Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
18 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Experience
Experience of working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers, including using goal-based care and routine outcome measures in practice.
- Experience
Experience of working collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team and across agencies.
- Experience
Experience of working with children and young peoples with Autism and/or a Learning Disability, families and parents/carers, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems and verbal abuse.
- Experience
Experience of undertaking specialist mental health and/or behavioural assessment and therapeutic interventions for in the area of childrens mental health, with the ability to work with complex needs and undertake risk assessments.
- Experience
Experience of safeguarding infants and ensuring the safety of children in partnership with other agencies as appropriate.
- Experience
Experience that evidences an ability to tend to diversity and work in a way that promotes anti-discriminatory practice.
- Experience
Experience of initiating, attending and contributing to multi-professional and inter-agency meetings.
- Qualifications
Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by
- Qualifications
specialist training or equivalent experience to masters level WITH a relevant core professional training (e.g. Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, etc) and relevant professional registration.
- Qualifications
Training in an evidence-based therapeutic approach.
- Qualifications
Evidence of relevant CPD.
- Additional requirement
A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is required for this role.
- Knowledge, skills and abilities
Understanding of relevant legislation pertaining to child mental health and learning disability.
- Knowledge, skills and abilities
High level knowledge of mental health presentations in and children/young people and knowledge of the theory and practice of short term and long term, evidence-based, clinical interventions in the field of perinatal and infant mental health and who may also present with a Learning Disability.
- Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of child development.
- Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and adolescents and safeguarding procedures and policies.
- Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education structures, national policies and frameworks, evidence based practice including NICE guidelines.
- Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of risk management and ability to monitor and assess risk and act accordingly to ensure safety.
Desirable
3 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Experience in providing effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
- Experience
Experience of providing professional teaching and training for other professionals.
- Qualifications
Training in supervision and/or leadership skills.
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the newly established Parent Infant Relationship (PAIR) Team at a formative stage of its development. We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic practitioner with a passion for infant mental health, attachment and early relationships who is keen to help shape and grow this innovative specialist service within the MERS Pathway.
The PAIR Team has been developed to strengthen support for babies, parents and carers during the earliest years of life, recognising the vital role that early relationships play in shaping emotional wellbeing, development and lifelong outcomes.
This maternity cover post offers the opportunity to work within a developing specialist service alongside passionate colleagues who are committed to improving outcomes for babies and families across Devon. As the service continues to grow and embed, the successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to service development and help shape the future direction of the PAIR offer.
We are particularly interested in applicants who already have experience working within infant mental health, attachment-focused services, parent-infant relationship work, early years mental health or related areas of practice.
Interview date - 25th September 2026
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist assessment and intervention where there are concerns regarding the parent-infant relationship.
Work collaboratively with colleagues across CFHD and partner agencies, including Health Visiting, Perinatal Mental Health Services, Family Hubs, Midwifery Services and Children's Services.
Deliver evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions that promote infant emotional wellbeing and strengthen parent-infant relationships.
Provide consultation, training and support to professionals working with infants and families.
Participate in multidisciplinary discussion, formulation and care planning.
Contribute to safeguarding processes and multi-agency working where required.
Support the ongoing development and evaluation of the PAIR service.
Why Join the PAIR Team?
This is a unique opportunity to join a newly launched specialist team at an exciting stage of its development. The PAIR Team is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-informed care that recognises the importance of early relationships in shaping lifelong outcomes.
You will be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team with opportunities for ongoing learning, supervision, innovation and service development. Most importantly, you will help make a meaningful difference to babies, parents and families at the earliest stage of life, when intervention can have the greatest impact.
About us
At Children and Family Health Devon, we are dedicated to improving the physical and mental health of children and young people across Devon and Torbay. We aim to create an environment where children and young people can thrive and are committed to reducing health inequalities and providing specialised support, empowering them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Our children and young people say
We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.
Who we are
We are an alliance of NHS organisations led by Devon Partnership Trust. We are a group of professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, nurses and many other professions.
Join us in beautiful Devon
With access to moors, sea and cities, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Devon. Whether you enjoy spending time in the cultural hub of Exeter, exploring the Jurassic coastline or discovering the world surfing reserve in North Devon there really is something for everyone.
Details
- Date posted: 03 September 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 7
- Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
- Contract: Fixed term
- Duration: 9 months
- Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: C9369-26-0669
- Job locations: CFHD, Evergreen, Victoria Park Road, EXETER, EX2 4NU, United Kingdom, South Devon Healthcare, Torbay Hospital Annexe, 187 Newton Road, TORQUAY, TQ2 7BA, United Kingdom, Children & Family Health, Lescaze Offices, Shinners Bridge, Dartington, TOTNES, Devon, TQ9 6JD, United Kingdom, Children & Family Health Devon, Springfield Court, Fishleigh Road, Roundswell Business Park, BARNSTAPLE, Devon, EX31 3UD, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.
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).
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 7 Mental Health roles in Torquay
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Mental Health Practitioner (PAIR) - CFHD with Devon Partnership NHS Trust in Torquay, England; Totnes, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Mental health practitioner role. The advertised salary is £49,387 to £56,515 a year. The contract type is Fixed-Term. The application deadline is 17 Sep 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 Sep 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob 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.