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Job summary

Main area
IRS Practitioner
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
351-FYL720-CL-A
Employer
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Fylde Coast IRS
Town
Blackpool
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
19/06/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

IRS Practitioner

Band 6

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism, community, and physical health services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) delivers a comprehensive range of services, including:

  • Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults, including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, and forensic services with low and medium secure care.
  • Specialist mental health inpatient care for individuals with learning disabilities, alongside specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
  • Extensive community physical health and well-being services for children and adults, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term condition management.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,500 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health, general nurses, children’s nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers, as well as those specialising in learning disabilities and community physical health services.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior mental health practitioner to join the Fylde Coast Home Treatment Team.
 
The Fylde Coast Home Treatment Team provides 7 day support to service users who are suffering from mental health concerns that would otherwise require admission to an acute in patient environment. There is a strong focus on a recovery model and effective risk management to provide high quality care in a community setting. 

The Fylde Coast Home Treatment Team are always striving towards excellence in service delivery and ensuring that the Trust values are achieved. Currently the team is undergoing an exciting period of change that will see the working together to develop a model of care that ensures effective service delivery in partnership with local services and across the Urgent Care Pathway. 

The successful applicant will be dynamic and forward thinking they will be passionate about working with service users with acute mental health concerns and providing a recovery focused approach. The successful applicant will have the ability to work as part of a Team and in partnership with local services. 

Main duties of the job

•    The purpose of the Initial Response Service will be to provide an effective and timely assessment by appropriately skilled mental health professionals for individuals suffering from mental ill health. Creating an appropriate pathway avoiding unnecessary escalation to a crisis and/or attendance at the A&E department providing effective care for patients and additional cost saving for these services.

•    To act as a key member of the multi- agency team ensuring the effective first line telephone assessment and triage of service users with suspected mental illness or vulnerability who would likely present to A&E departments or other places of safety.

•    To undertake Mental Health Assessments including Risk Assessments, providing rapid and holistic assessment, care and sign posting of individuals presenting with other urgent risk issues.

•    To be proficient in referring to other clinicians within the service and/or referring to other services/agencies where necessary.

•    To provide a “gatekeeping” function as detailed in the Operating Procedure.

•    To provide managerial support to the team in the absence of the Team Manager

Working for our organisation

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you’d like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Registered Mental Health Nurse or Allied Health Professional Qualification
  • Degree/Diploma in Health/Care/Criminal area of work
  • Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
  • Specialist knowledge in police practices and procedures
  • Specialist knowledge in Criminal Justice environment with experience of legislation and policies

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of Health and Safety policies and procedures
  • Demonstrate understanding of how research has influenced practice
  • Can provide evidence of recent professional/personal development
  • Can demonstrate the ability to manage change
  • Able to demonstrate and understand the concept of community care and the need to develop good networks

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Post graduate experience working with a range of mental health problems
  • Able to work as part of a multidisciplinary/ multi agency team
  • Experience of assessing, planning and implementing and reviewing care needs in a time limited framework
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Experience of risk assessment and management

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. You are therefore advised to consider applying for this vacancy as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Annika Leeds
Job title
Street Triage Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07960875196
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