Senior Mental Health Practitioner

  • NHS
  • Part Time
  • Bicester
  • 37338.00 - 44962.00 a year
NHS

Job Description

Job summary

Are you a qualified Mental Health Nurse or Occupational Therapist with a passion for mental health?

Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where you can make a real difference to individuals in crisis?

We are seeking Senior Mental Health Practitioners to join our dedicated and highly motivated team, providing essential mental health support to those in urgent need.

We are keen to hear from enthusiastic, compassionate professionals with experience in mental health care, whether working with children or adults. You should be confident in assessing individuals in distress and providing immediate support.

Working Arrangements

  • The service operates seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, with options for long or short shifts, including days and nights.
  • Flexible working options are available - please contact us to discuss your requirements.
  • While the role is based in Bicester, we are currently trialling a hybrid working model, allowing some remote shifts once established in the team.

What We Offer

  • The opportunity to work in a progressive, multi-agency environment.
  • Comprehensive training and ongoing professional development.
  • Regular high-quality supervision to support your practice.
  • A chance to be part of an innovative and compassionate team making a real difference in people's lives.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Mental Health Practitioner, you will:

  • Triage callers, offering expert self-care advice and referring them to the most appropriate services.
  • Provide brief mental health assessments, ensuring individuals receive timely and effective support.
  • Offer clinical supervision to colleagues, fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment.
  • Work closely with emergency services, including Thames Valley Police and South Central Ambulance Service, to provide expert mental health advice during 999 calls.
  • Liaise with community teams, charities, and IAPT services to deliver integrated care across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

This role operates under the Urgent Care Pathway provided by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

About us

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible.

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

  • Excellent opportunities for career progression
  • Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
  • 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
  • NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
  • Competitive pension scheme
  • Lease car scheme
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Mental Health First Aiders
  • Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
  • Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

If you have any questions or queries about the role or the team, we'd love to hear from you, so please get in touch with Rachel Baxter on rachel.baxter@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

  • Registered Professional (Mental Health nurse or OT)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with the acutely mentally ill in a variety of settings
  • Experience of working closely with other disciplines within a multi-disciplinary team

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of MHA, MCA and other legal frameworks involved in the delivery of mental health care
  • Knowledge of National and local issues concerning mental health
  • Knowledge of safeguarding adults and children

Desirable

  • Specialist levels of applied knowledge related to mental health care, e.g. physical health care, substance misuse, perinatal

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.

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

SCAS HQ Northern House

Bicester

OX26 6HR

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Good luck with your application