QR code linking to this job posting SPOA Mental Health Practitioner in Worthing BN13 3EP inWorthing BN13 3EP PUBLISHED FRI 19 SEP 2025

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust















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Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

SPOA Mental Health Practitioner





The closing date is 13 October 2025











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Job summary


This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Mental Health Practitioner to join the new Single Point of Access (SPOA) in West Sussex.


The SPOA is designed for children, young people, their families, carers and relevant professionals to ensure that they can access the most appropriate emotional wellbeing, mental health support and intervention which meets their needs at the earliest possible stage and with the minimum delay.


The SPOA aims:



  • An integrated aligned and co-ordinated service is in place

  • More CYP have access to appropriate mental health services first time

  • More CYP have positive experiences of care and support

  • Time taken to receive treatment and support is reduced

  • Improved data collection and evaluation of CYP's outcomes






Main duties of the job


Main duties of the job:



  • Offer high quality screening of referrals, discussing with referrers as required and ensuring they receive an appropriate and clinically sound response.

  • To direct children and their families to the most appropriate service in order to meet their emotional and mental health needs.

  • The SPOA clinicians will also be required to undertake risk assessments, ensure appropriate signposting for referrals that do not meet the criteria for services within the SPOA, with clear written responses containing a rationale for the decision, liaise with agencies receiving referrals from SPOA, identify opportunities for support whilst waiting for the referral to be processed and respond to any queries or concerns from professionals / parents.

  • To decide on an appropriate course of action alongside other professionals involved, providing advice, support and knowledge of appropriate resources for the emotional well-being and mental health of children, young people and their carers.





About us


Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across West and East Sussex and Brighton & Hove.


West Sussex CAMHS services build on CYP-IAPT learning. Users of our services help shape continuing service transformation with their lived experience.


Supported by our Clinical Academic Groups (CAGs), we work to put research, innovation and learning into practice. We offer a career, not just a job, in a team and a Trust committed to delivering the best possible care to the community and to supporting the wellbeing of our staff, who are our greatest asset.


Working in Sussex:



  • Travel easily between coast and stunning countryside

  • Easy access to Brighton, London, Gatwick and Heathrow


We encourage flexible working. We know that a positive work/ life balance brings about huge health-related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, home-working, part time hours, flexible start/ finish times or anything else. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.






Details


Date posted


19 September 2025




Pay scheme


Agenda for change





Band



Band 6







Salary



£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Per Annum





Contract


Permanent






Working pattern





Full-time





Reference number



354-CS-21781







Job locations




Swandean Hospital


Arundel road


Worthing



BN13 3EP














Job description


Job responsibilities


Detailed job description and main responsibilities



  • Skills and experience in screening referrals is desirable.

  • Working as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency SPOA team ensuring that referrals are screened swiftly and referrers are contacted and informed of referral outcomes.


Please refer to Job description for further responsibilities.







Job description



Job responsibilities


Detailed job description and main responsibilities



  • Skills and experience in screening referrals is desirable.

  • Working as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency SPOA team ensuring that referrals are screened swiftly and referrers are contacted and informed of referral outcomes.


Please refer to Job description for further responsibilities.








Person Specification






Qualifications



Essential




  • Registered professional Qualification


  • Evidence of post Registration Training





Desirable




  • Completion of mentorship course or equivalent








Knowledge and Experience



Essential




  • Relevant post qualifying experience


  • Experience supervising staff and students


  • Knowledge of interventions specific to service area


  • Awareness of Trust Policy and Values


  • Knowledge of managing and working with people with complex needs


  • Able to effectively manage risks


  • Able to formulate individualised care plans





Desirable




  • Lived experience of mental illness








Communication/interpersonal



Essential




  • Excellent verbal and written communication


  • Communication effectively with other parties (carers, relatives, other professionals etc


  • Work effectively with other services


  • Able to work to service objectives









Management/organisational



Essential




  • To have a good knowledge of service objectives


  • Able to manage and delegate tasks


  • Able to lead clinical discussions


  • Provide supervision to staff


  • Work well within a team









Skills/values



Essential




  • IT skills


  • Able to work well under pressure


  • Able to prioritise caseload


  • Able to deal with incidents effectively


  • Able to travel between sites


  • Awareness of human rights


  • Flexible and punctual


  • Non-judgemental












Person Specification







Qualifications



Essential




  • Registered professional Qualification


  • Evidence of post Registration Training





Desirable




  • Completion of mentorship course or equivalent








Knowledge and Experience



Essential




  • Relevant post qualifying experience


  • Experience supervising staff and students


  • Knowledge of interventions specific to service area


  • Awareness of Trust Policy and Values


  • Knowledge of managing and working with people with complex needs


  • Able to effectively manage risks


  • Able to formulate individualised care plans





Desirable




  • Lived experience of mental illness








Communication/interpersonal



Essential




  • Excellent verbal and written communication


  • Communication effectively with other parties (carers, relatives, other professionals etc


  • Work effectively with other services


  • Able to work to service objectives









Management/organisational



Essential




  • To have a good knowledge of service objectives


  • Able to manage and delegate tasks


  • Able to lead clinical discussions


  • Provide supervision to staff


  • Work well within a team









Skills/values



Essential




  • IT skills


  • Able to work well under pressure


  • Able to prioritise caseload


  • Able to deal with incidents effectively


  • Able to travel between sites


  • Awareness of human rights


  • Flexible and punctual


  • Non-judgemental













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 2, 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).









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.





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 2, 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


Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


Address




Swandean Hospital


Arundel road


Worthing



BN13 3EP








Employer's website



https://jobsincare.com/job/jnsLt0bsVpI (Opens in a new tab)
















































Employer details


Employer name


Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


Address




Swandean Hospital


Arundel road


Worthing



BN13 3EP








Employer's website



https://jobsincare.com/job/jnsLt0bsVpI (Opens in a new tab)

















































Employer contact details


For questions about the job, contact:



SPOA Team Lead


BRYDEN-PITT, Amanda













Details


Date posted


19 September 2025




Pay scheme


Agenda for change





Band



Band 6







Salary



£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Per Annum





Contract


Permanent






Working pattern





Full-time





Reference number



354-CS-21781







Job locations




Swandean Hospital


Arundel road


Worthing



BN13 3EP













Supporting documents


























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