Job summary
- Main area
- Children's Mental Health
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (The contract will be reviewed annually by the ICB, PCN and the provider)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 395-KM310-25
- Employer
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Tonbridge PCN
- Town
- Tonbridge
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Mental Health Practitioner
Band 7
Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
We are looking for an experienced Mental Health Practitioners (social workers/nurses/occupational therapists and psychological therapists) to join one of our PCN sites in Kent and Medway for either Tonbridge PCN, ABC Aylesford PCN or Deal & Sandwich PCN.
Main duties of the job
Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner
These new positions are exciting and innovative and will provide mental health support for children and young people to Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Kent and Medway. PCNs are groups of GP practices who work together in a local geographical area. There are numerous posts available across Kent and Medway, however we are currently recruiting into our Tonbridge PCN, ABC Aylesford PCN and Deal & Sandwich PCN.
PCNs are part of the NHS long term plan to realign community mental health services with primary care networks, creating new and integrated models of primary and community mental health care.
PCN's aim to:
- Have a key co-ordinating role at the heart of the GP practices and are a fully integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team with regards to response and management pathways
- Provide a combined consultation, advice, triage and liaison function in accordance with agreed protocols
- Support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health problems through evidence-based interventions.
Working for our organisation
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities.
These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period
We reserve the right to close this advert early should we have a high number of applicants
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main duties of the role:
The role is part of the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme to embed Mental Health practitioners in Primary Care Networks. The purpose of the role is to bridge the gap between Primary Care and Secondary Mental Health services by delivering high quality Mental Health care in Primary Care settings.
It will allow the Children and Young people of Kent and Medway to receive Mental Health care in GP settings and support individuals to access a range of interventions outside of secondary care services.
The role requires a highly competent, proficient practitioner, who is able to work autonomously & creatively in this busy demanding role. The practitioner will be proficient in delivering therapeutic interventions to children and young people (CYP) and their families to manage anxiety, low mood, and other behavioural problems. Excellent assessment skills and knowledge of local services is essential to this role, as it is the gate keeper and guardian for referral to secondary services.
Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the main responsibilities of the role. This is an exciting opportunity for a practitioner with significant experience of working with children and young people with mental health needs in a community setting.
Full and part time positions available.
Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.
Use of AI
Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.
For More information contact Ike Ikechukwu [email protected]
If you are an overseas qualified nurse and wanting to start your journey to becoming a UK based registered nurse with the NMC, you can check whether you are eligible to be supported through our Capital Nurse consortium. Please visit; https://www.capitalnurselondon.co.uk/how-to-apply/. Whilst NELFT is happy to welcome overseas nurses we are unable to consider your application directly. You should submit your interest and apply through the Capital Nurse London group.
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered mental health professional (NMC, HCPC, BABCP etc) appropriate to the job role (Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Psychologist)
Desirable criteria
- Experience of using quality improvement methodologies
- A recognised management qualification (e.g. MSc) or evidence of other advanced education
Experience
Essential criteria
- Sound knowledge / skills of Evidence Based Practice in relation to Children's MH and emotional wellbeing
- Good communication skills and ability to work both within MDT and independently
- Have a min of 3 years post qualification experience working in CAMHS or equivalent service, with complex cases
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a community mental health setting
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- An understanding of the relationship between primary and secondary care services
- Knowledge of key legislation and guidelines in relation to statutory mental health responsibilities, including Safeguarding Adults, Young people and children.
- Knowledge of the theory of and practical application of psychological models, such as CBT, DBT.
Desirable criteria
- An understanding of the stepped care model of delivery of psychological therapies
Therapy Skills
Essential criteria
- Good communication skills and ability to work both within MDT and independently
- Experience of delivering therapeutic interventions
Desirable criteria
- CBT Qualifications or Equivalent Experience
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Ike Ikechukwu
- Job title
- Integrated Team Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07976738200
- Additional information
Katie Vurnum - PCN Administrator
Kent and Medway CYPMHS
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