Job summary
Mental Health Practitioner
Full time - 37.5hrs per week
Permanent post

This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate who has an interest and experience in working with young people experiencing mental health crisis,. The Crisis Care Service operates 24hrs per day 7 days per week, and provides intervention and support to children, young people and families experiencing mental health crisis.

This role is in a department that operates on a 24/7 shift basis and therefore enables staff to qualify for unsocial enhancements in addition to their basic pay.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide a substantial contribution to the clinical work of the multi-disciplinary team, including accepting, prioritising, assessing urgent referrals for children and their families.

Clinicians will work across Alder Hey Hospital and Ormskirk District General Hospital in both Accident and Emergency Department and inpatient wards completing bio-psycho-social assessments on children and young people in mental health crisis.

Another function of this role will be supporting callers to the crisis care line which offers advice and guidance to those in crisis on a 24/7 hour basis.

Working as part of the MDT, clinicians will formulate risk plans and a safe discharge process with support from senior clinicians. The post holder will support junior members of staff though supervision and mentorship and will participate in service development and national initiatives.

About us
In April 2020, the Crisis Care team moved rapidly to a 24hr service to provide support for Children, Young People and families experiencing Mental Health Crisis in Sefton and Liverpool.

The service operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week and comprises of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, Nursing, Social Workers, Keyworkers and Assistant Psychologists to provide 24hr urgent response and assessment to children and young people who are experiencing mental health crisis, as well support to parents/carers, and consultation to other professionals involved in their care.

Alder Hey are offering excellent benefit schemes;

Refer a friend - Alder Hey staff
Successful candidates who are introduced to the trust by existing staff members will receive £1000 after completion of six months in post. Please include the name/Alder Hey email for your friend in your additional information.

This will be paid in two parts, £250 in first month pay on commencement in post, and £750 on completion of six months.

Accommodation
Alder Hey will support the cost of accommodation for up to 3 months from the date of employment (up to £500 per month)

The cost is to be paid by the staff member and reclaimed as expenses.

Relocation package
Relocation packages to support new hires and will be consulted on an individual basis

Details
Date posted: 12 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 411-NEI-26-8195597
Job locations: Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L12 2AP, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, please take a look at the job description and person specification attachments.
• The post holders must be able to demonstrate a positive attitude which encompasses our Trust Values of excellence, innovation, openness, respect and together.
• If you are enthusiastic and confident with a friendly and outgoing manner, and a focus on providing the best possible service to patients we would like to hear from you.
• For more information about this post, or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Jo White or Zoe Bentley.

Person Specification
Qualifications, Experience and Training
Essential

• Qualified in core profession -or - recognised degree level H&SC qual with completed KSA AND Qualification in a therapeutic modality
• Professional Registration (where applicable)
• postgraduate/post qualification experience of working in a mental health or social care setting
• experience working in an MDT setting

Desirable

• experience of working in CAMHS

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Able to demonstrate application of therapeutic, reflection and analytical skills
• Able to provide, (with appropriate supervision), assessment of emergency/ self-harming behaviour and management of this
• Must demonstrate a working knowledge of health, education, social services and the voluntary sector.
• Awareness of recent government initiatives about mental health
• Organisational skills to manage and prioritise workload balance appropriately
• Must demonstrate utilisation of professional development planning in own career progression

Desirable

• Knowledge of audit and evaluation methodology

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Enthusiasm for and appreciation of multidisciplinary and multiagency working
• Must demonstrate a professional manner
• Excellent communication skills

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 2017, 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).

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.
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 2017, 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).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).