Job summary
- Main area
- Children's mental health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 354-CS-21750
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- New Park House
- Town
- Horsham
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Senior Mental Health Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 7
Come and join us
We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.
So what can we offer you in return?
We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.
You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.
As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.
If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.
Job overview
North West Sussex CAMHS has an exciting opportunity for a full time mental health practitioner to work alongside the MDT to deliver high quality assessment and treatment to children experiencing mental health difficulties. The post holder will be a qualified nurse, social worker, OT or psychologist with the appropriate professional registration. You will work as part of a lively and committed multi-disciplinary team to help our children and families achieve their goals towards recovery and improved mental and emotional wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the role include first assessments for children and young people who have been effected by mental and emotional distress. You will be involved in developing collaborative care plans with families that may involve treatment from within the team or from one of our many partner agencies.
The role further requires the development of comprehensive risk assessments and safety plans drawing on, but not limited to, the 5 P model of assessing and understanding risk.
The post holder will undertake direct work with children and families from a range of theoretical approaches.
The post holder will be required to undertake the role of care coordinator or lead professional in cases where there are large, complex networks of professionals which will require the post holder to be confident in the legal and policy frameworks within which we deliver our services.
The post holder will be required to provide some supervision to colleagues of a lower banding from an equivalent discipline in line with the Trust policy and the practitioner's own professional body.
Working for our organisation
The North West Sussex CAMHS team is known for its friendly and welcoming nature and it prides itself on its commitment to inclusive practices. We have a reputation for our team socials and have enjoyed the company of each other both in and outside of the work place, Our base is in Horsham, just outside the town centre and adjacent to the local park and leisure centre which is enjoyed by many of the team. We have our own car park a short distance away which is used on a first come first served basis. We share our building with several other mental health teams which means we have developed good relationships with the teams to which we may transition or co-work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Comprehensive assessment of childhood mental health.
Risk assessments and risk management plans.
Direct work with children and families to promote recovery from childhood mental illness.
Care coordination of high risk cases.
Supervision of junior colleagues.
Chairing network meetings.
Working with colleagues in bespoke care packages.
Working with colleagues from partner agencies to develop multi-agency care plans, review plans and discharge patients at the end of treatment.
Contribute to the development of the service by participating in service development forums.
Adhere to and promote safeguarding policies and procedures.
Work within the legal and policy frameworks within which the service is placed.
Work within your professional standards, codes of ethics and practice and engage in CPD activity appropriate to your role and development.
Participate in the Trust requirements of supervision pertinent to your post.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy or Nursing/Social Work Or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Or Qualification as a Family Therapist or as a Child Psychotherapist
- Evidence of post qualification study
- Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist/Clinical Psychologist/Nurse-NMC, ACT, UKCP,AFT
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience as a qualified mental health practitioner
- Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
- Experience of both group and individual work
- Experience of supervising staff and students
- Experience as a Care Coordinator
- Experience with Looked after and Adopted children
- Experience of multi-agency work
- Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of clinical approaches
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sara Slinger
- Job title
- Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 03003040218
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