Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust as a valued Band 6 clinician based at Oxleas House, providing clincial input into the Home Treatment Team in Greenwich.

Home Treatment Team is a multidisciplinary team, providing a service seven days a week, 365 days per year to individuals in mental health crisis with the principal aim of providing an effective alternative to inpatient care. This involves intensive clinical work over short periods of time to prevent the need for admission or facilitate safe early discharge. The team also carries out 72 Hour follow–up for individuals discharged from mental health inpatient units.

As a senior clinician, the post holder will play a key role in the gatekeeping of acute inpatient admissions, undertaking complex assessments to determine whether individuals can be safely and effectively treated in their own homes. This requires a high degree of clinical autonomy, advanced risk formulation skills, and the ability to make robust, evidence-based decisions under pressure.

Main duties of the job

• An experienced mental health practitioner who provides clinical leadership, supports and mentors junior staff, and ensures safe, high-quality, recovery-focused care. Demonstrates extensive knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, and other relevant legislation, ensuring compliance and supporting colleagues to apply legal frameworks in practice.
• leads and coordinates teams during challenging situations, using effective risk management, de-escalation techniques, and post-incident debriefing to promote safety and learning. Acts as Shift Coordinator when required, managing workload, prioritising referrals, coordinating resources, and supporting operational service delivery.
• Clinically skilled in conducting comprehensive mental health assessments, MSE, risk assessments, and developing robust risk management and care plans. Works autonomously and collaboratively with service users, carers, multidisciplinary teams, and partner agencies to deliver person-centred care. Competent in medication management, physical health monitoring, health promotion, recovery-focused interventions, and safeguarding patient dignity, equality, and rights.
• Committed to developing others through supervision, teaching, mentorship, and constructive feedback while promoting evidence-based practice, professional accountability, and continuous service improvement.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Demonstrates excellent communication skills, providing clear, accurate, and timely information to patients, carers, families, colleagues, and partner agencies. Communicates effectively using active listening, professional judgement, and appropriate communication methods tailored to individual needs, cultural differences, and complex situations.

Maintains high standards of clinical documentation, ensuring accurate verbal and written handovers, comprehensive patient records, and timely use of care plans, pathways, and electronic systems. Able to identify and communicate key clinical information, recognise deterioration in a patient's mental or physical health, and escalate concerns appropriately and without delay.

Effectively manages patient caseloads by coordinating care, prioritising workload, delegating tasks according to staff competence, and identifying and mitigating risks. Works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to ensure continuity of care and promptly communicates significant changes in a patient's condition.

Demonstrates a strong understanding of risk management, safeguarding, and confidentiality, ensuring adherence to Trust policies and procedures. Supports junior staff in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns, promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults while maintaining patient safety, dignity, and confidentiality at all times.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.