Mental Health Practitioner - Crisis Care Team

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 09 May 2025

Job summary

Mental Health Practitioner

Full time - 37.5hrs per week

Permanent post

This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate who has an interest and experience in working with young people experiencing mental health crisis,. The Crisis Care Service operates 24hrs per day 7 days per week, and provides intervention and support to children, young people and families experiencing mental health crisis.

This role is in a department that operates on a 24/7 shift basis and therefore enables staff to qualify for unsocial enhancements in addition to their basic pay.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide a substantial contribution to the clinical work of the multi-disciplinary team, including accepting, prioritising, assessing urgent referrals for children and their families.

Clinicians will work across Alder Hey Hospital and Ormskirk District General Hospital in both Accident and Emergency Department and inpatient wards completing bio-psycho-social assessments on children and young people in mental health crisis.

Another function of this role will be supporting callers to the crisis care line which offers advice and guidance to those in crisis on a 24/7 hour basis.

Working as part of the MDT, clinicians will formulate risk plans and a safe discharge process with support from senior clinicians. The post holder will support junior members of staff though supervision and mentorship and will participate in service development and national initiatives.

About us

In April 2020, the Crisis Care team moved rapidly to a 24hr service to provide support for Children, Young People and families experiencing Mental Health Crisis in Sefton and Liverpool.

The service operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week and comprises of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, Nursing, Social Workers, Keyworkers and Assistant Psychologists to provide 24hr urgent response and assessment to children and young people who are experiencing mental health crisis, as well support to parents/carers, and consultation to other professionals involved in their care.

Alder Hey are offering excellent benefit schemes;

Refer a friend - Alder Hey staff

Successful candidates who are introduced to the trust by existing staff members will receive £1000 after completion of six months in post. Please include the name/Alder Hey email for your friend in your additional information.

This will be paid in two parts, £250 in first month pay on commencement in post, and £750 on completion of six months.

Accommodation

Alder Hey will support the cost of accommodation for up to 3 months from the date of employment (up to £500 per month)

The cost is to be paid by the staff member and reclaimed as expenses.

Relocation package

Relocation packages to support new hires and will be consulted on an individual basis

Date posted

25 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

411-COM-25-7105040-A

Job locations

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Liverpool

L12 2AP


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, please take a look at the job description and person specification attachments.
  • The post holders must be able to demonstrate a positive attitude which encompasses our Trust Values of excellence, innovation, openness, respect and together.
  • If you are enthusiastic and confident with a friendly and outgoing manner, and a focus on providing the best possible service to patients we would like to hear from you.
  • For more information about this post, or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Zoe Bentley.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, please take a look at the job description and person specification attachments.
  • The post holders must be able to demonstrate a positive attitude which encompasses our Trust Values of excellence, innovation, openness, respect and together.
  • If you are enthusiastic and confident with a friendly and outgoing manner, and a focus on providing the best possible service to patients we would like to hear from you.
  • For more information about this post, or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Zoe Bentley.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Experience and Training

Essential

  • Qualified in core profession -or - recognised degree level H&SC qual with completed KSA AND Qualification in a therapeutic modality
  • Professional Registration (where applicable)
  • postgraduate/post qualification experience of working in a mental health or social care setting
  • experience working in an MDT setting

Desirable

  • experience of working in CAMHS

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate application of therapeutic, reflection and analytical skills
  • Able to provide, (with appropriate supervision), assessment of emergency/ self-harming behaviour and management of this
  • Must demonstrate a working knowledge of health, education, social services and the voluntary sector.
  • Awareness of recent government initiatives about mental health
  • Organisational skills to manage and prioritise workload balance appropriately
  • Must demonstrate utilisation of professional development planning in own career progression

Desirable

  • Knowledge of audit and evaluation methodology

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Enthusiasm for and appreciation of multidisciplinary and multiagency working
  • Must demonstrate a professional manner
  • Excellent communication skills
Person Specification

Qualifications, Experience and Training

Essential

  • Qualified in core profession -or - recognised degree level H&SC qual with completed KSA AND Qualification in a therapeutic modality
  • Professional Registration (where applicable)
  • postgraduate/post qualification experience of working in a mental health or social care setting
  • experience working in an MDT setting

Desirable

  • experience of working in CAMHS

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate application of therapeutic, reflection and analytical skills
  • Able to provide, (with appropriate supervision), assessment of emergency/ self-harming behaviour and management of this
  • Must demonstrate a working knowledge of health, education, social services and the voluntary sector.
  • Awareness of recent government initiatives about mental health
  • Organisational skills to manage and prioritise workload balance appropriately
  • Must demonstrate utilisation of professional development planning in own career progression

Desirable

  • Knowledge of audit and evaluation methodology

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Enthusiasm for and appreciation of multidisciplinary and multiagency working
  • Must demonstrate a professional manner
  • Excellent communication skills

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

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Liverpool

L12 2AP


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Liverpool

L12 2AP


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Specialist Practitioner Crisis Care

Zoe Bentley

Zoe.Bentley@alderhey.nhs.uk

Date posted

25 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

411-COM-25-7105040-A

Job locations

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Liverpool

L12 2AP


Supporting documents

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