Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 16 November 2025

Job summary

The role of the clinician is to respond to referrals made to the duty team from a variety of sources. To prioritise work according to the level of urgency. To work closely with young people, their carers and other professionals to facilitate a safe plan of care.

To support tier 3 CAMHS with young people who are awaiting allocation of a Lead Practitioner, therapeutic work or are waiting for an initial assessment with therapeutic interventions.

To respond to referrals from A&E and acute hospital wards and carry out comprehensive assessments including risk assessment and safety care planning. To ensure high quality communication and effective relationships within the Duty and Liaison Team and our general hospital colleagues, other agencies and carers.

To work with general hospital staff providing interventions and support to patients who are staying on acute hospital wards awaiting the allocation of appropriate mental health services.

Main duties of the job

1. To develop & maintain specialist clinical skills and expertise in the assessment of young people referred the duty and liaison team via East Sussex Hospitals Trust

2. You will be supporting young people who are presenting with a mental health crisis via telephone, Attend Anywhere or offering face to face assessments.

3. To offer advice on management of patients with mental health issues and non organically based physical symptoms.

4. To ensure assessment, care and support of each client is appropriate to individual needs.

5. To feed back outcome of assessment to the referrer and agree care and risk plans.

6. To ensure that children and young people requiring further assessment and help are referred on appropriately.

7. To provide consultation to other professionals regarding mental health issues in relation to young people and their families

8. To know how to access appropriate services and develop effective networks and channels of communications.

9. to adhere to relevant code of Professional Conduct.

10. To attend case conferences & meetings as relevant to the job description.

11. Work in accordance with Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS and East Sussex Hospital trusts' policies, guidelines and protocols.

About us

At Sussex Partnership we are committed to providing opportunities forflexible working. If you would like to work differently or different hours to as advertised, please get in touch to discuss this in more detail.

If you haven't thought about living in Sussexbefore then you should consider the following:

  • Journey from the coast to the countryside in minutes
  • Enjoy a lifestyle where there are renowned cycle routes and picturesque walks, including the famous South Downs Way in the South Downs National Park!
  • Embrace taking time to discover all the miles of scenic coastline, including Hastings, Bexhill on Sea and Eastbourne
  • Easy access to airports - Gatwick and Heathrow are both within 90 minutes of the county, providing links to Europe and beyond
  • Brighton and Hove or London are within easy reach via local and national bus routes and national mainline stations

Details

Date posted

31 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-CS-21804

Job locations

St Anne Centre - Conquest Hospital

The Ridge

Hastings

TN37 7RD


Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be a qualified registered professional with a core qualification, you will have experience working in CAMHS Duty or liaison - or in a similar role. You will have a number of years of experience in mental health setting.

You will be able to demonstrate excellent consultation, communication and collaboration skills, and a successful / effective approach when working with a range of stakeholders / agencies within Health and Criminal Justice contexts. You will also be able to demonstrate experience in leadership roles, and will be an effective teacher, trainer and mentor to the staff you lead and support.

See Attached JD and PS for full details of role

For further details about this role or to arrange an informal visit, please contact:

Nicki Cassidy

nicki.cassidy1@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be a qualified registered professional with a core qualification, you will have experience working in CAMHS Duty or liaison - or in a similar role. You will have a number of years of experience in mental health setting.

You will be able to demonstrate excellent consultation, communication and collaboration skills, and a successful / effective approach when working with a range of stakeholders / agencies within Health and Criminal Justice contexts. You will also be able to demonstrate experience in leadership roles, and will be an effective teacher, trainer and mentor to the staff you lead and support.

See Attached JD and PS for full details of role

For further details about this role or to arrange an informal visit, please contact:

Nicki Cassidy

nicki.cassidy1@nhs.net

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy or Nursing/Social Work
  • Evidence of post qualification study
  • Registration with the HPC, NMC or Social Work England
  • Training in the use of standardised assessment tools

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience as a qualified mental health practitioner
  • Broad experience of working with young people with a range of mental health problems
  • Experience of multidisciplinary working
  • Experience of supervising staff and students
  • Experience with Looked after and Adopted children
  • Experience of multi-agency work
  • Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of clinical approaches
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy or Nursing/Social Work
  • Evidence of post qualification study
  • Registration with the HPC, NMC or Social Work England
  • Training in the use of standardised assessment tools

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience as a qualified mental health practitioner
  • Broad experience of working with young people with a range of mental health problems
  • Experience of multidisciplinary working
  • Experience of supervising staff and students
  • Experience with Looked after and Adopted children
  • Experience of multi-agency work
  • Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of clinical approaches

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

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Anne Centre - Conquest Hospital

The Ridge

Hastings

TN37 7RD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Anne Centre - Conquest Hospital

The Ridge

Hastings

TN37 7RD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Service Manager

Nicki Cassidy

nicki.cassidy1@nhs.net

03003040327

Details

Date posted

31 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-CS-21804

Job locations

St Anne Centre - Conquest Hospital

The Ridge

Hastings

TN37 7RD


Supporting documents

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