Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner

Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 01 June 2026.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in Darlington Community Mental Health Services.

As a senior practitioner you will have a genuine interest in collaborative working with people of varying ages and complex needs, including service users, carers, families and our partners including statutory and voluntary agencies.

The successful candidate will participate in a range of interventions working across the Hub and Treatment Teams including triage, complex assessments, depot clinics, diagnostic assessments for the neurodiverse client group and psychosocial interventions.

The successful candidate may also be required to provide ongoing coaching support, clinical and caseload supervision to junior colleagues and wider members of the MDT.

Nursing candidates must have 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework at the time of applying.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

As a registered professional this is an ideal opportunity for someone who wants to develop their leadership and clinical skills in a community setting. As a core member of the team, you will also be responsible for delivering intervention in the community with people who have complex needs, ranging from mild to moderate level of need to severe and enduring level of need and complexity. You will ensure that the service users' recovery goals are identified and central to their Safety plans, promoting social inclusion, independence and well-being. You will demonstrate excellent assessment skills, interpersonal, and team working skills and be able to work collaboratively with a range of statutory and third sector agencies.

You will have an enthusiastic approach towards your own personal and professional development. In return, you will receive regular appraisal, clinical, management and caseload supervision and will benefit from the support of an experienced and committed multi-disciplinary leadership team.

Job responsibilities

Due to the nature of the role, it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Demonstrable knowledge to post‑graduate level of evidence‑based practice in caring for patients in the designated field.
• Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act).
• Detailed understanding of safeguarding and its application in practice.
• Clinical risk assessment and management and its application in practice.
• Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment.
• The Trust's Quality Improvement System (QIS).
• Research and development methodology.
• Clinical governance and its application in practice.

Experience

• Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a care environment.
• Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
• Mentoring or facilitating students on practice placement.
• Working in a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Leadership or management experience.
• Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community environment.
• Quality improvement activities.
• Providing clinical supervision to individuals or groups as professionally appropriate.

Qualifications

• Current professional registration with an approved professional body.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework.
• Recognised sign‑off mentor, clinical educator or equivalent. Must be achieved within agreed timescale.
• Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent).
• For registered nurses: MIP, FLIP, ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice or City & Guilds 730 Teaching in Adult Education. Must be achieved within agreed timescale.
• Post‑graduate qualification in a relevant area.

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.