Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary
The Emergency Response Coordinator is responsible for providing senior clinical leadership and advice within the Emergency Response Service which is a service offering a crisis response to patients 24/7. As a specialist practitioner the role entails the post holder to provide clinical leadership and day to day coordination of clinical practice to support the effective delivery of care across the Crisis Network.

As a coordinator for the team, there will be a need for the post holder to work flexibly in supporting the safe running of the service, providing supervision for lower banded members of the team, with an expectation that they will be involved in face to face and telephone assessments.

There will be a need to work closely with other services such as police, ambulance and the local authority and other local partnership agencies to ensure the effectiveness of outcomes following crisis assessment. By ensuring the co-ordinating support, refer and liaise effectively with all professionals, agencies and other parties involved in service user's support in order to deliver the crisis support package.

Main duties of the job

• To flexibly work shifts covering a twenty-four hour period in order to meet service need.
• Allocate safe distribution of workload and provide coordination of the shift.
• Provide and oversee the clinical management and support of team members.
• Provide clinical supervision for lower banded members of the team.
• Provide and oversee the management and care of service users.
• Produce accurate and timely documentation, conduct and manage the maintenance of accurate and timely documentation / records on all service users in line with your professional code of conduct and Trust policy.
• Undertake specialist assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care in the community for service users with severe / complex mental health conditions/ experiencing episodes of acute psychological distress.

About us
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

• Oversee the conduct/ contribute to the assessment process, as well as the observation and on-going assessment, providing accurate and timely feedback.
• Conduct risk assessment of the individual and of the potential hazards in the service users environment.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings i.e. referral / review / business.
• Report and document incidents as required.
• Conduct and oversee physical health care checks and act upon findings.
• Responsible for administration of medications, assessment of side effects, review concordance and clinical effectiveness of medication regime in line with Trust policy including safe transportation and storage of medicines, checking receipt, storage of medicines in medicine cupboard.
• Provide education around the medication prescribed, side effects, actions and aids to compliance.
• Provide education and support to develop service users understanding of mental illness and training packages for staff.

Please see full Job Description and Person Specification attached

Person Specification
Essential Criteria

• Professional health or social care qualification e.g. Social Work, Occupational Therapy, RMN, RNLD and registration with relevant governing body Qualification at degree level or equivalent Experience in managing and resolving conflicts between professionals and teams In-depth knowledge of Crisis working.
• Extensive experience in leadership role In depth knowledge of wider policy and service issues relating to mental health Experience of working in the community settings in a senior practitioner role. Experience of working with service users with complex care needs requiring higher levels of expertise. Understanding and knowledge of Crisis Care Concordat and associated strategy. Knowledge of Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Procedures Experience in of working closely and developing relationships with senior medical nursing social and clinical staff. Experience in developing relationships and working in partnership with statutory agencies at a management level. Extensive knowledge and experience of organisation development. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively through formal presentation to others. Negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations, including the resolution of complaints which may involve diffusion of hostility and aggression. Proven ability to work with service users and carers who are distressed To demonstrate a 'can do' approach that is practical, decisive and has a positive outcome. Ability to embrace and champion change Experience of managing budgets Skills in motivating staff Experience of social care management Experience of service user and carer initiatives and engagement Ability to empathise with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation Skills in analysing service, organisational and staffing issues. Skills in analysing highly complex facts and conflicting information. Keyboard and computer literacy skills Car driver To work full internal rotation (12 hour shifts)
• Ability to work under pressure and ability to contain and manage the stress of others and oneself Ability to frequently sustain periods of prolonged concentration for data analysis, report writing etc. Ability to manage unpredictable work patterns and changing deadlines Ability to deal with exposure to highly distressing situations Ability to contain the emotional impact of working with people with mental health problems Evidence of user focus in the development, organisation, delivery and evaluation of care. Excellent communication skills with ability to write high level reports to a variety of audiences. Ability to ensure that teams or colleagues are supported to achieve targets. Self-awareness with the ability to understand and moderate one's own behaviour depending on the impact on others. Able to support the development of team members to achieve their potential Able to take personal responsibility for ensuring that diversity is respected and that there is genuine equality of opportunity.

Desirable Criteria

• Degree in management
• Facilitation skills Advanced keyboard skills
• Demonstrate ability to develop services through representation at the national level

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: The Linden Centre, Woodlands Drive, Chelmsford, CM1 7LF, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

For questions about the job, contact:
Service Manager
Chloe Cawston
View email address on meeveem.com
View phone number on meeveem.com

Date posted: 22 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 364-A-9907-C
Job locations: The Linden Centre, Woodlands Drive, Chelmsford, CM1 7LF, United Kingdom

Supporting documents
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to equality of opportunity and diversity. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.