Job Description

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is recruiting two Senior Mental Health Practitioners to join our Urgent Care Pathway based in South Devon & Torbay. These roles are offered as one year fixed term contracts.
The Urgent Care team supports children and young people experiencing mental health crisis, delivering timely assessment, intervention and safety planning. The service operates 9am to 10pm, seven days a week, and successful candidates will contribute to a rota that includes evenings and weekends.
Working as part of a friendly, experienced multi-disciplinary team, you will provide crisis care that is trauma-informed, compassionate and youth-centred.
Main duties of the job
Deliver crisis assessments, safety plans, and brief interventions for young people in distress
Respond flexibly to urgent presentations, often in partnership with families and schools
Participate in a rota covering daytime and evening hours, including weekends
Liaise with education, social care and acute services to ensure joined-up care
Support service development, quality improvement and reflective team practice
We Offer:
A welcoming and supportive Urgent Care team in either locality
Clinical supervision, peer support, and opportunities for CPD
The opportunity to make a meaningful impact at a critical time for young people and families
If you are a qualified and compassionate mental health professional looking to specialise in youth crisis care, we would love to hear from you.
About us
Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.
CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health which are provided by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services, based on the i-Thrive Framework.
CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training.
Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.
Our children and young people say
We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.
Details
Date posted
04 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
38,682 to 46,580 a year
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
1 years
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9369-25-0735
Job locations
South Devon Healthcare
187 Newton Road
Torquay
TQ2 7BA
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full job description and person specification please refer to the job description attached to this advert, which will provide further information on this role. Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full job description and person specification please refer to the job description attached to this advert, which will provide further information on this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, Social Work Degree, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, or equivalent
• Active registration as with the appropriate professional body e.g. NMC, HCPC

Desirable

• Recognised qualification in evidenced-based therapeutic, mental health interventions for children/young people and their families/carers

Experience
Essential

• Substantial experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload and working with children/young people presenting with a range of complex mental health presentations.
• Working within a community CAMHS mental health setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with children/young people of all ages experiencing a wide range of mental health presentations.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings, sharing own professional knowledge, skills and expertise, whilst valuing the perspective of others.
• Able to produce well written reports.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area in a timely manner and in accordance with service need.
• Computer literacy.
• There will be a requirement to work extended hours which may vary depending on agreed job plan. The Crisis service operates between the hours of 9am and 10pm, 7 days per week, for unplanned crisis care and between the hours of 9am and 8pm (Monday-Friday) and 9am and 5pm Sat/Sun/BH for planned

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, Social Work Degree, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, or equivalent
• Active registration as with the appropriate professional body e.g. NMC, HCPC

Desirable

• Recognised qualification in evidenced-based therapeutic, mental health interventions for children/young people and their families/carers

Experience
Essential

• Substantial experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload and working with children/young people presenting with a range of complex mental health presentations.
• Working within a community CAMHS mental health setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with children/young people of all ages experiencing a wide range of mental health presentations.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings, sharing own professional knowledge, skills and expertise, whilst valuing the perspective of others.
• Able to produce well written reports.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area in a timely manner and in accordance with service need.
• Computer literacy.
• There will be a requirement to work extended hours which may vary depending on agreed job plan. The Crisis service operates between the hours of 9am and 10pm, 7 days per week, for unplanned crisis care and between the hours of 9am and 8pm (Monday-Friday) and 9am and 5pm Sat/Sun/BH for planned

Skills Required