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Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioner


Location
Salary
£32073.00 to £39043.00
Profession
Mental health professionals
Grade
Band 5
Deadline
19 Aug 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
03 Aug 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job summary

37.5 hours per week.

We are seeking to recruit an ambitious Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner who holds professional registration who aspires to become a band 6 Senior Mental health Practitioner. We are seeking an individual that has experienced Community Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) delivering specialist mental health interventions.

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

Job Share(s) Considered

This role would suit a newly qualified social worker looking to complete their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) program, or a mental health nurse or Occupational therapist that has successfully completed their preceptorship and further years within the community.

As a Community Mental Health Practitioner, you will have the opportunity to provide a range of evidence based, recovery focussed interventions on both an individual and group basis to service users and their carers. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with and provide consultation to the wider support networks.

Main duties of the job

You will, as part of a Multi Disciplinary Team in accordance with Livewell policies, work collaboratively with service users with a significant degree of mental health complexity, their carers and other agencies, enabling them to access mental health specialist support when required in line with Recovery and Trauma Informed Principles.

You will be working closely with other statutory and non statutory agencies to provide specialist mental health assessment and evidenced based treatments (both individual and group work based) for people with presenting mental health symptoms and diagnosis. You will deliver care in line with agreed principles and policies.

You will be prioritising workload and providing clinical advice to junior staff.

You will also be able to offer consultation to other services and contribute to multi agency forum, you will contribute to the training of others.

You will participate in, and chair, Risk Management and Professionals meetings.

You will have access to support and supervision from an experienced multi- disciplinary team.

You will lead on investigations for complaints, SIRI;s and grievances.

please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility

Please note we may close the job advert early than the specified deadline. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity

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: 03 August 2026
  • Pay scheme: Agenda for change
  • Band: Band 5
  • Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
  • Contract: Permanent
  • Working pattern: Full-time
  • Reference number: B9832-2026-NM-10276
  • Job locations: Crownhill Court, Tailyour Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5DH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The role is a development post with competences to develop from a Band 5 to Band 6 working across multi-disciplinary teams who proactively provide a range of evidence-based interventions, including therapies and recovery orientated support for those with presenting mental health symptoms and presentation with complexity within the community.

This role links directly to Community Mental Health Services.

The service is made of up various mental health professionals who work with people to support recovery. Offering various therapeutic interventions to support individuals.

This role exists to make sure people receive the right support at the right time by coordinating care, strengthening communication between teams, and keeping a clear focus on safety and continuity. The postholder will work closely with partner agencies, families, and other professionals to ensure plans are joinedup and responsive to changing needs.

SCOPE AND RANGE

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, 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 CMHT, Personality Disorders and Complex Emotional Needs Service, Adult Social Care and voluntary sector.

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 preceptor nurses, 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.

5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will be expected to be able to make clear clinical decisions based on the analysis of often complex presenting difficulties; this can include being the decision maker in terms of the onward care plan for patients experiencing crisis mental health needs.

Undertake holistic and comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessment of patients referred to the service.

Utilise a range of clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical/ home setting in which they are seen

Ability to match patient need with available skills and resources.

Work closely with peer support workers and volunteers to enhance patient experience.

Provide a consultation-liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams referring to the teams. This will include giving specialist advice on care, treatment and patients management issues.

To be part of a multi-disciplinary team approach responding to individuals.

To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers

To provide skilled telephone-based support to help avoid further escalation of an issue

To offer an mental health assessments and appointments in a location most convenient/appropriate for the patient; this may be in their home, telephone or in a clinical setting.

To provide MH assessment to patients to identify presenting symptoms and concerns.

Identify the most appropriate intervention required for patient, with an emphasis on positive risk management, and refer, as necessary.

Following assessments provide high quality assessment reports/letters to the relevant professionals. Monitor reports by junior staff to ensure they are of the same standards.

Maintain high standards of integrity when communicating with patients and others.

Demonstrate ability to use IT systems effectively including email and clinical systems used by the team.

Possess a good working knowledge of mental health legislation including Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards and use this in relation to advising and planning care, independently or with other professionals.

The post holder will provide assessment and interventions in the setting most appropriate to meet the patients needs.

Be able to make clinical decision.

Maintain high standards of clinical care to patients.

Formulate care plans, implement, and evaluate them alongside patients and carers ensuring informed consent is obtained.

To work within their professional registration (NMC, HCPC, BCAP) only.

5.1 Responsibility for People Management

Provide clinical supervision and line management supervision for junior members of staff.

Have the ability to challenge staff where the standard falls below expectations.

Have the ability to foster capability and support staff to develop.

Assist in education programmes provided for junior staff.

Provide mentorship for students both formally and informally.

Participate regularly in recruitment and selection of staff.

The post holder will actively participate in line management supervision with the Team Manager of the Team.

Provide line management for junior staff.

The post holder will actively participate in clinical supervision in accordance with Livewell SW policy.

The post holder will actively participate in the Livewell SW appraisal system and provide appraisals for junior staff.

Support the Team Practice Leads in the effective running of the team and monitoring of standards through effective clinical supervision of junior staff.

To take a clinical lead in absence of managers/ Practice leads.

5.2 Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

  • To comply with Livewell Southwest financial policies and procedures.

Exercise a duty of care in relation to use of the organisations equipment and resources in a cost-effective manner.

  • To maintain equipment as issued to them by Livewell Southwest for the job role - Lone working devise, mobile phone and IT equipment.

The post holder would be responsible for the safe storage and stock control levels of medication if required (NMC registered).

The post holder would be expected to be an authorised signatory for the ordering and authorisation of medication if required (NMC registered).

5.3 Responsibility for administration

Maintain all records used by the team securely in line with the organisations policy and local practice.

The post holder will be responsible for updating their own practice, knowledge, and skills within their sphere of practice including Livewell SW mandatory training.

Knowledge of Mental Health and Mental Health service delivery.

To take a lead role in the co-ordination of shift ensuring appropriate allocation of work with the available skill mix utilising, prioritising, negotiation, and delegation skills.

Regularly take a lead in clinical meetings ensuring all patients are reviewed and decisions and plans are put into action and represent the patients views.

Liaise with other services to arrange appointments that both meet patient and service demands.

Responsible for electronic contacts and monitor the standard of work of junior staff.

Maintain confidentiality of the patients as per policy whilst sharing information when appropriate to do so.

Keep accurate and contemporaneous electronic/written patient records and comply with professional and organisational record keeping policies.

Comply with local and national policies in relation to confidentiality and information sharing protocols.

5.4 Responsibility for people who use our services

Advise referrers/family/patients, medical and other professional staff on the management of patients and contribute to care planning to meet identified needs.

Conduct risk assessments on all patients presenting to the service in line with up-to-date guidance and Livewell Southwest policy. The post holder will have highly developed risk assessment skills to manage complex presentations.

Evaluate effectiveness of care interventions with all disciplines of staff, adjusting care plans where necessary.

  • To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers, patients, and carers

Refer and signpost people to appropriate mental health services as required both within and outside of the organisations area. Assist people to complete self-referrals when this is in their best interests.

Involve carers and families of people with mental health needs, providing support and advice as needed.

Provide education to patients and carers to enhance their knowledge therefore improving longer-term concordance.

Promote RECOVERY

Provide education to patients and carers in line with current policy and good practice guidelines.

Demonstrate the ability to analyse often large amounts of complex information from a range of other services, assimilate these and their relevance to a persons mental health needs.

Formulate a clinical opinion including an assessment of risk and advise on an appropriate care plan.

Take a lead role in the collaboration and the planning of individual care with patient, carer, other Teams and Services. Including maintaining the safety of patients, staff, and the public in challenging, potentially violent situations.

Adhere to the Policy for the Safe, Secure and Handling of Medicines and local Home Treatment protocols ensuring patients receive medication in a safe and timely fashion.

Assess and monitor the effect of medication and report observations to medical staff.

5.5 Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

Expected to take an active role in the development of the teams including the formulation of protocols.

Provide a positive role in clinical audit and evaluation of teams to ensure high levels of clinical effectiveness.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Person specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Mental Health Act.
  • Confidentiality.
  • Applies knowledge of Personalised Care Framework and Key Worker responsibilities
  • Psychiatric illnesses especially those on the schizophrenic and bi-polar spectrum plus evidence of giving relevant nursing care.
  • Knowledge of NICE guidelines in relation to mental health and the ability to apply evidence-based practice.

Desirable

  • MCA/DOLS.Breakaway.
  • Networking with other agencies.
  • Ethical issues in relation to Mental Health.
  • System one/EPCF/computer patient records.
  • Interest and awareness of national and local services developments.
  • Good working knowledge of the Care Quality Commission.

Experience

Essential

  • Multi-disciplinary working.
  • Relevant experience of working with adults with a history of severe and enduring mental illness.

Desirable

  • Life experience in wide range of settings.
  • Experience within a community mental Health setting.

Qualifications

Essential

  • RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing- NMC Registration.
  • Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration.
  • Social Work Degree or PG Dip or MA Social Work England Registration.

Specific skills

Essential

  • Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
  • Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner within a team including:
  • Assessment skills.
  • Communication and liaison skills.
  • Leadership skills/ Supervisory skills.
  • Team working skills.
  • Self-management ability.
  • Prioritising workload/resources
  • Administration skills.
  • Interpersonal skills.
  • Computer skills.
  • Risk assessment management.
  • Crisis management.
  • Lone working.
  • Ability to plan/implement a package of care in the community for patients with mental health problems.
  • Ability to manage a caseload ensuring record keeping meets the standards of Livewell Southwest.
  • Responsible and self-motivated.
  • Able to manage own stress.
  • Flexible and reliable.
  • Empathic.

Desirable

  • Ability to carry out role of link working within primary care.
  • - Independent assessments
  • - Planning care and reviewing patients at request of primary care in primary care setting.
  • Ability to recognise and support stress in others.
  • Mentorship or equivalent.
  • Group Interaction Skills.
  • Specific Therapeutic interventions.
  • Positive risk management.
  • Full driving license for at least 12- months.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioner with Livewell Southwest in Plymouth, South West, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Mental health professionals role. The advertised salary is £32073.00 to £39043.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 19 Aug 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 (03 Aug 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.

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