Job overview
We are looking to recruit a motivated and enthusiastic Mental Health Practitioner to join the Mental Health Intensive Support Team (MhIST), an award winning and forward-thinking intensive community mental health rehabilitation service.
This is a 12 month fixed term post to cover maternity leave.
MhIST is a recovery-orientated service that offers specialist assessment, intervention and support to individuals with complex mental health needs across Cheshire & Wirral. Using the principles of dialogical practice, the MhIST multidisciplinary team works alongside patients and their families and social networks, with a focus on meaningful rehabilitation goals, supporting the individual to work towards their vision of recovery.
As a service we value professional development, and as such provide many opportunities for ongoing learning, including quarterly team training days and protected reflective spaces. We would welcome applicants from a variety of professional disciplines, including Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Social Work.
Main duties of the job
As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will work intensively with a small cohort of patients experiencing a range of complex mental health needs, providing a high level of value-orientated care.
The service takes a proactive approach in pre-empting crisis and working to support patients to remain in the community, and therefore you must be able to demonstrate excellent skills in risk management, adaptive care planning and communication skills, with a genuine attitude of care, hope and commitment.
The successful candidate will work alongside a multidisciplinary team to support a holistic and need adapted approach to community rehabilitation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [email protected] or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 2 years post registration experience working with adults with mental health problems with a complex nature
- Experience of planning and organising complex activities or programmes requiring formulation and adjustment
- Experience of developing specialist programmes of care, care packages
- Experience of providing specialised advice in relation to care
- Experience of working closely with commissioners and care providers
Desirable
- Experience of following policies and providing comments to propose changes to practice/procedures in own work area
- Experience of safe management of equipment and resources
- Experience of being an authorised signatory
- Experience of conducting professional/clinical supervision
- Ability to undertake surveys, R&D activity or audits as necessary to own work
- Ability to regularly undertake equipment testing and adaptation
- Experience of working within a rehabilitation framework
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to diploma/degree level and registered with the appropriate professional body
- Professional knowledge acquired through a relevant degree plus relevant experience for working with complex cases
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development
- NVQ A 1 qualification
- Relevant mentorship qualification as required by governing body
- Specialist practitioner qualification (SPQ)
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- In-depth knowledge and experience of working within the recovery focused philosophy framework
- Knowledge of delivering individual service user focused specialist assessments
- Knowledge of evidence based interventions which are measureable and which promote the service users journey along the recovery pathway
- An in-depth knowledge of delivering psychosocial interventions (PSI)
- Knowledge and understanding of physical health needs
- Professional knowledge acquired through a relevant degree plus relevant experience for working in the community
- Highly developed accurate physical skills and be able to manipulate fine tools and materials
- Knowledge of developing specialist programmes of care, care packages
- Knowledge of providing specialised advice in relation to care
- Knowledge of recording personally generated information
- Knowledge of working closely with commissioners and care providers
Desirable
- Knowledge of legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
- Experience of undertaking surveys or audits necessary to own work
- Experience of undertaking research and development activity and clinical trials
- Knowledge of complex care management including the development of bespoke support packages
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Mental Health Practitioner - MHIST - Secondment with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Chester, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Nurse practitioner role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (From the 1st May 2026 to cover maternity leave). The application deadline is 23 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (09 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.