Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

We are excited to offer the opportunity for a Mental Health Practitioner to join the multi-agency team supporting neuro-diverse children and young people in Manchester. The post holder will contribute to the development of a needs led offer of care and will be a key member of the team developing pathways for ADHD, mental health and well-being for neuro-diverse young people. They will support and expand the needs led offer for young people with ADHD and focus on the wellbeing offer. There will be the opportunity to run group-based interventions and educational workshops.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner to bring their expertise to the development of this innovative service, to work alongside community colleagues and to be part of co-production with our parent carer forum. This will include close working with CAMHS and paediatric colleagues in Manchester to map current service provision and identify gaps in service. There will be opportunities for joint working, delivering training and workshops as well as independently managing a caseload.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder's duties will include contributing to service development, offering interventions, multi-agency liaison, consultation and training of other clinicians as appropriate, specific to their professional expertise as a Mental Health Practitioner. They will have the opportunity to contribute to neuro-developmental assessments and will provide needs led support to children and families in conjunction with other members of the team. The postholder will have the skills and experience to manage their own complex caseload and make autonomous decisions. There will be opportunities to develop skills and training from more experienced clinicians in the field of neuro-developmental assessment.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guidethat sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post.As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Person Specification

Registration

Essential

• You must be registered/accredited with a professional body e.g., NMC, SW England, UKCP, HCPC, BACP

Qualifications

Essential

• You must have a recognised qualification. Recognised qualifications are: -Doctoral degree in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the BPS -Registered Nursing: RMN/RSCN/RNMH -Social Work (CQSW/DipSW)

Desirable

• Additional qualifications relating to the assessment of autism e.g. ADI, ADOS training
• Certificate in supervision skills
• Additional qualifications relating to LD, autism, ADHD
• Additional post graduate training in psychological therapies and interventions
• Training in Riding the Rapids

Experience

Essential

• Considerable experience of working with children with autism, social communication difficulties, and ADHD including autonomous management of a complex caseload
• Experience of group work with neuro diverse children and young people or of delivering parenting groups
• Considerable experience of working within a multi - disciplinary team
• Experience of delivering training and workshops
• Considerable experience of working in partnership with parents/carers and other professionals.
• Experience of supporting less experienced staff
• Experience of working with hard to reach diverse community groups and Working knowledge of professional systems involved in work with children. Working knowledge of national strategic agendas relating to autism Experience of multi-agency working. Experience of audit 2 individuals with emerging complex needs, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities and safeguarding.
• Experience in assessment and therapeutic work with children and families across the age range - particular experience with working with autistic children
• Experience of consulting with health care and other professionals.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of professional systems involved in work with children.
• Experience of audit.
• Working knowledge of national strategic agendas relating to autism
• Experience of multi-agency working

Knowledge skill and ability

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of child mental health and relevant legislation.
• Knowledge and use of up -to - date assessment procedures and therapy techniques in specialist fields.
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent caseload management skills
• Proficient IT skills.
• Ability to select, use and interpret a range of assessments
• Ability to formulate clinical problems using evidence based theory.
• Ability to assess needs, plan, implement and evaluate appropriate interventions with children and parents/carers across the age range.
• Skills in planning and delivering evidence -based interventions with children and parents, particularly autistic children
• Highly developed communication skills with the ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or 3 contentious information and overcome barriers to acceptance with children, parents and professionals
• Ability to cope with stressful interpersonal situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the case of highly emotive and distressing problems.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• A commitment to undertake further relevant training and self-directed study.
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required.
• A commitment to the inclusion of young people's, parent/carer views in service delivery, development and design.
• Willingness to contribute to team functioning, performance and the ongoing development of the service.
• Positive approach to own continuing professional development.

work related circumstance

Essential

• Ability to travel across the MFT footprint
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.

Desirable

• Flexibility in working arrangements

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

North Star Centre, City View House

Union Street, Ardwick

Manchester

M12 4JD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)