Mental Health Practitioner

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children, young people and their families by helping them access the right support at the right time. As a key member of the SPA team, you will play an important role in managing the front door to CAMHS, ensuring referrals are reviewed promptly, assessed appropriately and directed to the most suitable pathway.
Your responsibilities will include undertaking clinical triage and comprehensive assessments, gathering relevant clinical and psychosocial information, assessing risk and safeguarding concerns, and determining the urgency and appropriateness of referrals in line with service thresholds. You will support decision-making, escalate high-risk presentations, provide advice and signposting, and develop safety plans and referrals.
Working collaboratively with children, young people, families, and partner agencies, you will help identify appropriate CAMHS interventions, early help and support. You will contribute to effective demand management, accurate clinical documentation, safe information sharing, clinical governance and continuous service improvement.
Main duties of the job Undertake clinical triage and assessment of referrals to CAMHS SPA, using clinical judgement to identify presenting needs, urgency and appropriate pathways of support.Gather and evaluate information relating to young people's mental health, psychosocial circumstances, family context and existing support networks.
Complete risk assessments, identify safeguarding concerns and develop appropriate risk management and safety plans, escalating complex or high-risk presentations to senior clinicians. Support young people experiencing emotional distress or mental health difficulties, providing appropriate advice, support and crisis intervention within the scope of the role.
Determine the most appropriate pathway of care, considering CAMHS, specialist services, early help and community-based alternatives.
Provide advice and signposting to families, carers, professionals and partner agencies to promote early intervention and timely access to support.
Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues and external agencies to ensure coordinated, holistic and person-centred care.
Maintain accurate clinical records and ensure effective communication, information sharing and compliance.
Contribute to the effective management of referrals, waiting lists and service demand, supporting timely and safe access to services.
Support the identification of learning from incidents, concerns and complaints, contributing to continuous improvement within the SPA service.
About us Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.
Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.
We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.
Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence, Job responsibilities Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process., 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.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential R.M.N., RMCN, RNLD or other nurse qualification with LD/CAMHS experience considered. Social Work or Occupational Therapy Qualification.
Postgraduate level of study/degree relevant to discipline or equivalent experience
Additional training in child and adolescent mental health

Experience Essential Ability to work autonomously
Significant or demonstrable experience in mental health to show the breadth/depth of experience required for the role
Experience of direct work with children/young people with mental health issues
Crisis management skills
Community care experience
Working experience with Children and young people
Stress management
Knowledge and experience in child protection/safeguarding procedures, to recognise abuse and escalate appropriately within statutory timeframes
To hold a clinical caseload of complex health needs including mental health as a lead professional within a multi-agency team, Qualifications Essential R.M.N., RMCN, RNLD or other nurse qualification with LD/CAMHS experience considered. Social Work or Occupational Therapy Qualification.
Postgraduate level of study/degree relevant to discipline or equivalent experience
Additional training in child and adolescent mental health

Experience Essential Ability to work autonomously
Significant or demonstrable experience in mental health to show the breadth/depth of experience required for the role
Experience of direct work with children/young people with mental health issues
Crisis management skills
Community care experience
Working experience with Children and young people
Stress management
Knowledge and experience in child protection/safeguarding procedures, to recognise abuse and escalate appropriately within statutory timeframes
To hold a clinical caseload of complex health needs including mental health as a lead professional within a multi-agency team

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.
UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).