Job summary
- Main area
- Nursing & Midwifery/ Social Workers / Band 6 Counsellors-Therapists with core profession
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (hrs to be worked over 7 days /to cover days/evenings/weekends)
- Job ref
- 382-FICC28-25
- Employer
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
- Town
- Blackpool
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 Dependant on experience
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 05/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

RAIS Senior Mental Health Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 6
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.
We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.
We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for 3 enthusiastic and motivated individuals who are passionate about childrens mental health and crisis intervention to join the RAIS (Respond and Intensive Support) Team.
The RAIS team work with children and their families intensively over a period of 2 weeks and work 7 days a week/365 days a year.
We aim to stabilise Young people, Instill hope, empower parents to maintain safety and try and improve mental health
We work alongside each other and for the individual's overall care the team is responsible.
There are going to be changes made to the Blackpool RAIS Team and we want you to be part of that exciting change
Main duties of the job
To work with YP's and their families to stabilise risk of mental health difficulties
To work within a multi-disciplinary team to develop the best pathway of care for every young person and their family
To work intensively for a period of 2 weeks until the YP's risk has stabilised and they can be managed by their care co-ordinator in the community
To provide comprehensive assessments, reviews and discharge to manage safety and to help in crisis
To work alongside local childrens mental health services and liaise on a regular basis
Liaise with the wider services to build relationships and help with scaffolding the Young Person and their families
To mentor and supervise junior members of staff
To attend regular morning meetings and provide up to date handovers of patients under the RAIS Team
To attend daily morning meetings, regualar RAIS team meetings and complex case discussion meetings
Working for our organisation
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.
As one of the United Kingdom’s largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents – it’s not just a good place to work; it’s a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide full clinical assessments of children, young people and their families referred to CASHER/RAIS in a variety of settings and situations including the children’s ward/A&E, Adolescent Unit, Place of Calm (POC) and various community settings. You could be asked to carry out an assessment in other locations including the clients home/care home. You will be required to work weekends, evenings and Bank Holidays.
This role will include regular liaison and collaborative working with other agencies i.e. social services / education / CAMHS/ Resilience Team & external agencies.
To regularly discuss clinical issues and concerns with the RAIS Team Manager along with other agencies as required. To work closely with other agency staff and provide regular professional consultation, training and advice in order to identify and address the mental health needs of children and young people as early as possible. To understand and work within Child Protection protocols and guidelines.
To regularly raise awareness and promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people within the wider community. To collaborate with a range of other agencies e.g. Social Services, education, private and voluntary sector to promote a network of services providing help and support to children, young people, parents and their carers. To participate in and provide training and supervision to other team members. To maintain a high standard of record keeping and reports. Participate in clinical governance programs within RAIS Team. To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions e.g. individual work, family work, group work whilst responding to the changing needs of the clients and
the service. To attend and participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision within the multidisciplinary team. Whenever possible to attend team meetings on a regular basis for both the RAIS Team To support students and other trainees on placement with the service. To work in the context of an equal opportunities framework and to promote equality
in all areas of work.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing, Social Work, OT or other equivalent qualification. At least 12 months experience in a clinical setting
Desirable criteria
- Post registration qualification in child & adolescent mental health or qualification in therapeutic approaches with children, young people, parents or carers.
- Qualification in teaching, assessing and mentoring of students.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Evidence of experience working in a community setting as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Evidence of carrying out comprehensive assessments and care plans.
- Evidence of collaborative working with other services.
- Evidence of experience and/or training in supervising staff.
Desirable criteria
- Relevant post qualifying experience of working within children and families.
- Significant post- registered qualification experience with children, adolescents and families in the area of mental health ( 0-25ys ).
Personal
Essential criteria
- Evidence of ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal.
- Evidence of ability to work as an effective member of a team.
- Evidence of ability to work under pressure.
- Evidence of ability to exercise a high level of Judgment and decision-making.
- Evidence of ability to prioritise work appropriately.
- Evidence of awareness to extend knowledge and personal development.
- Evidence of ability to collaborate effectively within and across services.
- Evidence of ability to adapt to changing environment.
- Evidence of being able to work flexible hours
- Evidence of car owner/driver or access to a suitable alternative transport to enable to undertake the role.
Management
Essential criteria
- Evidence of ability to manage own time effectively.
- Evidence of ability to use and provide clinical supervision effectively.
- Evidence of ability to use basic IT and information systems.
- Evidence of ability to keep clear and accurate records.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Stacey Fitch-Bonney
- Job title
- Operational manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07810 696565
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