Senior Mental Health Assistant Practitioner

Job overview

We are excited to announce that we have a vacancy for a Band 5 Senior Mental Health Assistant Practitioner in the Mental Health Advice, Support and Access team (MHASA) based at Just One Number (JON).

The MHASA provides the triage of all non-emergency referrals for mental health for 0 – 25 year olds within Norfolk and Waveney.

The post holder will be expected to gather information from a wide range of sources, have direct telephone contact with young people, families and other professionals. Support senior clinicians with the triage of more complex cases. They will also provide advice, guidance, and support to people with mental health care needs via the telephone and other forms of digital technology.

They will also share a willingness to develop positive relationships with local statutory and non- statutory service providers will be key to the role.

This a part time post: 0.6 WTE (9am – 5pm working across Monday – Friday).  Non working day to be determined at interview.

The role is in person at the team base in Cringleford, Norwich.

This is a non-patient facing role – contact with young people, their carers and other professionals are made via the telephone and written information.

Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after the 10th December 2025.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a Mental Health Assistant Practitioner with experience of working with children, young people and families. And can demonstrate transferable skills. You will have excellent communication skills and are able to contain and support distressed young people and their families, whilst supporting them to the right pathway.

You will be joining a dynamic and supportive team, made up of senior mental health clinicians, who have made an impact on the mental health system for Children and Young people – it’s a busy and varied role.

We are based within Just One Number which provides a single point of access for the Healthy Child Programme and the Speech and Language team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To have clinical expertise in the mental and emotional health needs of children, young people, and their families, (covering 0-25 years of age) and be able to elicit information from professionals, carers and young people to support full assessments via telephone or video call which enable timely clinical decisions to be made.

To work effectively with other members of the skill mix team within JON, attending and supporting teaching and clinical supervision in order to develop needs-led, evidence-based care that supports local and national priorities and policies as well as relevant clinical guidelines."

To have a robust understanding of local emotional health provision and be able to give children, young people and their families and referrers appropriate advice and guidance and as needed make appropriate referrals and support colleagues to make referrals to the appropriate service.

To have knowledge of child and young people’s mental health needs and local services. This will involve information gathering, assessment (including risk assessment) and care planning, with children, young people, parents, teachers and being an active link for other stakeholders such as schools, GPs, mental health, and voluntary sector organisations.

To develop skills and confidence to support colleagues within Just One Number, especially in understanding of current mental health need, risk and care planning.

To develop skills to contribute to production and maintenance of digital resources on Just One Norfolk and promotion of these within JON and with other stakeholders – allowing the identification of appropriate use of self-help material and understanding when further clinical assessment is indicated.