SPOA Mental Health Practitioner; Children & Young

NHS AfC:
Band 6 | Full time – 37.5 hours per week | Permanent | Worthing

Closing date: 3 February 2026

A frontline mental health practitioner role shaping how children and young people access support, working within a newly developed Single Point of Access service.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner to join our new Single Point of Access (SPOA) service in West Sussex. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a developing service designed to ensure children, young people, families and professionals can access the right emotional wellbeing and mental health support at the earliest possible stage.

As an SPOA Mental Health Practitioner, you will provide high-quality clinical screening of referrals, undertaking risk assessments and working closely with referrers to ensure timely, clinically sound outcomes. You will support children, young people and families to access the most appropriate services, provide clear advice and signposting where referrals fall outside criteria, and work collaboratively with partner agencies to support safe and effective pathways.

This is a fast-paced, system-facing role where your clinical judgement will directly influence access, experience and outcomes.

At SPFT, we put people first – both the communities we serve and the colleagues who work here. We’re proud to be rated ‘Outstanding’ for caring by the CQC, and in our latest staff survey 82% of colleagues told us that patient care is our top priority. You’ll be joining an organisation that actively supports flexible working, invests in learning and professional development, encourages innovation, and values compassionate, inclusive leadership.

You’ll be based in Worthing – a coastal town with a strong community feel, offering seaside living and easy access to Brighton, London and Gatwick by rail.

• Band 6 salary: £38,682 – £46,580 per annum
• Flexible working options where possible
• Supportive multidisciplinary and multi-agency environment
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• £2,000 Golden Hello or Relocation Incentive for Band 6 Nurses & Practitioners (pro rata and subject to terms)

You will be a registered mental health professional with post-qualification experience and a strong interest in early intervention, access pathways and system working. You will bring sound risk assessment skills, confidence working with complex presentations, and the ability to make balanced, clinically informed decisions. You will be motivated to work collaboratively across services and help shape a responsive, child-centred access service.

Location:

Swandean Hospital site, Worthing

Hours:

Full time – 37.5 hours per week

Contract:

Permanent

We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and from disabled candidates, who are currently under-represented within our organisation.

If you want a role where your clinical skills directly shape access to care for children and young people, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help build a responsive, compassionate front door into CAMHS services.