Job Description

West Sussex CAMHS Duty and Liaison Service
Mental Health Practitioner - Band 5/6
Based acrossWest Sussex
Do you want to work for an inspiring and expanding service within CAMHS? If so then we would love to hear from you.
The West Sussex Duty and Liaison Team offers an exciting opportunity for band 5/6 Mental Health Practitioners keen to apply their skills across a range of settings to help young people in crisis.
This role can be offered as a development opportunity for Band 5 staff with the expectation of progression to band 6 within a year.
This role offers the perfect opportunity for career development due to the skills that you will learn through this type of work, or for those considering moving to CAMHS from other services.
The role will be variable and exciting, sometimes challenging and there is a need for flexibility but it is always very interesting and rewarding. You will need to be motivated, forward thinking and have a strong commitment to providing high quality care to provide the best outcomes for young people.
Excellent risk assessment and safety planning skills are essential to this role and you will be well supported to develop your ability in these areas.
As a DLT Senior Mental Health Practitioner you will work a shift pattern covering the hours of 9.00am - 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 6.00pm weekends and public holidays.
Main duties of the job
You will be supporting young people and their carers who are presenting with a mental health crisis across a range of settings; in General Hospitals, CAMHS Offices, online/ via phone and occasionally at home.
This is a developing service and there will be an opportunity in this role to deliver therapeutic interventions alongside crisis care planning and management. You will be supporting young people who are waiting for interventions from tier 3 CAMHS as part of the duty role as well as those presenting to General Hospitals in crisis.
This post offers the Trust's 2,000 Golden Helloor Relocation Incentive for Band 6 Nurses & Practitioners, (pro rata and subject to terms and conditions; please see attached Protocol Document for full details).
About us
We are looking for a mental health practitioner with excellent risk assessment and care planning skills. Previous experience of duty and/ or A&E Liaison work within a community based mental health team would be ideal but not essential for the right candidate. You should be willing to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
The team thrives through being supportive to each other in an environment that can be changeable due to service capacity and demand. You will need to be flexible, be able to participate in the shift pattern of the team and have excellent communication skills. In return you will be well supported by experienced clinicians who will help you to develop and flourish in this environment.
All your skills and training will be fully utilised and developed through clinical supervision and training opportunities.
Details
Date posted
29 August 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
38,682 to 46,580 a year per annum / pro rata for part time
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number
354-CS-21730-A
Job locations
Worthing, Chichester & Horsham
Lyndhurst Road
Worthing, Chichester & Horsham
BN11 2DH
Job description
Job responsibilities

• To support the day to day leadership of a clinical team providing a high quality service within the resources available in a defined area, and specifically to deliver on the following key areas.
• To offer specialist mental health assessments to Young People who present in crisis during the hours of the service.
• This role includes both Community CAMHS Duty and A&E Liaison work on a rotating shift basis covering a 7 day rota.
• Assessment includes care and safety planning, risk assessment and management and facilitating safe discharge. In line with COVID safe practice and service developments these assessments may be offered using remote platforms for appropriate referrals as well as some face to face work. Where clinically indicated to provide a single intervention model to CYP not currently open to CAMHS.
• This role involves liaising with other agencies and professionals and developing ongoing positive working relationships with them to support young people who present in crisis.
• The role aims to reduce the number of presentations and admissions to acute hospitals and to reduce length of stay and facilitate discharge once physical health needs have been addressed.
• You will act as a liaison to acute care colleagues for YP with MH needs that are admitted to A&E or acute paediatric wards and it will be your responsibility to provide specialist mental health assessments and interventions to these young people and to provide advice and consultation on appropriate mental health care planning to support a holistic care and discharge plan (including risk and safety).

Job description
Job responsibilities

• To support the day to day leadership of a clinical team providing a high quality service within the resources available in a defined area, and specifically to deliver on the following key areas.
• To offer specialist mental health assessments to Young People who present in crisis during the hours of the service.
• This role includes both Community CAMHS Duty and A&E Liaison work on a rotating shift basis covering a 7 day rota.
• Assessment includes care and safety planning, risk assessment and management and facilitating safe discharge. In line with COVID safe practice and service developments these assessments may be offered using remote platforms for appropriate referrals as well as some face to face work. Where clinically indicated to provide a single intervention model to CYP not currently open to CAMHS.
• This role involves liaising with other agencies and professionals and developing ongoing positive working relationships with them to support young people who present in crisis.
• The role aims to reduce the number of presentations and admissions to acute hospitals and to reduce length of stay and facilitate discharge once physical health needs have been addressed.
• You will act as a liaison to acute care colleagues for YP with MH needs that are admitted to A&E or acute paediatric wards and it will be your responsibility to provide specialist mental health assessments and interventions to these young people and to provide advice and consultation on appropriate mental health care planning to support a holistic care and discharge plan (including risk and safety).

Person Specification
Criteria
Essential

• Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy or x Nursing/Social Work
• Registration with the HCPC/NMC/Social Work England
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• CAMHS Experience or crisis care experience
• Able to communicate complex information to service users, carers and colleagues
• Lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practices including policies and strategies.
• Develop partnership working with individuals, groups, communities and agencies.
• Ability to use Trust IT systems including e-mail and electronic clinical records
• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• Team working
• Ability to travel across sites
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Desirable

• Evidence of post qualification study
• Experience of supervising staff or students
• Experience with Looked after and Adopted children
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of clinical approaches
• Research experience
• Lived experience of mental health issues
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
• Experience as a Care Coordinator
• Experience of multi-agency work

Person Specification
Criteria
Essential

• Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy or x Nursing/Social Work
• Registration with the HCPC/NMC/Social Work England
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• CAMHS Experience or crisis care experience
• Able to communicate complex information to service users, carers and colleagues
• Lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practices including policies and strategies.
• Develop partnership working with individuals, groups, communities and agencies.
• Ability to use Trust IT systems including e-mail and electronic clinical records
• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• Team working
• Ability to travel across sites
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Desirable

• Evidence of post qualification study
• Experience of supervising staff or students
• Experience with Looked after and Adopted children
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of clinical approaches
• Research experience
• Lived experience of mental health issues
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
• Experience as a Care Coordinator
• Experience of multi-agency work

Skills Required