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Job summary

Main area
Psychiatry
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (shift work including nights)
Job ref
310-MASMH-7397535
Employer
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
CRHTT Cambridge, Fulbourn Hospital
Town
Fulbourn
Salary
£31,049 - £46,580 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust logo

Mental Health Practitioner (Developmental Role)

Band 5

Job overview

Are you a newly qualified Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social worker who is keen to progress?

Why not join the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) based in Cambridge in a developmental post.

We are looking to employ a registered Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner. Progression to a Band 6 post, once agreed objectives and competencies have been met, 6 months following completion of the preceptorship, .

The Cambridge Crisis Resolution and  Home Treatment Team  provides 24/7 care to service users  experiencing an acute mental health crisis, as an alternative to hospital admission. The team is accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (HTAS) and has a strong focus on delivering high quality care to service users and their friends and family. 

Main duties of the job

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

  • Superb clinical and communication skills together with vision and enthusiasm to develop the mental health services;
  • Strong leadership and people management skills;
  • A dynamic approach with the ability to thrive on exciting challenges
  • The desire to develop their expertise;
  • Have a relevant degree and previous experience of working with patients with unstable conditions;
  • Have the expertise, passion and experience to make a real difference to caring for people;
  • Experience of working as a member of a full multi-disciplinary team.

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.

 

*DVLA have a number of reciprocal arrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website

Working for our organisation

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

 

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.

 

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.

Other benefits from joining us are:

  • Annual leave allowance 27 days plus bank holidays (depending on NHS service)
  • Pension scheme
  • Full-time/Part-time or job share opportunities
  • Salary sacrifice scheme
  • Staff discount scheme
  • Professional leadership programs for experienced nurses through NHS Academy
  • Stress awareness training
  • Mindfulness training
  • Counselling service

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities

 

  • The post holder will work within the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team to provide a mental health service seven days a week, within a community setting, by providing an urgent response and/or psychosocial assessment to those who present with a range of mental health problems and who are in mental health crisis.

  • Referral agencies include the First Response Service, in-patient facilities, psychiatric liaison service and other adult CPFT mental health services. 
  • To work in partnership with service users and carers to provide treatment within the least restrictive environment.

  • To provide rapid response assessment to those at risk of being admitted to hospital and provide care, support and treatment within a community setting or facilitate admission to hospital and promote rapid discharge.
  • To work completely within the Framework of the Care Programme Approach (CPA)

  • To provide clinical risk and mental health assessment, formulation and short-term contingency planning for people presenting in mental health crisis

  • This a developmental post. Following completion of the preceptorship period objectives and competencies will be set to be achieved in the following 6 months. Successful completion of these objectives and competencies will result in a Band 6 post.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Mental Health Nurse Qualification or Social Work Qualification or Occupational therapy Qualification
Desirable criteria
  • Relevant post qualification CPD

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Work with people with mental health problems
  • Experience working in a multidisciplinary team
  • Experience in mental health assessment and evidence based psychosocial interventions
Desirable criteria
  • Experience supervising junior staff
  • Experience of working independently

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • High level communication skills (written and verbal) including the ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
  • Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
  • Skills in self management and the ability to manage clinical workload and time
  • Knowledge of evidence based psychological interventions
  • An understanding of the needs of people with mental health problems and the ability to collaboratively identify a care plan to address these needs.
  • Ability to problem solve effectively
  • Ability to make risk assessments and appropriate risk management plans
  • IT skills: ability to use email, internet and electronic patient records

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential criteria
  • Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
  • Knowledge of appropriate actions to take to safeguard vulnerable adults and children
Desirable criteria
  • Mental Health Act/ Mental Capacity Act training
  • Any additional training relevant to CRHTT

Physical Requirements

Essential criteria
  • Internal rotation across 7 working days
  • Ability to travel independently across a large geographical area which has poor public transport areas promptly

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to use supervision effectively
  • Calm approach to potentially stressful situations

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardNHS Employers Diversity and Inclusion PartnersVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in PeopleDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgePrince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthMenopause Workplace PledgeArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sophie Price
Job title
Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01223 219593
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