Assessment Practitioner

Join Our Team as an Assessment Practitioner

Location: Eccles, Manchester (with regular travel across our services)

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Help Shape Recovery Journeys Across Our Services

At Northern Healthcare, we believe that recovery is possible for everyone.

Every day, we support adults living with complex mental health needs, learning disabilities, autism and behaviours that may challenge to build meaningful, independent lives within welcoming, recovery-focused environments. Through our Supported Living services, we provide person-centred care that empowers people to develop confidence, achieve personal goals and become active members of their communities.

We have services across the North West, Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Midlands and we're continuing to grow.

We're looking for an experienced, compassionate Assessment Practitioner to become a key part of our clinical team. This is a unique opportunity to influence people's recovery from the very beginning by assessing whether our services are the right fit and ensuring every individual has the best possible start to their journey with Northern Healthcare.

The Role

As an Assessment Practitioner, you'll play a vital role in identifying and assessing individuals referred to our services, helping to determine whether Northern Healthcare can safely and effectively meet their needs.

Working across multiple sites, you'll travel throughout our regions to complete comprehensive clinical assessments, working closely with referrers, families, commissioners and our operational teams. Your professional judgement will help shape admissions, minimise risks and ensure every new person we support receives the right care, in the right environment at the right time.

No two days are the same. You'll meet people from a wide variety of backgrounds, each with their own strengths, challenges and aspirations, ensuring every assessment is thorough, person-centred and recovery focused.

What You'll Be Doing

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial and clinical assessments for individuals referred to Northern Healthcare.
• Travel across our services to meet potential new residents, assess suitability and support the admissions process.
• Develop clear clinical recommendations that support safe, effective placement decisions.
• Complete detailed risk assessments and formulate positive risk management plans.
• Work collaboratively with commissioners, care coordinators, families, hospitals, community teams and multidisciplinary professionals throughout the referral process.
• Support smooth transitions into our services by developing person-centred admission and transition plans.
• Contribute specialist clinical knowledge to complex case discussions and placement decisions.
• Provide guidance to operational teams to ensure new people we support receive high-quality, recovery-focused care from day one.
• Ensure all assessments are evidence-based, outcome-focused and compliant with professional standards, safeguarding legislation and best practice guidance.
• Promote a culture of dignity, choice, independence and positive recovery throughout every stage of the assessment process.

Why This Role Matters

An assessment is much more than completing paperwork.

It's often the first opportunity to understand someone's story, recognise their strengths, identify the support they need and determine how they can flourish within one of our services.

Your work will directly influence life-chang-ning decisions, helping people move from hospital settings or unsuitable placements into environments where they can rebuild confidence, develop independence and achieve lasting recovery.

You’ll be instrumental in ensuring every person joining Northern Healthcare has the opportunity to succeed in a service that's right for them.

What We’re Looking For

We're looking for an experienced clinician who is passionate about recovery, confident in autonomous decision-making and committed to delivering high-quality assessments.

Essential

• Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN), Occupational Therapist (OT), or Social Worker with current professional registration.
• Minimum of two years' post-registration experience within mental health, learning disability or autism services.
• Strong clinical assessment and formulation skills.
• Experience completing complex risk assessments.
• Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding legislation and best practice guidance.
• Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written communication and report-writing skills.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly across multiple services.

You’ll Also Be

• Passionate about recovery-focused, person-centred care.
• Compassionate, empathetic and professionally curious.
• Confident communicating with a wide range of professionals and stakeholders.
• Organised and able to manage a varied workload across multiple locations.
• Flexible, proactive and comfortable working independently.
• Committed to delivering the highest standards of safeguarding and clinical practice.

What We Offer

We value the expertise and commitment of our colleagues and offer a supportive environment where you can continue to develop professionally while making a genuine difference.

You’ll Benefit From

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Flexible Monday to Friday working pattern
• Ongoing clinical training and professional development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Employee recognition awards and Refer-a-Friend bonus scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential wellbeing support
• Free on-site parking
• Fully funded Enhanced DBS check
• The opportunity to work alongside passionate, experienced professionals who share a commitment to recovery and excellence