What is the salary for NHS mental health Band 6 roles?

NHS Band 6 roles pay between £39,959 and £48,117 per year under the 2026/27 pay scale, plus additional payments for unsocial hours and high-cost area supplements.

What is the difference between Band 5 and Band 6?

Band 6 practitioners have more experience, specialist skills, and often supervisory responsibilities. They manage more complex caseloads, may lead small teams, and contribute to service development.

What jobs are available in NHS mental health services?

NHS mental health services employ mental health nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, social workers, support workers, and many other professionals. Roles span community teams, inpatient wards, and specialist services.

What qualifications do I need for NHS mental health roles?

Requirements vary by role. Mental health nurses need a nursing degree and NMC registration. Psychologists need a doctorate and HCPC registration. Support workers may enter with relevant experience and complete training on the job.

Band 6 Mental Health Jobs in the NHS

147 live vacancies at this grade · 62 NHS employers · salary £39,959 - £48,117

147

Open Positions

£20k - £65k

Salary Range

NHS Trusts

New This Week

What to expect from Band 6 Mental Health roles

Band 6 posts are for experienced practitioners who have built specialist skills or taken on supervisory responsibilities. Typical roles include senior staff nurses, specialist therapists, team deputies, and clinical pharmacists. Expect to show evidence of autonomous judgement and leadership in your application. For mental health candidates, this usually means matching the advertised responsibilities to your evidence before applying: the same band can cover different service settings, rota patterns, and levels of supervision across NHS employers.

Job Clerk is currently tracking 147 live band 6 mental health vacancies across 62 NHS employers. Use this page to compare the broad market, then narrow into a city page when you need local salary expectations, employers, and closing-date pressure.

Recent salary data for band 6 mental health roles ranges from about £19,979 to £64,615 per year, depending on employer, setting, rota pattern, and high-cost area supplements.

Band expectations

Professional registration and minimum 2 years post-qualification experience
Specialist competencies relevant to the advertised post
Evidence of supervising junior staff or students
Contribution to audit, service improvement, or quality work

Role evidence to prepare

Risk assessment, safety planning, and safeguarding decisions
Care coordination and CPA (Care Programme Approach) management
Delivering or supporting specific therapeutic interventions (CBT, DBT, family work)
Mental Health Act assessments and knowledge (for approved roles)

Typical requirements

Professional registration relevant to the role (NMC for nurses, HCPC for psychologists/OTs, Social Work England for social workers)
Post-qualification experience in a mental health setting
Specialist training relevant to the team or service (e.g. CBT, AMHP, approved clinician)
Enhanced DBS with barred list check

Hiring locations

Current band 6 mental health demand is visible in London, Southampton, Birkenhead, Taunton, and Lancaster. Location pages help you compare local trusts, travel expectations, and live job counts before applying.

Employer mix

Recent listings include employers such as Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. Review each advert for the person specification, application method, and whether the post closes early after enough applications.

Band 6 Mental Health Jobs by City

Browse band 6 mental health jobs in the UK's biggest NHS hubs.

Band 6 Mental Health in London

Where Band 6 Mental Health Roles Are Hiring

London4 jobs

Southampton, Hampshire3 jobs

Birkenhead3 jobs

Taunton, Somerset3 jobs

Lancaster2 jobs

Bedford, Eastern2 jobs

Liverpool2 jobs

Bury St Edmunds2 jobs

Gloucester, South West2 jobs

Eastleigh, Hampshire2 jobs

Huntingdon2 jobs

Bridgwater, Somerset2 jobs

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