Community Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

37.5 hours per week.

Are you currently a Band 5 practitioner (social worker/OT/nurse) or newly qualified looking for an innovative role, whilst also maintaining a good work/life balance, with no weekend working or on-call work required? Look no further! Come and work with a hard-working passionate service CMHT

This is no ordinary role. The pace is fast. Lots of variety. Where challenges lead to growth.

Are you a passionate practitioner who is keen to work within the community, want to be part of the workforce shaping the future within the local community. A key worker for the assessment of needs, development, implementation and evaluation of care for patients who have a diagnosis of a severe and enduring mental health condition. In addition to complex needs, high risk behaviours and difficulties with engaging with services. The service provides a Plymouth city wide service.

Innovation and creativity are central to continue the transformation of Livewell's Community Mental Health Services. Building and maintaining relationships working collaboratively with internal services improving relationships for seamless pathways of care, always providing personal centered care. Completing therapeutic interventions working within a trauma informed service to support independence and recovery for individuals within their community. Supporting service users, their carers and the wider network.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Main duties of the job

Providing provision of case load supervision for Band 3 mental health practitioners and line management. Carry out reviews of caseloads and support the process of recovery.

To contribute to professional development, appraisal, performance review and recruitment.

The post holder will ensure that their clinical practice is based on evidence and good practice and in accordance with any NICE guidance.

The post holder will be individually accountable for their practice in accordance with the NMC or HPC professional code of conduct.

To promote positive risk to allow clients independence and autonomy of choice.

To liaise with other community resources and facilitate use of mainstream resources.

To maintain a caseload of clients with a significant degree of mental health complexity.

Practice within the legal and ethical framework set out by mental health related legislation to ensure that service users interests and well-being are at the fore.

Liaise, advise, develop and maintain good relationships with service users, carers, relatives and fellow health, social care professionals who are involved in the delivery of services.

Engage in support and care plans for those who have complex needs, and risk assess and manage these effectively with the MDT.

Work collaboratively with adult social care.

Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Details

• Date posted: 10 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 5
• Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year pa, pro-rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
• Reference number: B9832-2026-NM-10342
• Job locations: Cumberland Centre, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 4JZ, United Kingdom, Avon House, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 7QD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The post-holder is responsible to the Practice Leads of the Community Mental Health Service (CMHS) for the assessment of needs, development, implementation and evaluation of care for patients from a specified group of General Practitioner practices.

The practitioner is responsible for assessment of needs, development, implementation and evaluation of care, within agreed Personalised Care Framework procedures.

The post holder may be required to supervise junior staff within the CMHS.

Accountability:

The post holder is accountable to the Community Services Manager through the Line Management system within the CMHS.

Completion of Training as a first level to gain entry onto professional registration e.g. Nursing, Social Work or Occupational Therapy.

The services are dedicated to enhancing the quality of mental health care and improving outcomes for adults with mental health needs in Plymouth. They work collaboratively with colleagues across relevant departments and wards, developing tailored plans and delivering holistic biopsychosocial assessments and support to identify each patients mental health needs and any risks they may pose to themselves or others.

The teams work in close collaboration with other services including the Home Treatment Team, hospital placements, crisis services and Adult Social Care.

The role includes a high level of autonomous working, with the post holder carrying out high-quality skilled mental health assessments and providing risk formulation and care plans for patients using the service. This will be in close collaboration with family, friends and carers.

Care is generally provided in peoples homes and in other community settings. The post holder will work across various Livewell and community sites.

The post holder will provide support and supervision to junior staff such as community support workers and peer support workers within the team.

The post will include flexible working patterns over the 7-day week to incorporate cover for a 24/7 service, including nights on-call if required.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1 Responsibility for People Management

• The post holder may be responsible for supervising some junior staff within the CMHS

4.2 Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

• You will be responsible for physical health equipment when visiting patients within the community.
• You will be responsible for stock control of medication following Livewell Policies.

4.3 Responsibility for administration

The post holder should maintain close links with in-patient services at Glenbourne, Home Treatment Team, Social Care, Dual Diagnosis Services, Primary Care, Counselling Services.

The post holder will keep up to date electronic/paper records of all patient and staff activity, ensuring these are kept in a safe place, in accordance with NMC or HPC guidelines, and Livewell Southwest policies including Data Protection Act and the Mental Health Act. The post holder will be aware of NMC/HPC and Livewell Southwest guidelines on record keeping, confidentiality, Mental Health Act and Data Protection Act.

4.4 Responsibility for people who use our services

The post holder will assess all new referrals as appropriate, in the patients practice, at home or in a clinic setting, in accordance with the agreed Operational Policy.

The post holder will provide nursing care and other interventions as appropriate in the right setting, in accordance with the agreed Operational Policy.

The post holder will arrange for a defined group of practice patients to access other parts of Adult Mental Health Services and work closely with all other clinical professionals e.g. Consultant Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychologist, Social Worker etc.

The post holder will act as a Key Worker for a defined group of practice patients and organise care in accordance with the Personalised Care Framework.

4.5 Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

The post holder will be required to keep up-to-date this will include Mandatory training and developments in mental health nursing or sphere of practice.

The post holder will participate in the provision of relevant community placements and training programmes for nurses.

The post holder will be required to ensure that they receive appropriate regular line management and clinical supervision in line with current policies of Livewell Southwest.

The post holder will participate in an annual appraisal; this Job Description will be reviewed at this time.

4.6 Other Responsibilities

The post-holder will take part in the clinical audit of the CMHS. This will include annual Personalised Care Framework and Health Records audits.

The post holder will ensure that their clinical practice is based on evidence and good practice and in accordance with any NICE guidance.

The post holder will be individually accountable for their practice in accordance with the NMC or HPC professional code of conduct.

Please see attached full job description and person specification for full details