Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 08 April 2026

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Mental Health professional to join the established Warrington Mental Health Support Team, delivering mental health support to children and young people across education settings in Warrington.

This post is subject to an enhanced with children's and adult's barred list Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.

This post requires a professional registration:

EMHP Graduate or Post Graduate qualification

CYWP Graduate or Post Graduate qualification

PWP Graduate or Post Graduate qualification

CBT Post Graduate/Diploma Certificate

OR:

Core Professional Qualification in one fo the following areas:-

Nursing - Social Word - Occupational Therapist

Main duties of the job

The role is to hold a caseload, offer risk management and support, support and supervise educational mental health practitioners, offer consultations, undertake Duty responsibilities for the team, work in collaboration with CAMHS teams within the trust and work closely with allocated schools including considering and accepting referrals via school consolation and offering consultancy/training to schools.

The post holder will be expected to provide interventions, advice, consultancy and supervision to both colleagues and colleagues within external partner agencies in line with THRIVE framework.

As a Senior Mental Health Practitioner, the post holder will provide high standards of evidence based client centred care to children and young people with mental health [CYPMH] problems within the THRIVE Framework for service delivery.

As the post is identified within the CYPMH strategy, it is expected the role will continue to develop in line with national and local initiatives.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Details

Date posted

25 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-CC7887062

Job locations

The Alders

Winwick Road

Warrington

WA2 9TN


Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CLINICALTo hold a caseload of both specialist and generic work dependant on clinical competence and experience.

To undertake assessments, treatment and consultation work based upon a conceptual framework and employing research based evidence.

To provide direct therapeutic interventions in line with the grading of the post, including assessments, formulation and therapeutic input into children, young people and families referred into the service.

Undertake risk assessments and care plans accordingly, in line with the THRIVE framework

To work in ways that are sensitive to the needs of children and young people families from a wide range of racial, cultural and religious backgrounds.

To be responsible for the screening of referrals to children and Young Peoples services.

To participate directly in the teams duty rotas.

To exercise responsibility and autonomy, within supervisory, managerial and accountability structures, for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients

To deliver care co-ordination, ensuring effective assessment, care planning and risk management processes are maintained. Involve the views of children, their families, referring agents and other professionals involved in the network of care including organising multi-agency meetings.

To produce a clinical formulation and intervention plan founded on evidence based practice in co-operation with the child young person and carers

To hold responsibility for standards of clinical practice within area of specialist knowledge

To work jointly and collaboratively with other team members in order to enhance and develop the provision of services to young people and their families.

To have an effectiveknowledge base of other modalities so as to engage and work effectively with colleagues in other disciplines.

To provide consultation, advice and guidance to junior colleague. To promote effective multi-agency work.

To contribute theoretical knowledge to the process of managing riskwithin the multi-agency network.

Undertake risk management for all children including the protective and risk factors present in the network of significant relationships.

Identify and respond appropriately to child protection issues, as described with the guidelines of Local Safeguarding Childrens Board and Northwest Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust safeguarding policies

Maintain clear and comprehensive electronic clinical records, to ensure information is accurate and complies with Data Protection Act and professional body and Trust standards.

To engage with using routine outcome measures as clinically appropriate including their use in clinical practice and inputting data into clinical records.

To work collaboratively with children, young people and their families and contribute to the trusts service user participation agenda.

Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CLINICALTo hold a caseload of both specialist and generic work dependant on clinical competence and experience.

To undertake assessments, treatment and consultation work based upon a conceptual framework and employing research based evidence.

To provide direct therapeutic interventions in line with the grading of the post, including assessments, formulation and therapeutic input into children, young people and families referred into the service.

Undertake risk assessments and care plans accordingly, in line with the THRIVE framework

To work in ways that are sensitive to the needs of children and young people families from a wide range of racial, cultural and religious backgrounds.

To be responsible for the screening of referrals to children and Young Peoples services.

To participate directly in the teams duty rotas.

To exercise responsibility and autonomy, within supervisory, managerial and accountability structures, for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients

To deliver care co-ordination, ensuring effective assessment, care planning and risk management processes are maintained. Involve the views of children, their families, referring agents and other professionals involved in the network of care including organising multi-agency meetings.

To produce a clinical formulation and intervention plan founded on evidence based practice in co-operation with the child young person and carers

To hold responsibility for standards of clinical practice within area of specialist knowledge

To work jointly and collaboratively with other team members in order to enhance and develop the provision of services to young people and their families.

To have an effectiveknowledge base of other modalities so as to engage and work effectively with colleagues in other disciplines.

To provide consultation, advice and guidance to junior colleague. To promote effective multi-agency work.

To contribute theoretical knowledge to the process of managing riskwithin the multi-agency network.

Undertake risk management for all children including the protective and risk factors present in the network of significant relationships.

Identify and respond appropriately to child protection issues, as described with the guidelines of Local Safeguarding Childrens Board and Northwest Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust safeguarding policies

Maintain clear and comprehensive electronic clinical records, to ensure information is accurate and complies with Data Protection Act and professional body and Trust standards.

To engage with using routine outcome measures as clinically appropriate including their use in clinical practice and inputting data into clinical records.

To work collaboratively with children, young people and their families and contribute to the trusts service user participation agenda.

Person Specification

Qualifcations

Essential

  • Must hold one of the following:
  • EMHP Graduate or Post Graduate Qualification
  • CYWP Graduate or Post Graduate Qualification
  • PWP Graduate or Post Graduate Qualification
  • CBT Post Graduate Certificate/Diploma
  • OR: Core Professional Qualification in one of the following areas - Nursing - Social Work - Occupational Therapy

Desirable

  • Senior EMHP Qualification
  • Senior CYWP Qualification
  • PWP Supervision Qualification

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of managing a caseload of children and young people with a range of moderate mental health needs.
  • Working within a children community mental health setting
  • Experience of delivering evidence based psychological therapy e.g., CBT
  • Experience of providing supervision
  • Skilled in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, clinical sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups that reflect the full range of clinical severity including a high degree of professionalism in the face of emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
  • Experienced in and the ability to undertake case management and the supervision of students as required.
  • Knowledge and skills in the complete range of approaches within the field as required to meet the needs of different patients and settings.
  • Level of knowledge of the mental health needs of children and adolescents.
  • Have experience in providing risk assessments.
  • Must demonstrate ability to be self reflective and to organise own supervision appropriately.
  • Ability to work within a culturally diverse community in a wide variety of contexts including highly specialist skills for working in settings outside the clinic.
  • Ability to take full clinical responsibility for patient care and treatment, both as a care coordinator and within the context of a multi-disciplinary team.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist therapies in specific difficult to treat groups
  • A level knowledge of theory and practice of specialist therapy / interventions
  • Experience of delivering teaching, training
  • Experience in consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
  • Experience of mental health assessments and therapeutic interventions with children and young people with mental health problems and their families
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision
  • Information technology and management skills using word processing, spreadsheets, database and presentation software
  • Level of knowledge and/or training and other psychological therapies
  • Knowledge and skills in providing consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups.
  • Knowledge of research design and methodology consistent with practice to at least Degree level or equivalent

VALUES

Essential

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Change oriented

Skills

Essential

  • Interpersonal skills of a high level to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in order to convey clinically sensitive information to family members of all ages and to a wide range of lay and professional persons, within and outside of the NHS.
  • Demonstrate the ability to coordinate and lead a multi-agency care plan / risk management plan
  • Knowledge of legislation and strategic frameworks and their implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the full range of client groups.
  • Ability to convey and to model an understanding of the ethical guidelines in all areas of professional conduct
  • Physical stamina to support clinical. caseload which requires intense concentration whilst sitting with client groups
  • Ability to identify and provide appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours.
  • Ability to identify and employ as appropriate clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to respecting and displaying the Trust Values at all times
  • A commitment to the continuous improvement of services using feedback from individual clients, families, user surveys and clinical research
  • Emotional stamina, and resilience to respond constructively in highly stressful situations
  • Ability to organise and co-ordinate areas of work that are complex and demanding

Desirable

  • Ability to demonstrate leadership and management skills to multidisciplinary wo
Person Specification

Qualifcations

Essential

  • Must hold one of the following:
  • EMHP Graduate or Post Graduate Qualification
  • CYWP Graduate or Post Graduate Qualification
  • PWP Graduate or Post Graduate Qualification
  • CBT Post Graduate Certificate/Diploma
  • OR: Core Professional Qualification in one of the following areas - Nursing - Social Work - Occupational Therapy

Desirable

  • Senior EMHP Qualification
  • Senior CYWP Qualification
  • PWP Supervision Qualification

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of managing a caseload of children and young people with a range of moderate mental health needs.
  • Working within a children community mental health setting
  • Experience of delivering evidence based psychological therapy e.g., CBT
  • Experience of providing supervision
  • Skilled in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, clinical sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups that reflect the full range of clinical severity including a high degree of professionalism in the face of emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
  • Experienced in and the ability to undertake case management and the supervision of students as required.
  • Knowledge and skills in the complete range of approaches within the field as required to meet the needs of different patients and settings.
  • Level of knowledge of the mental health needs of children and adolescents.
  • Have experience in providing risk assessments.
  • Must demonstrate ability to be self reflective and to organise own supervision appropriately.
  • Ability to work within a culturally diverse community in a wide variety of contexts including highly specialist skills for working in settings outside the clinic.
  • Ability to take full clinical responsibility for patient care and treatment, both as a care coordinator and within the context of a multi-disciplinary team.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist therapies in specific difficult to treat groups
  • A level knowledge of theory and practice of specialist therapy / interventions
  • Experience of delivering teaching, training
  • Experience in consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
  • Experience of mental health assessments and therapeutic interventions with children and young people with mental health problems and their families
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision
  • Information technology and management skills using word processing, spreadsheets, database and presentation software
  • Level of knowledge and/or training and other psychological therapies
  • Knowledge and skills in providing consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups.
  • Knowledge of research design and methodology consistent with practice to at least Degree level or equivalent

VALUES

Essential

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Change oriented

Skills

Essential

  • Interpersonal skills of a high level to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in order to convey clinically sensitive information to family members of all ages and to a wide range of lay and professional persons, within and outside of the NHS.
  • Demonstrate the ability to coordinate and lead a multi-agency care plan / risk management plan
  • Knowledge of legislation and strategic frameworks and their implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the full range of client groups.
  • Ability to convey and to model an understanding of the ethical guidelines in all areas of professional conduct
  • Physical stamina to support clinical. caseload which requires intense concentration whilst sitting with client groups
  • Ability to identify and provide appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours.
  • Ability to identify and employ as appropriate clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to respecting and displaying the Trust Values at all times
  • A commitment to the continuous improvement of services using feedback from individual clients, families, user surveys and clinical research
  • Emotional stamina, and resilience to respond constructively in highly stressful situations
  • Ability to organise and co-ordinate areas of work that are complex and demanding

Desirable

  • Ability to demonstrate leadership and management skills to multidisciplinary wo

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

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Alders

Winwick Road

Warrington

WA2 9TN


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Alders

Winwick Road

Warrington

WA2 9TN


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Assistant Operational Manager

Dave Mulholland

Dave.Mulholland@merseycare.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

25 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-CC7887062

Job locations

The Alders

Winwick Road

Warrington

WA2 9TN


Supporting documents

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