Senior Mental Health Practitioner - Suffolk Youth Justice

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

The closing date is 12 May 2025

Job summary

Are you an experienced mental health practitioner looking for a new challenge? If so, we would love for you to join us in supporting children, young people and families known to Suffolk Youth Justice!

Children involved in the Justice system have often experienced life events and circumstances which detrimentally affect their mental health; the prevalence of mental health need amongst Justice involved children tends to be higher than the general population, and early intervention is key. We are seeking a pro-active, passionate and experienced mental health practitioner to work within the West Suffolk Youth Justice team, to provide consultation, training and direct work to meet this need.

If you have the drive to provide excellent care, can demonstrate high quality clinical skills and are willing to go the extra mile to help make a difference to young people's lives then we would love to hear from you.

Please see the attached recruitment letter for further information.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

Providing consultation to SYJS practitioners where mental health concerns are identified for children and young people open to the service. Consider young peoples' presenting mental health needs and the most suitable response.

Provide advice and guidance to the SYJS practitioner for working with a young person presenting with emotional wellbeing or mental health needs.

Undertaking direct assessments with children, young people and their families. Determining appropriate treatment response plans, whether that be a time-limited intervention the post holder delivers (typically limited to 12 weeks) or consider the most suitable onwards service to meet the young person's needs.

Supporting the SYJS team through the provision of training and development opportunities.

Delivering brief evidence-based interventions, informed by robust formulation of the child or young person's presenting difficulties and needs.

About us

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum/ pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

246-WSU6988695-A

Job locations

G Block

Hospital Road

Bury St Edmunds

IP333NR


Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Service Aims

To ensure that vulnerable children aged 0-18 years experiencing emotional or mental health problems have access to timely, integrated, high quality, support from a mental health professional and/or access to suitable referral pathways to specialist mental health assessment, treatment and support for them and their families.

Assessment for those with mild-moderate mental health difficulties based upon an outline of concerns identified by Suffolk Youth Justice Service practitioner and in collaboration with the young person and their family/carer network.

Signposting or referring on to appropriate services, or transfer to the appropriate mental health team or Forensic CAMHS for those young people whose mental health or forensic needs are more complex or can be better met elsewhere.

Provide a face-to-face service for those who dont meet criteria for other mental health services, for either individuals or family, provided they fit the remit of the role and are early and brief in intervention, typically no longer than a 12-session episode.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Service Aims

To ensure that vulnerable children aged 0-18 years experiencing emotional or mental health problems have access to timely, integrated, high quality, support from a mental health professional and/or access to suitable referral pathways to specialist mental health assessment, treatment and support for them and their families.

Assessment for those with mild-moderate mental health difficulties based upon an outline of concerns identified by Suffolk Youth Justice Service practitioner and in collaboration with the young person and their family/carer network.

Signposting or referring on to appropriate services, or transfer to the appropriate mental health team or Forensic CAMHS for those young people whose mental health or forensic needs are more complex or can be better met elsewhere.

Provide a face-to-face service for those who dont meet criteria for other mental health services, for either individuals or family, provided they fit the remit of the role and are early and brief in intervention, typically no longer than a 12-session episode.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Nursing degree or equivalent, Dip OT, Clinical Psychology or equivalent
  • Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice

Experience

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous experience
  • Demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience.
  • Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions

Desirable

  • Experience in supporting service development

Skills

Desirable

  • Able to time manage and reflect on clinical practice

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of psychosocial interventions
  • An understanding of the policies and guidelines both local and national e.g. National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines (Government initiative)

Other

Essential

  • Ability to travel independently
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Nursing degree or equivalent, Dip OT, Clinical Psychology or equivalent
  • Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice

Experience

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous experience
  • Demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience.
  • Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions

Desirable

  • Experience in supporting service development

Skills

Desirable

  • Able to time manage and reflect on clinical practice

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of psychosocial interventions
  • An understanding of the policies and guidelines both local and national e.g. National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines (Government initiative)

Other

Essential

  • Ability to travel independently

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

G Block

Hospital Road

Bury St Edmunds

IP333NR


Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

G Block

Hospital Road

Bury St Edmunds

IP333NR


Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Kate Budge

Katie.budge@nsft.nhs.uk

07795062324

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum/ pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

246-WSU6988695-A

Job locations

G Block

Hospital Road

Bury St Edmunds

IP333NR


Supporting documents

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