ARRS Assistant Practitioner
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Shaftesbury, SP7 8DH
Salary
£17,035 to £18,694
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
20 September 2026
15 days left
Job description
Are you passionate about supporting people with their mental health and wellbeing? Dorset HealthCare is looking for a compassionate and motivated ARRS...
As an ARRS Assistant Practitioner, you will support individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties to improve their wellbeing, build resilience, and achieve personal recovery goals. Working within a multidisciplinary Primary Care team, you will deliver brief interventions, provide psychoeducation, promote self-management techniques, and support lifestyle changes that enhance mental and physical health. You will help people access community resources, social support networks, voluntary sector services, and wellbeing activities that reduce isolation and encourage independence. The role involves developing positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers, undertaking brief assessments, maintaining accurate records, and working collaboratively with GPs, Mental Health Practitioners, Social Prescribers, and partner organisations. Playing a key role in promoting recovery, social inclusion, and compassionate community-based care while ensuring services are person-centred, accessible, and responsive to local needs.
Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare, equivalent, or willingness to work towards achieving this
- Working knowledge, focussing on recovery of people mental health difficulties to a diploma level or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Commitment to undertake Continuing Personal Development
Desirable
- Basic level of knowledge of Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Recent experience of working in mental health services with this client group
- Genuine interest and motivation to work with people experiencing mental health issues
- Ability to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers
- Ability to acknowledge and promote diversity, ensuring anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities
- Ability to act calmly in emergency situations and respond in a professional manner to stressful and challenging behaviour
- Ability to work autonomously and unsupervised in a range of settings
Desirable
- Experience of dealing with emotional distress
- Experience of supporting socially isolated people
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY / RESOURCES
Essential
- Experience of electronic patient / service user record systems, data entry and reporting
- Written communication skills to enable completion of records
Desirable
- An understanding of the Mental Health services
- Awareness of local services and the ability to promote close working relationships with outside agencies
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Essential
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively.
- Subject to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
4 September 2026
Last checked
5 September 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
Explore related