Job summary
The Band 6 Practitioner will play a key role in delivering high-quality, responsive, and compassionate care to children and young people across Newcastle and Gateshead. Working within a multi-disciplinary team, the postholder will provide timely assessments, interventions, and support to young people experiencing acute mental health distress, aiming to reduce risk, promote recovery, and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct urgent mental health assessments in a variety of settings including home, school, and acute care environments.
• Develop and implement short-term care plans in collaboration with young people, families, and other professionals.
• Provide evidence-based interventions to manage crisis presentations, including de-escalation, safety planning, and psychoeducation.
• Work closely with CYPS, social care, and other partner agencies
• Contribute to clinical supervision, service development, and quality improvement

Essential Requirements:

• Professional qualification and registration
• Experience working with children and young people
• Strong risk assessment and management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, person-centred care.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in crisis or urgent care services.
• Knowledge of local services and pathways within Newcastle and Gateshead.
• Training in brief therapeutic interventions (e.g. CBT, DBT skills, solution-focused approaches).

Main duties of the job

• Deliver urgent, compassionate mental health assessments for children and young people in crisis.
• Provide short-term, recovery-focused interventions that promote safety, stability, and hope.
• Collaborate closely with families, schools, CAMHS, and partner agencies to ensure joined-up care.
• Participate in the team's 24/7 rota, offering responsive support during evenings and weekends.
• Contribute to service development, clinical supervision, and continuous improvement.
• Advocate for young people's voices, ensuring care is trauma-informed and person-centred.

About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 17th September 2026
Closing date : 1st October 2026
We welcome your application.

Person Specification
Qualifications & Experience
Essential

• Professional Qualification and current Professional Registration as, a First Level Registered Nurse (RNMH, RMN, RNLD) or equivalent as an AHP, Social Worker or Clinical Psychologist
• Mentor Training.
• Evidence of post-registration training in clinical/ psychological interventions / skills relevant to the post.
• Proven track record of post registration clinical experience relevant to the post.
• Training in CPA (Care Programme Approach), Safeguarding, MAPPA (Multi Agency Panel for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults) and Child Protection.
• Up-to-date knowledge/experience of relevant legislation.

Desirable

• Post Registration Qualifications in Psychological Interventions
• Experience of working within a community team.
• Non-Medical Prescribing

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• 12 to 24 month band 5 qualified nurse experience dependent upon service need.
• Awareness and understanding of professional accountability, NMC standards and other local and national initiatives.

Desirable

• Understanding of difficult to manage/challenging behaviours.

Skills and Competencies
Essential

• Proven ability to carry out and provide comprehensive written assessments of individuals with complex mental health needs.
• Risk Assessment and Risk Management / Safety Planning skills.
• Demonstrate an understanding of effective & appropriate treatment options including a range of evidence based clinical approaches as identified in N.I.C.E. Guidance).
• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Evidence of a high level of professional, organisational and leadership skills (self & others).
• Ability to adapt within a changing environment.
• Ability to work under pressure.

Desirable

• Clinical Leadership.
• Training & Induction of staff.
• Delegation skills.
• Debriefing skills.
• Teaching/Presentation 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.

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.