SPOA Mental Health Practitioner

Go back Dorset Health Care University NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 29 January 2026

Access to Wellbeing Single Point of Access Mental Health service have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Community Mental Health Practitioner to join the newly formed team.

To work as a qualified practitioner in the Access Wellbeing Single Point of Access which provides a referral and access point for professionals into Access Wellbeing.

To provide specialist screening and triage via a telephone service, as part of the wider multi- disciplinary care team.

To complete face to face urgent mental health assessments as required.

To provide specialist advice to others in relation to referrals and potential treatment pathways or interventions.

Provide supervision, mentorship, training and clinical support to other professionals and the VCSE Sector as required.

To provide a high-quality person-centred approach to care delivery which always considers people's safety, privacy and dignity.

Please note that the post will not be based at Kings Park Hospital. The role will be located at the designated Single Point of Access (SPOA) site, which will be confirmed in due course.

The role involves screening, assessing, and providing specialist mental health care through the single point of access, including telephone‑based and occasional face‑to‑face assessments, risk management, signposting, and autonomous clinical decision‑making. It requires maintaining advanced, evidence‑based clinical expertise, effective communication of complex and sensitive information, and active involvement in quality improvement through audit, evaluation, and complaint handling.

There are leadership expectations: modelling Trust values, supporting change, and contributing to service development. The post provides guidance, supervision, and training to junior staff, promotes effective multidisciplinary teamwork, and maintains high standards of documentation and data reporting.

Responsibilities also include efficient use of resources, participation in audits and research activity, contributing to policy development, and upholding professional codes of practice. The role demands strong IT competence, continuous professional development, and the ability to challenge poor practice.

Environmental demands include prolonged desk‑based work, sustained concentration, exposure to distressing information, and the need for expert judgement when advising on acute situations.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

At Dorset Health Care 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 almost
800,000 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.

For the main duties and…