Mental Health Practitioner - Initial Response Service
Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
Norwich, NR1 2DH
Salary
£39,959 to £48,117
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
6 September 2026
6 days left
Job description
Be the difference at the moment it matters most. We are looking for skilled, compassionate and motivated Mental Health Practitioners (Band 6) to join ...
- Undertake comprehensive telephone and digital triage assessments for individuals presenting with mental health needs, including those experiencing acute distress, self-harm or suicidal ideation.
- Complete holistic mental health and risk assessments and formulate safe, person-centred care plans.
- Determine the most appropriate pathway of care and coordinate urgent interventions, referrals and onward support.
- Work collaboratively with service users, carers, GPs, emergency services, acute hospitals and community mental health teams to ensure timely access to care.
- Provide clinical advice, supervision and support to call handlers, senior call handlers and less experienced clinicians.
- Contribute to service leadership, quality improvement, audit and the ongoing development of the Initial Response Service.
We recognise that this opportunity may be particularly attractive to colleagues affected by organisational change. The IRS offers a chance to bring your expertise, knowledge and experience into a pioneering service that will become the front door to mental health services across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!
Some of the benefits you can expect
- NHS pension
- a comprehensive in house & external training programmes
- career progression
- starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
- staff physio service
- NHS discounts and many more.
Please visit our Facebook and Twitter page @NSFTjobs
Interviews are yet to be confirmed, and candidates may only be given a minimum of 3 days notice. You will be contacted via email and invited to book a time. These emails may go to your SPAM, so please keep checking all your emails if applying.
At Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, inclusion is at the heart of how we work. We are committed to creating a fair, transparent and accessible recruitment process where every candidate has the opportunity to succeed.
We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, particularly those currently underrepresented in our workforce, including those from the global majority. We recognise that not everyone has equal access to opportunities and are working to address this.
We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and ensuring all candidates receive a positive and equitable experience.
Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.
Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to assess service users' presenting problems and needs, quickly and accurately, under pressure
- Ability to determine the most appropriate course of action from a range of available options
- Ability to communicate clearly the outcomes of assessment, verbally and in writing
Knowledge
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of mental health problems
- In-depth knowledge of issues that impact upon people with mental health problems
- Detailed knowledge of the impact of risk and protective factors that affect people with mental health problems
- Knowledge of medication prescribed for management of mental health issues
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised core Mental Health Professional Qualification (e.g., RMN/DipSW/OT
- Mentorship qualification or ENB998 equivalent. Willingness to become sign-off mentor
Desirable
- Management course or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of post qualification clinical work with service users experiencing a range of mental health problems
- Experience of delivering evidence based interventions in a time-limited framework
- Evidence of assessment across a broad range of mental health problem
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
24 August 2026
Last checked
26 August 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.
Similar roles
Explore related