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- Tasks: Lead clinical triage and support mental health assessments for children and young people.
- Company: Join Children and Family Health Devon, dedicated to improving health outcomes for youth in the community.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, high-quality supervision, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in mental health while working in a supportive, collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Must have relevant professional training and experience in children's mental health.
- Other info: This is a one-year pilot role with potential for long-term influence on service delivery.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 46000 £ per year.
Specialist Mental Health Practitioner – Duty Worker
Exeter
GBP 47,000 – 55,000
Be among the first applicants.
4 days ago
Specialist Mental Health Practitioner – Duty Worker
Location: Exeter, EX2 4NU, Barnstaple, EX31 3UD, Dartington, TQ9 6JE&Torquay, TQ2 7BA
Salary: £47810.00 to £54710.00
Date posted: 4th July 2025
Closing date: 20th July 2025
We are excited to be recruiting a fixed-term Band 7 Specialist Mental Health Practitioner to strengthen our countywide Duty offer within Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD).
This one-year pilot post offers an excellent opportunity for experienced mental health professionals to take on a clinical leadership role within our Duty system. As a senior member of the team, you will play a critical role in supporting locality mental health teams, holding oversight of urgent and unallocated concerns, and leading on clinical risk management and decision-making.
The post is countywide and will support children and young people experiencing emotional distress, relational difficulties, and emerging or ongoing mental health needs. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, external agencies, and families to ensure that children and young people receive timely, safe, and effective mental health support. Elements of the role can be undertaken remotely, and we welcome flexible working arrangements.
As a Duty SMHP, you will be responsible for triaging incoming contacts, supporting clinical decision-making for complex cases, and offering advice and guidance to both internal and external professionals. You will also provide supervision and support to junior colleagues and play a key part in developing and shaping this evolving service.
Main duties of the job
- Lead the clinical triage of urgent referrals and queries
- Undertake and support comprehensive mental health risk assessments
- Provide senior clinical input and oversight for unallocated or high-risk presentations
- Offer consultation, advice and support to junior staff and external professionals
- Contribute to service development and provide reflective feedback on process and system improvements
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with professional and service standards
- Model compassionate leadership, promoting inclusive and anti-discriminatory practice
Supervise junior clinicians, supporting their development and ensuring safe, evidence-based care
We Offer:
- High-quality clinical supervision and ongoing professional development opportunities
- A collaborative and supportive multidisciplinary environment
- A leadership role in an innovative and responsive pilot service with potential for long-term impact
If you are a highly skilled and compassionate mental health professional with strong assessment and leadership skills, and are looking to play a senior role in shaping an essential service within CFHD, we would love to hear from you.
About us
Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.
CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health which are provided by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services.
CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training.
Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.
We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.
Our vision is to be a successful, vibrant, partnership that benefits the communities we serve.
Job responsibilities
Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification
Person Specification
Experience
- Experience of working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers, including using goal-based care and routine outcome measures in practice.
- Experience of working collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team and across agencies
- Experience of undertaking specialist mental health assessment and therapeutic interventions for in the area of childrens mental health, with the ability to work with complex needs and undertake risk assessments
Qualifications
- Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by specialist training or equivalent experience to Masters level with a relevant core professional training e.g. Psychological profession, Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy Training in an evidence-based therapeutic approach
- Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body, e.g. NMC, HCPC, Social Work England, UKCP, BABCP
- Training in supervision and/or leadership skills or willing to work towards
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
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.
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Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - Duty Worker employer: Devon Partnership Nhs Trust
Contact Detail:
Devon Partnership Nhs Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - Duty Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific mental health challenges faced by children and young people. Understanding these issues will help you demonstrate your expertise during interviews and discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of children's mental health. Attend relevant workshops or seminars to connect with others who may provide insights or referrals that could lead to your application being noticed.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in clinical leadership and supervision. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've supported junior colleagues and contributed to service development in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Children and Family Health Devon's values and recent initiatives. Tailoring your conversation to align with their mission will show your genuine interest in the role and the organisation.
We think you need these skills to ace Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - Duty Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in mental health, particularly with children and young people. Emphasise your clinical leadership skills and any experience in triaging or risk assessment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for mental health and your understanding of the role's responsibilities. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to lead and support multidisciplinary teams.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Clearly list your qualifications, especially those related to mental health practice. Include any professional registrations and training in evidence-based therapeutic approaches, as these are crucial for this role.
Showcase Continuous Professional Development: Mention any recent training or professional development activities you've undertaken. This shows your commitment to staying current in the field and your readiness for a senior role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Devon Partnership Nhs Trust
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience in mental health, particularly with children and young people. Highlight specific cases where you successfully managed complex needs or led a team, as this will demonstrate your capability for the role.
✨Understand the Role's Responsibilities
Familiarise yourself with the key duties of the Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - Duty Worker position. Be ready to explain how your skills align with responsibilities like triaging referrals and providing clinical oversight.
✨Demonstrate Compassionate Leadership
Since the role involves supervising junior clinicians, think of examples that showcase your leadership style. Discuss how you promote inclusive practices and support the development of others in a non-judgemental way.
✨Prepare Questions for the Interviewers
Have thoughtful questions ready about the team dynamics, service development, and the integration of care within CFHD. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
