Job summary The Looked-after Children's Mental Health Team sits within the Integrated LAC Health Service to meet the emotional and mental health needs of children in care. NHFT is rated Outstanding by CQC and the Integrated LAC Health Service is highly regarded in the local area and the team are passionate about improving the mental health outcomes for children in care. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to fulfil the Specialist Mental Health Practitioner role to contribute to the high-quality service we provide. This exciting and varied role will sit within a well-established and highly specialised multi-disciplinary team that is very supportive. Main duties of the job The post-holder will work with children, young people and their carers, as well as providing support and advice to other staff and agencies, including Social Workers within the Local Authority. The clinical part of the role will involve providing direct mental health assessments and interventions to individuals presenting with complex emotional and mental health needs. A key part of the role will involve allocated Duty days responding to urgent queries and undertaking assessment of young people presenting in crisis. Through collaborative risk assessment the post-holder will develop appropriate safety plans and aim to reduce hospital admission and agree a robust community package of care. The ideal candidate will have an adaptable and flexible approach to their work and be committed to providing a high-quality service. You will need to be an enthusiastic and capable team player with excellent clinical skills in order to take the service forward in a positive way. About us NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools.We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Date posted 20 December 2024 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year pa, pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time Reference number 270-TF726-ACS Job locations Newland House Northampton NN1 3EB Job description Job responsibilities For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document. Job description Job responsibilities For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Relevant professional qualification or experience Desirable Post-graduate qualification in relevant therapy or intevention Training in mentoring or supervising students / trainees Experience Essential Direct work experience with children and young people Direct work experience in mental health setting Experience of assessments and therapeutic interventions Experience of conducting risk assessments in a clinical role Desirable Experience working with children in care Experience conducting risk assessments for children and adolescents Experience working with foster carers or residential homes Experience working with young people in crisis or high levels of emotional distress Experience delivering training to other professionals Skills and Abilities Essential Experience of building rapport with clients Able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional and/or care co-ordinator responsibilities as needed Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively and appropriately to children, young people and their carers. Experience of managing/prioritising own workload to manage multiple and competing demands Desirable Skilled in de-escalation or responding to people in distress Knowledge Essential Knowledge of a range of mental health difficulties Clear understanding of risk assessment processes and experience of managing risks Desirable Knowledge of child development and formation of attachment Knowledge of legislation relevant to children in care Person Specification Qualifications Essential Relevant professional qualification or experience Desirable Post-graduate qualification in relevant therapy or intevention Training in mentoring or supervising students / trainees Experience Essential Direct work experience with children and young people Direct work experience in mental health setting Experience of assessments and therapeutic interventions Experience of conducting risk assessments in a clinical role Desirable Experience working with children in care Experience conducting risk assessments for children and adolescents Experience working with foster carers or residential homes Experience working with young people in crisis or high levels of emotional distress Experience delivering training to other professionals Skills and Abilities Essential Experience of building rapport with clients Able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional and/or care co-ordinator responsibilities as needed Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively and appropriately to children, young people and their carers. Experience of managing/prioritising own workload to manage multiple and competing demands Desirable Skilled in de-escalation or responding to people in distress Knowledge Essential Knowledge of a range of mental health difficulties Clear understanding of risk assessment processes and experience of managing risks Desirable Knowledge of child development and formation of attachment Knowledge of legislation relevant to children in care 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Address Newland House Northampton NN1 3EB Employer's website https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)