Mental Health Practitioner - Urgent Care

Job Summary

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is excited to advertise for a Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner to join our Crisis Service, part of the Urgent Care Pathway. The Crisis Service provides rapid mental health assessment and brief intervention for children and young people experiencing acute emotional distress. We work to reduce risk, prevent hospital admissions, and support young people to stay safely in their communities, offering trauma-informed, collaborative care at a time of greatest need.

The service operates 8am to 10pm, seven days a week, with flexible rota-based working to support timely and responsive care.

• Undertake timely mental health assessments for children and young people presenting in crisis.
• Deliver short-term, evidence-based interventions to reduce distress and risk.
• Work collaboratively with families, schools, social care, and other health professionals to create safe and effective care plans.

This role offers excellent supervision, ongoing development, and the chance to build specialist skills in youth crisis care and trauma-informed practice. Whether you are newly qualified or experienced, we would love to hear from you.

Successful applicants will be employed by Devon Partnership Trust ().

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, provided by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. We work with other organisations to deliver locality and county-wide access to services based on the i-Thrive Framework.

CFHD collaborates with local universities and supports students in clinical training placements and staff postgraduate training. Our integrated care and treatment has been developed in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

Our approach is rooted in evidence-based practices and regular outcome assessments. We emphasise a strength-based methodology and promote collaborative work with people. This role centers on managing risk and evaluating mental health presentations in the community. You will respond to urgent and routine needs, whether planned or unforeseen, and you will work across clinical, community, and home-based settings to meet the specific requirements of each child.

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

Date posted: 14 January 2026

Pay scheme:
Agenda for change
Band:
Band 5
Salary: £31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract:

Permanent
Working pattern:
Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number: C-2

Job location:

Evergreen, Victoria Park Road, Exeter, EX2 4NU

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.

Our approach is rooted in evidence-based practices and regular outcome assessments. We emphasise a strength-based methodology, promoting collaborative work with people. This role centers on managing risk and evaluating mental health presentations in the community. You will be expected to respond to both urgent and routine needs, whether planned or unforeseen. Flexibility is key, as you will work across various clinical, community, and home-based settings to meet the specific requirements of each child.

Qualifications

• A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent e.g. Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy.
• Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body, e.g. NMC, HCPC, Social Work England.
• ASYE may be required for newly qualified social workers to complete within the first 12 months of employment with the Trust.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development

Experience

• Postgraduate experience working within mental health environments or willingness to complete the DPT preceptorship programme
• Desirable: experience managing a caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems
• Desirable: sound theoretical knowledge of children and young people mental health practice
• Desirable: working within a community setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector
• Desirable: experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment

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…