Mental Health Practitioner: Sponsorship Available

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Job summary

Are you an experienced mental health practitioner looking for a new challenge? If so, we would love for you to join us in supporting children, young people and families known to Suffolk Youth Justice!

The base for this role can be either West Suffolk House (Bury St Edmunds) or Constantine House (Ipswich) depending on candidate preference.

Children involved in the Justice system have often experienced life events and circumstances which detrimentally affect their mental health; the prevalence of mental health need amongst Justice involved children tends to be higher than the general population, and early intervention is key. We are seeking a pro-active, passionate and experienced mental health practitioner to work within the West/East Suffolk Youth Justice team, to provide consultation, training and direct work to meet this need.

If you have the drive to provide excellent care, can demonstrate high quality clinical skills and are willing to go the extra mile to help make a difference to young people’s lives then we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

Providing consultation to SYJS practitioners where mental health concerns are identified for children and young people open to the service. Consider young peoples’ presenting mental health needs and the most suitable response.

Provide advice and guidance to the SYJS practitioner for working with a young person presenting with emotional wellbeing or mental health needs.

Undertaking direct assessments with children, young people and their families. Determining appropriate treatment response plans, whether that be a time-limited intervention the post holder delivers (typically limited to 12 weeks) or consider the most suitable onwards service to meet the young person’s needs

Supporting the SYJS team through the provision of training and development opportunities.

Key Service Aims

To ensure that vulnerable children aged 0-18 years experiencing emotional or mental health problems have access to timely, integrated, high quality, support from a mental health professional and/or access to suitable referral pathways to specialist mental health assessment, treatment and support for them and their families.

Assessment for those with mild-moderate mental health difficulties based upon an outline of concerns identified by Suffolk Youth Justice Service practitioner and in collaboration with the young person and their family/carer network.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist OR Social Worker with the relevant professional registration
  • Ongoing professional development working towards degree level ( if professional registration is following a diploma level course)

Desirable

  • Recognised Leadership/Management training

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience
  • Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions

Desirable

  • Experience of interagency working

Knowledge

Essential

  • An understanding of the policies and guidelines both local and national e.g. National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines (Government initiative)
  • Up to date knowledge of legal and ethical frameworks including Mental Health Act.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of medication and the monitoring of its effects

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 31 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.