.
• Experience of working collaboratively with patients and their families/carers.
• Previous experience of working at a level relevant to the role, post registration experience in acute mental health.
• Completing complex mental health assessments in a variety of different settings in the community and signposting to relevant services.
• Relapse prevention and Recovery Principles.
• Experience of working with people in high levels of distress.
• Extensive post‑qualifying experience of practicing low intensity CBT interventions with people with a range of mental health problems in a community mental health setting.

Desirable

• Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring, and teaching to students and other health professionals.
• Experience of working in an acute inpatient unit.
• Experience of working with older adults .
• Experience of working with people with an offending background.
• Experience of conducting basic physical health screening.
• Previous experience of working in a community mental health setting.
• Evidence of developing and contributing to service development.
• Experience of change in health care.
• Collaborative working with peer support organisations.
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
• Experience working with a psychologist or MH professional.
• Experience of managing or supervising junior staff.
• Managing a caseload of clients with a range of mental health presentation.

Specific Skills

Essential

• IT skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload.
• Risk assessment and formulation skills, including safety planning.
• Robust and positive approach towards risk assessment.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to prioritise and reprioritise work to meet clinical demand.
• Ability to identify and refer on for unmet need. Working effectively with patients who may have a variety of communication difficulties.
• Triaging referrals based on clinical urgency.
• Ability to manage environmental stress.
• Ability to work in a changing team.
• Articulate with a high level of communication skills.
• Ability to deal with high levels of emotional stress.
• Ability to sustain high levels of concentration.

Desirable

• Staff appraisal skills.
• Committed to developing new ideas and improving patient care.
• Physical healthcare skills.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Livewell Southwest

Address

200 Mount Gould Road
Mount Gould
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 7PY
United Kingdom

Employer's website

(Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical team manager
Claire Mcglade

Supporting documents

Supporting links (all open in new tabs)

Rewards and Benefits
Livewell Triangle
Careers Page
Relocation Brochure

Privacy notice

Livewell Southwest's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Full job description from WhatJobs. Apply for this role →