Mental Health Practitioner (Developmental)
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
- Hours / week
- 33.75
- Posted
- 06/08/2026
- Closes
- 07/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This is a developmental role for an experienced practitioner or Band 5 Mental Health Nurse/OT to progress to a Band 6 within 6-12 months. The role involves working in the Home Treatment Team, conducting biopsychosocial assessments, providing treatment interventions, and managing medication for patients experiencing mental health crises. The aim is to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and facilitate early discharges. The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and participate in a night-time on-call service.
Essential criteria
- Band 5:
- Mental Health Act.
- Confidentiality.
- Applies knowledge of CPA and Care Co-ordination.
- Psychiatric illnesses especially those on the schizophrenic and bi-polar spectrum plus evidence of giving relevant nursing care.
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines in relation to mental health and the ability to apply evidence-based practice.
Desirable criteria
- Band 5:
- MCA/DOLS.
- Breakaway.
- Networking with other agencies.
- Ethical issues in relation to Mental Health.
- System one/ECPA/computer patient records.
- Interest and awareness of national and local services developments.
- Band 5:
- Multi-disciplinary working.
- Relevant experience of working with adults with a history of severe and enduring mental illness within health-based organisations.
- Band 5:
- Life experience in wide range of settings.
- Experience within a community mental Health setting.
- Caseload management skills
- Band 5:
- RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing- NMC Registration.
- Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration.
- Band 5
- Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
- -
- Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner within a team including:
- Assessment skills.
- Communication and liaison skills.
- Leadership skills/ Supervisory skills.
- Team working skills.
- Self-management ability.
- Prioritising workload/resources
- Administration skills.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Computer skills.
- Risk assessment management.
- Crisis management.
- Lone working.
- Ability to plan/implement a package of care in the community for patients with mental health problems.
- Band 5
- Ability to carry out role of link working within primary care.
- - Independent assessments
- - Planning care and reviewing patients at request of primary care in primary care setting.
- Ability to recognise and support stress in others.
- Mentorship or equivalent.
- Group Interaction Skills.
- Specific Therapeutic interventions.
- Positive risk management.
- Good working knowledge of the Care Quality Commission.
- Band 5:
- Mental Health Act.
- Confidentiality.
- Applies knowledge of CPA and Care Co-ordination.
- Psychiatric illnesses especially those on the schizophrenic and bi-polar spectrum plus evidence of giving relevant nursing care.
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines in relation to mental health and the ability to apply evidence-based practice.
- Band 5:
- MCA/DOLS.
- Breakaway.
- Networking with other agencies.
- Ethical issues in relation to Mental Health.
- System one/ECPA/computer patient records.
- Interest and awareness of national and local services developments.
- Band 5:
- Multi-disciplinary working.
- Relevant experience of working with adults with a history of severe and enduring mental illness within health-based organisations.
- Band 5:
- Life experience in wide range of settings.
- Experience within a community mental Health setting.
- Caseload management skills
- Band 5:
- RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing- NMC Registration.
- Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration.
- Band 5
- Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
- -
- Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner within a team including:
- Assessment skills.
- Communication and liaison skills.
- Leadership skills/ Supervisory skills.
- Team working skills.
- Self-management ability.
- Prioritising workload/resources
- Administration skills.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Computer skills.
- Risk assessment management.
- Crisis management.
- Lone working.
- Ability to plan/implement a package of care in the community for patients with mental health problems.
- Band 5
- Ability to carry out role of link working within primary care.
- - Independent assessments
- - Planning care and reviewing patients at request of primary care in primary care setting.
- Ability to recognise and support stress in others.
- Mentorship or equivalent.
- Group Interaction Skills.
- Specific Therapeutic interventions.
- Positive risk management.
- Good working knowledge of the Care Quality Commission.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 5 at £29,970 – £36,483 a year, across England.
This advert: £32,073 – £39,043 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 24d ago · Closes in 9d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Livewell Southwest
Mental Health Practitioner (Developmental)
The closing date is 07 September 2026
Job summary
33.75 hours per week.
Position in Home Treatment Team.
Are you an experienced practitioner or an ambitious Band 5 Mental Health Nurse/OT who holds
professional registration who aspires to become a band 6?
We have created a fast track development opportunities
within Home Treatment Team, perfect for someone who is keen to work towards
band 6 within 6-12 months, depending on competencies.
Direct entry to band 6 is available for the right candidate.
Applicants MUST HAVE a UK NMC Registration/PIN or state registration as an OT.
These will be permanent roles of 33.75 hours, and the
salary for this Band 5-Band 6 development role will initially be: £32,073 - £39,043 pa, pro rata. (Band 5, before progressing to Band 6).
We will particularly welcome applications from people with
older adult experience (including dementia), acute mental health experience, or
from other health sectors where transferable skills can be demonstrated.
The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team
taking referrals, conducting biopsychosocial assessments and providing
treatment interventions for patients 18 and over who are experiencing mental
health crisis. This includes managing and administering medication and performing physical checks. Good risk assessment
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