CYP Mental Health Practitioner SPA (Single Point of Access) in Swindon

The SPA Practitioner will play a pivotal role in delivering responsive, person-centred care to children, young people and families across Swindon. Working within a Single Point of Access model, this role will provide meaningful telephone consultations to all appropriate referrals, ensuring each contact receives timely, relevant guidance or signposting to local mental health and wellbeing services.

Main duties of the job include:

• Working closely with families to provide guidance, education, and support in managing children and young people's (CYP) mental health needs.
• Triage and screen referrals, making informed clinical and pathway decisions.
• Carry out assessments and safety calls with CYP and their families.
• Hold a small active caseload, offering tailored support and providing practical resources to parents and caregivers.
• Collaborate with schools, healthcare professionals, social services, and community organisations to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach to care.
• Monitor access and outcomes, particularly for marginalised or vulnerable groups.
• Respond to safeguarding concerns with appropriate interventions.
• Contribute to service improvement.
• Stay up to date with developments in child and adolescent mental health through ongoing training.
• Participate in supervision and peer support.
• Engage with local communities to raise awareness of available services.
• Participate in an on-call rota, including evenings and weekends.

This role requires individuals who can assess presenting needs, hold supportive conversations, and direct children, young people and families to the most appropriate pathways within BE U or services across the local landscape. The SPA Practitioner will ensure a smooth and informed journey for families navigating emotional wellbeing support.

Key responsibilities include:

• Excellent risk assessment and management skills in relation to positive risk taking and decision making.
• Ability to thrive in a busy environment, stay calm under pressure, and excel at coordination and adapting to change.

Person Specification:

• Experience in delivering phone-based assessments or support within a health, education or social care context.
• Experience of managing own caseload delivering evidence-based/CBT informed interventions.
• Knowledge of emotional wellbeing needs in children and young people.
• Strong understanding of the local support landscape or willingness to rapidly develop this knowledge.
• Ability to listen actively and communicate effectively, showing empathy and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to assess levels of need, manage risk, and provide appropriate signposting or escalation.
• Strong documentation and record-keeping skills, ensuring accurate, evidence-based case notes.
• Proficiency with digital systems, including client management systems and Microsoft Office.
• Cultural competency and sensitivity to the diverse needs of the community.
• Confidence to work independently while contributing to a wider multi-disciplinary team.

Qualifications required include:

• Mental Health or equivalent professional health qualification e.g. Allied Health Professional, RMN Nurse, Social Worker - Minimum of 18 months post qualification experience.
• Up to date knowledge of CYP emotional wellbeing / early mental health clinical evidence-based practice and support for parents/carers.
• Mentorship qualification or equivalent.
• Evidence of post registration training.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.