Recruit to Train - Senior Mental Health Practitioner - CFHD

Job description

Job summary

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity within theMood, Emotions and Relationships Service (MERS) in North Devon to join our teamin a permanent role and undertake fully funded Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT) training through a one-year programme with the University of Exeter.

During the training year, the postholder will develop theknowledge and skills required to practise as a CBT Therapist.

Followingsuccessful qualification, they will become a valued member of the wider MERSteam, working across all areas of the service to support children and youngpeople. This may include tasks such as undertaking mental health assessments,supporting duty and screening functions, delivering evidence-basedinterventions, and contributing to the holistic care and treatment providedwithin the pathway.

As a Senior Mental Health Practitioner - CBT Therapist, thepostholder will play an integral role in ensuring children, young people andfamilies receive timely, high-quality assessment and intervention across theMERS service.

Applicants must meet the essential qualification andprofessional registration requirements detailed in the Job Description andPerson Specification. This includes either holding an eligible coreprofessional qualification and registration, or meeting the eligibilityrequirements for the BABCP Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) route.

Key Dates:

• Interviews will be held in November 2026 with the university and CFHD.

Main duties of the job

Children and FamilyHealth Devon (CFHD) is the place to be! We have developed an innovative,integrated model of childrens community services and are looking to appointenthusiastic individuals to join us. For more information about working with usvisit our websitecareers page.

As a large community service, you will be joining a strong,enthusiastic and supportive group of professionals who will be your peers, yourphone a friend network and your inspiring colleagues. This provides a realsense of professional collaboration and support that will be an asset to yourwork and your development.

About us

At Children and Family Health Devon, we are dedicated toimproving the physical and mental health of children and young people acrossDevon and Torbay. We aim to create an environment where children and youngpeople can thrive and are committed to reducing health inequalities andproviding specialised support, empowering them to lead healthy, fulfillinglives.

Our children andyoung people say

We would like thepeople who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding,patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe andcomfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience tolisten carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff arepositive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal andwithout pressure.

Who we are

We are an alliance of NHS organisations led by DevonPartnership Trust. We are a group of professionals including psychologists,psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists,physiotherapists, nurses and many other professions.

Join us inbeautiful Devon

With access to moors, sea and cities, there are plenty ofopportunities to enjoy Devon. Whether you enjoy spending time in the culturalhub of Exeter, exploring the Jurassic coastline or discovering the worldsurfing reserve in North Devon there really is something for everyone.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main duties of the job

The CYP IAPT Recruit to Train programme involves bothacademic learning, coursework and supervised clinical practice. Alongside this,the post holder will work with colleagues in a specialist CFHD pathway,building relationships and wider skills in working children and young peoplewith complex emotional and mental health needs in the community. This willinclude evidence-based assessment and outcome-monitored interventions inconjunction with the training. There will also be opportunities to engage inParticipation and service development as well as contributing to servicedelivery within the team as required.

Post holders will be employees of CFHD on a substantivecontract and also enrolled on a Postgraduate Diploma course with ExeterUniversity. It is essential that applicants are able to balance a busy work andstudy schedule. As this is a Postgraduate level training, you will be requiredto study and perform at academic level and be prepared to work towards theirstudies outside of identified study time. Study time and/or teaching days are typicallytwo days a week during term.

As these are trainingpositions initially, please be aware that you must both gain employment in anCFHD SMHP Recruit to Train role and be accepted onto the University Course. Youwill be interviewed for both in one interview on the date listed. If you areineligible for the University Course, we will be unable to be offer the role.If you withdraw from an employment offer but you have accepted a universityoffer, you will be unable to join the course.

Please note for thisrole, the training course is not optional; the roles are dependent on meetingall course requirements. Applicants for this training will need to be availableto start by January 2027 when the course starts.

If you apply to thisjob, you are giving permission that information relevant to establishingeligibility can be shared between the CYP IAPT programme at Exeter Universityand CFHD. No irrelevant information will be disclosed or discussed.

Job Description.

FullVacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description and PersonSpecification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supportinginformation from the role requirements or person specification.

The post holder will undertake academic andclinical practice training in evidence based psychological therapies and isrequired to attend, complete and pass all elements of the allocated CYP-IAPTtraining.

The post holder will deliver high qualitycomprehensive mental health services.

The role involves managing a defined caseloadwith a focus on providing expert assessment, formulation and evidence-basedtreatment for children and young people with complex mental health difficultiesand their parents/carers in line with NICE guidance.

Collaborative working with a wide range ofstatutory and non-statutory agencies is central to this role.

The post holder will contribute to themulti-disciplinary approach of the team, providing integrated healthcare forchildren across Children and Family Health Devon.

Bringing professional expertise, skills andknowledge to multi-disciplinary team work, the post holder will work with, andoffer supervision/consultation/advice to others.

With a focus on providing high quality, safe andcompassionate care to children/young people the post holder will engage in teamand service development including participating in audit, evaluation andreview.

Job description
Job responsibilities

Main duties of the job

The CYP IAPT Recruit to Train programme involves bothacademic learning, coursework and supervised clinical practice. Alongside this,the post holder will work with colleagues in a specialist CFHD pathway,building relationships and wider skills in working children and young peoplewith complex emotional and mental health needs in the community. This willinclude evidence-based assessment and outcome-monitored interventions inconjunction with the training. There will also be opportunities to engage inParticipation and service development as well as contributing to servicedelivery within the team as required.

Post holders will be employees of CFHD on a substantivecontract and also enrolled on a Postgraduate Diploma course with ExeterUniversity. It is essential that applicants are able to balance a busy work andstudy schedule. As this is a Postgraduate level training, you will be requiredto study and perform at academic level and be prepared to work towards theirstudies outside of identified study time. Study time and/or teaching days are typicallytwo days a week during term.

As these are trainingpositions initially, please be aware that you must both gain employment in anCFHD SMHP Recruit to Train role and be accepted onto the University Course. Youwill be interviewed for both in one interview on the date listed. If you areineligible for the University Course, we will be unable to be offer the role.If you withdraw from an employment offer but you have accepted a universityoffer, you will be unable to join the course.

Please note for thisrole, the training course is not optional; the roles are dependent on meetingall course requirements. Applicants for this training will need to be availableto start by January 2027 when the course starts.

If you apply to thisjob, you are giving permission that information relevant to establishingeligibility can be shared between the CYP IAPT programme at Exeter Universityand CFHD. No irrelevant information will be disclosed or discussed.

Job Description.

FullVacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description and PersonSpecification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supportinginformation from the role requirements or person specification.

The post holder will undertake academic andclinical practice training in evidence based psychological therapies and isrequired to attend, complete and pass all elements of the allocated CYP-IAPTtraining.

The post holder will deliver high qualitycomprehensive mental health services.

The role involves managing a defined caseloadwith a focus on providing expert assessment, formulation and evidence-basedtreatment for children and young people with complex mental health difficultiesand their parents/carers in line with NICE guidance.

Collaborative working with a wide range ofstatutory and non-statutory agencies is central to this role.

The post holder will contribute to themulti-disciplinary approach of the team, providing integrated healthcare forchildren across Children and Family Health Devon.

Bringing professional expertise, skills andknowledge to multi-disciplinary team work, the post holder will work with, andoffer supervision/consultation/advice to others.

With a focus on providing high quality, safe andcompassionate care to children/young people the post holder will engage in teamand service development including participating in audit, evaluation andreview.

Person Specification

Other

Essential

• Excellent clinical assessment skills.
• Able to plan creatively to maximise effectiveness of care plans, including complex multi-agency care plans
• An understanding of the Mental Health Act/ Mental Health Capacity Act requirements.
• An understanding of child development

Qualifications

Essential

• A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent e.g. Psychological profession, Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, or equivalent.
• Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body, e.g. NMC, HCPC, Social Work England, UKCP, BABCP

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload and working with children/young people presenting with a range of complex mental health presentations.
• Working within a community CAMHS mental health setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

Person Specification
Other

Essential

• Excellent clinical assessment skills.
• Able to plan creatively to maximise effectiveness of care plans, including complex multi-agency care plans
• An understanding of the Mental Health Act/ Mental Health Capacity Act requirements.
• An understanding of child development

Qualifications

Essential

• A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent e.g. Psychological profession, Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, or equivalent.
• Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body, e.g. NMC, HCPC, Social Work England, UKCP, BABCP

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload and working with children/young people presenting with a range of complex mental health presentations.
• Working within a community CAMHS mental health setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.

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.
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Additional information
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.
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address

Integrated Childrens Services

Fishleigh Road

Roundswell Business Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 3UD

United Kingdom

Employer's website