Pennine Care NHS FT

Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 19 February 2026

Job summary

Service/Ward/Department Summary:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified and motivated person to join the Older Peoples Mental Health Liaison Team as a Mental Health Practitioner.

This award-winning team is based at The Meadows within the borough of Stockport. The service provides a resource into a variety of settings to support a range of disciplines from health, social care and the third sector to meet the mental health needs of our service users.

Role Summary:

The post holder will be based in the OP Community Mental Health Liaison Team and covers the borough of Stockport. You will work alongside the Urgent Community Response Team to provide specialist mental health nursing advice and a joint assessment service.

You will provide direct care to service users to support individuals who are in crisis because of physical health or social status changes which is directly, or indirectly, impacting on the individual's mental health.

The role also includes communicating and supporting wider health and social care professional groups to model effective approaches of care when supporting individuals with mental health needs.

This post is full time and a seven day service.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities of the Post:

To represent the OP Community Mental Health Liaison Team whilst working across the Stockport borough and to work in conjunction with the Urgent Community Response Team.

Triage all referrals that are made to the service and allocate clinical priority.

To carry out a thorough assessment of the service users' current mental health needs, including risk assessment, psychological needs and cognitive functioning.

To demonstrate the ability to make decisions in relation to the clinical management of individual patients and make critical clinical judgements in relation to mental health and care provision within the community setting.

To be able to assess and manage clients presenting with co-morbidities of physical and mental health needs including the impact of medication and infection.

To model appropriate methods of communication and care delivery to social care staff.

About us

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our#PennineCarePeopleand do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:

  • Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
  • Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
  • Access to Continued Professional Development
  • Involvement in improvement and research activities
  • Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
  • Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel

Details

Date posted

05 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

311-S694-26-A

Job locations

The Meadows

Owens Farm Drive

Offerton, Stockport

SK2 5EQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities of the Post:

To represent the OP Community Mental Health Liaison Team whilst working across the Stockport borough and to work in conjunction with the Urgent Community Response Team.

Triage all referrals that are made to the service and allocate clinical priority.

To carry out a thorough assessment of the service users current mental health needs, including risk assessment, psychological needs and cognitive functioning.

To demonstrate the ability to make decisions in relation to the clinical management of individual patients and make critical clinical judgements in relation to mental health and care provision within the community setting.

To be able to assess and manage clients presenting with co-morbidities of physical and mental health needs including the impact of medication and infection.

To model appropriate methods of communication and care delivery to social care staff.

Key Requirements of the Person Specification:

Registered Mental Health Nurse.

Evidence of continuing professional development to post graduate diploma level.

Experience of working within older peoples mental health inpatient, community or Liaison settings.

Knowledge of medication used in this service user group.

Good working knowledge of physical health problems in the older person and assessment skills in this area.

Awareness of the adult safeguarding process.

This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities of the Post:

To represent the OP Community Mental Health Liaison Team whilst working across the Stockport borough and to work in conjunction with the Urgent Community Response Team.

Triage all referrals that are made to the service and allocate clinical priority.

To carry out a thorough assessment of the service users current mental health needs, including risk assessment, psychological needs and cognitive functioning.

To demonstrate the ability to make decisions in relation to the clinical management of individual patients and make critical clinical judgements in relation to mental health and care provision within the community setting.

To be able to assess and manage clients presenting with co-morbidities of physical and mental health needs including the impact of medication and infection.

To model appropriate methods of communication and care delivery to social care staff.

Key Requirements of the Person Specification:

Registered Mental Health Nurse.

Evidence of continuing professional development to post graduate diploma level.

Experience of working within older peoples mental health inpatient, community or Liaison settings.

Knowledge of medication used in this service user group.

Good working knowledge of physical health problems in the older person and assessment skills in this area.

Awareness of the adult safeguarding process.

This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of identifying mental health conditions prevalent in the older population.
  • Understanding and application of mental health assessment tools utilised in the care of older people.
  • Understanding of current Mental Health Legislation, Vulnerable Adult and Safe Guarding Procedures
  • Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
  • Awareness of NICE Guidance in the treatment of mental health problems and knowledge of treatments and interventions appropriate for individuals with mental health needs
  • Understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues
  • Knowledge of mental health assessment and risk assessment / management processes
  • Comprehensive understanding of deliberate self-harm and appropriate management strategies
  • Comprehensive knowledge regarding the impact of physical health disorders on mental health
  • Medications management

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN)
  • Completion of Preparation for Mentorship / Practice
  • Post registration short course and experience to Post graduate diploma level

Desirable

  • Registered General Nurse (RGN)
  • Non-medical prescribing qualification
  • Formal teaching qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant post registration experience at Band 5 or above.
  • Experience of working within older people's mental health inpatient, community or liaison settings.
  • Experience of implementing programmes to manage BPSD
  • Experience of working with individuals who present to mental health services in crisis and have symptoms of mental health illness
  • Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams
  • Experience of using safeguarding adult procedures

Desirable

  • Experience of working with clients presenting with physical health comorbidity.
  • Experience of triaging referrals.
  • Previous liaison assessment experience.
  • Working knowledge of mental health challenges faced by individuals under the age of 65

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills.
  • Ability to supervise and direct the work of junior staff
  • Ability to construct effective packages of care and risk management plans
  • Ability to execute a range of mental health assessment tools
  • Ability to deliver a range of evidence based interventions.
  • Ability to work autonomously in a community setting
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • To have the ability to devise and present training packages
  • Comprehensive I.T Skills
  • Ability to form productive working relationships with service users, carers and multi-disciplinary staff.
  • Ability to be assertive and maintain a professional demeanour under pressure
  • Good organisational and prioritisation skills.

Desirable

  • Skills in the area of audit or research

Work Related Circumstances

Essential

  • Must be flexible and able to work within a 7 day service, including bank holidays and out of hours on a rota basis.
  • Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
  • Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
  • Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of identifying mental health conditions prevalent in the older population.
  • Understanding and application of mental health assessment tools utilised in the care of older people.
  • Understanding of current Mental Health Legislation, Vulnerable Adult and Safe Guarding Procedures
  • Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
  • Awareness of NICE Guidance in the treatment of mental health problems and knowledge of treatments and interventions appropriate for individuals with mental health needs
  • Understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues
  • Knowledge of mental health assessment and risk assessment / management processes
  • Comprehensive understanding of deliberate self-harm and appropriate management strategies
  • Comprehensive knowledge regarding the impact of physical health disorders on mental health
  • Medications management

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN)
  • Completion of Preparation for Mentorship / Practice
  • Post registration short course and experience to Post graduate diploma level

Desirable

  • Registered General Nurse (RGN)
  • Non-medical prescribing qualification
  • Formal teaching qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant post registration experience at Band 5 or above.
  • Experience of working within older people's mental health inpatient, community or liaison settings.
  • Experience of implementing programmes to manage BPSD
  • Experience of working with individuals who present to mental health services in crisis and have symptoms of mental health illness
  • Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams
  • Experience of using safeguarding adult procedures

Desirable

  • Experience of working with clients presenting with physical health comorbidity.
  • Experience of triaging referrals.
  • Previous liaison assessment experience.
  • Working knowledge of mental health challenges faced by individuals under the age of 65

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills.
  • Ability to supervise and direct the work of junior staff
  • Ability to construct effective packages of care and risk management plans
  • Ability to execute a range of mental health assessment tools
  • Ability to deliver a range of evidence based interventions.
  • Ability to work autonomously in a community setting
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • To have the ability to devise and present training packages
  • Comprehensive I.T Skills
  • Ability to form productive working relationships with service users, carers and multi-disciplinary staff.
  • Ability to be assertive and maintain a professional demeanour under pressure
  • Good organisational and prioritisation skills.

Desirable

  • Skills in the area of audit or research

Work Related Circumstances

Essential

  • Must be flexible and able to work within a 7 day service, including bank holidays and out of hours on a rota basis.
  • Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
  • Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
  • Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.

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

Pennine Care NHS FT

Address

The Meadows

Owens Farm Drive

Offerton, Stockport

SK2 5EQ


Employer's website

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Pennine Care NHS FT

Address

The Meadows

Owens Farm Drive

Offerton, Stockport

SK2 5EQ


Employer's website

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Manager

Janet Challinor

j.challinor@nhs.net

01617164532

Details

Date posted

05 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

311-S694-26-A

Job locations

The Meadows

Owens Farm Drive

Offerton, Stockport

SK2 5EQ


Supporting documents

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