Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Assistant Practitioner - Urgent Care

The closing date is 22 June 2025

Job summary

We are delighted to advertise an exciting opportunity for Assistant Practitioners to join the Urgent Care Pathway of Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD). We have opportunities available in our Crisis Teams and our Assertive Outreach team. This role is suitable for individuals who already hold a Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care and are ready to apply their knowledge in a dynamic, high-impact setting.

The Crisis Service provides short-term, intensive mental health support to children and young people experiencing acute psychological distress. The team offers both planned and unplanned responses across extended hours (8am - 10pm, 7 days a week), working closely with families and system partners to deliver care in the least restrictive environment possible.

The Assertive Outreach Team provides intensive, targeted mental health support to young people and families where there is a high risk of hospital admission or placement breakdown. Our team works flexibly and creatively, delivering home-based and community care designed to reduce risk, improve engagement, and strengthen family functioning.

Main duties of the job

Support the assessment and delivery of therapeutic care under supervision of registered practitioners
Work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team to support young people in crisis
Help plan and review care packages and carry out home/community-based interventions
Engage in activities to safeguard and support children, young people, and families
Work across extended hours as part of the crisis rota
Maintaining accurate records and working to high clinical standards
Helping prevent escalation of risk and hospital admissions through relational, intensive support

As with all CFHD roles, you'll benefit from robust supervision, training, and a passionate team culture committed to the voices and needs of children, young people and families.

You will be well supported by experienced clinicians and receive regular clinical and line management supervision.

About us

Successful applicants will be employed by Devon Partnership Trust (https://jobs.dpt.nhs.uk/locations/working-here )

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services, based on the i-Thrive Framework, in response to consultation with our service users and communities.

CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

Our children and young people say

We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Date posted

06 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0439

Job locations

C F H D

Tiverton Way

Tiverton Business Park

Tiverton

EX16 6TG

Evergreen

Victoria Park Road

Exeter

EX2 4NU

Integrated Childrens Services

Fishleigh Road

Roundswell Business Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 3UD

South Devon Healthcare

187 Newton Road

Torquay

TQ2 7BA

Job description

Job responsibilities

Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Previous experience working in a range of different mental health care settings
Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
Working with young people with challenging behaviour and complex health needs
Experience that evidences an ability to tend to diversity and work in a way that promotes antidiscriminatory practice.
Experience of collaborative working in community settings, with professionals across a range of agencies in health, social care and education.
Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies as appropriate

Qualifications

Essential

Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment.
Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification
GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above) OR Level 2 Key Skills / Functional Skills in Maths and English
Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or qualification to diploma level or equivalent

Desirable

Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders / Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder / Social Care.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

Able to travel and work across the area covered by the trust as requested by Line Manager

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Previous experience working in a range of different mental health care settings
Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
Working with young people with challenging behaviour and complex health needs
Experience that evidences an ability to tend to diversity and work in a way that promotes antidiscriminatory practice.
Experience of collaborative working in community settings, with professionals across a range of agencies in health, social care and education.
Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies as appropriate

Qualifications

Essential

Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment.
Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification
GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above) OR Level 2 Key Skills / Functional Skills in Maths and English
Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or qualification to diploma level or equivalent

Desirable

Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders / Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder / Social Care.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

Able to travel and work across the area covered by the trust as requested by Line Manager

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.