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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health Practitioner
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Secondment: 12 months
Hours
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
30 hours per week
Job ref
246-CEN7536032
Employer
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Wedgwood House, West Suffolk Hospital, Hardwick Lane,
Town
Bury St Edmunds,
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 Pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/11/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust logo

Mental Health Practitioner

Band 6

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams.  We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Community Perinatal Mental Health Service. Our county-wide Norfolk & Suffolk Perinatal Community Mental Health service are offering a one-year secondment opportunity for a band 6 mental health nurse, working within a specialist multi-disciplinary setting, offering a range of MDT clinical specialisms. 

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team consisting of Consultant Psychiatrists, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, a Therapies team, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Assistant Practitioners, Peer Support Workers, Nursery Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Community Team Managers, a Matron and a Service Manager specialising in perinatal mental health. 

We are looking for an experienced B6 Mental Health Nurse with relevant mental health and community experience to join our Perinatal Community Mental Health Team. This vacancy is based in the county of Suffolk. Within our specialist service you can look forward to a supportive and collaborative team with low manageable caseloads, with friendly, visible and accessible senior staff and medics. We offer specialist perinatal training, line management, caseload and clinical supervision monthly.

As this is a community post, it is expected most of our work is completed face to face in service user’s homes or in the community, so a valid UK full driving licence is essential. Access to your own vehicle is preferred, though pool cars can be booked through the Trust’s hire car system.

Main duties of the job

The Perinatal Community Mental Health Team provides prevention, detection and management of mental health problems that complicate pregnancy and the postpartum year.

You will be responsible for:

  • Managing a caseload of women with moderate to severe mental health needs within the perinatal period.
  • Undertaking initial assessments.
  • Formulating an appropriate plan of care/ signposting to other services.
  • Thinking about the parent infant relationship.
  • Participating in Duty rota.
  • Escalating concerns about safeguarding to ECFS /Children’s Services.
  • Ensuring all service users have a co-produced care plan and up to date combined assessment.

The team offers therapeutic interventions, nursery nurse interventions, medication reviews, Consultant appointments and advocacy through Peer Support.

We are a cohesive, friendly, and kind team and will support you every step of the way.

Working for our organisation

Here at NSFT 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.


Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you’ll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We’re an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • 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 criteria
  • Recognised Leadership/Management training
  • Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous experience
  • Demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience
  • Experience supervising others/students including preceptorship programme, student placements etc
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in delivering group based interventions
  • Experience working in the specific area

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication and engagement skills Conflict resolution and Breakaway training (or requirement to undertake within first 12 weeks)
  • Care planning and Risk assessment knowledge and skills
  • Computer skills and experience of using an Electronic Patient Record system
Desirable criteria
  • Able to time manage and reflect on clinical practice
  • Prevention and Management of Suicide training

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Have the ability to discuss, identify and escalate safeguarding issues in a sensitive way to protect those who are vulnerable
  • The ability to use clinical assessment tools and outcome measures effectively and collaboratively
Desirable criteria
  • Developing knowledge of local wider systems and networks

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability and willingness to travel independently to meet the needs and requirements of the service

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality MarkHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingWomens Staff NetworkCycle to Work

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
Emma Redmond-Smith
Job title
Clinical Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Additional contact information

Tracey Liddell – service manager

[email protected]

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