Job Title: AOT Mental Health Practitioner - Maternity Cover
Employer: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Location: Yeovil, Somerset
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Closing date: 16 July 2026

Job Summary
Are you a passionate Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist looking to make a genuine difference in the lives of people with complex and enduring mental health needs?

Join our Assertive Outreach Team and play a vital role in supporting individuals who may find it difficult to engage with traditional mental health services. This is a rewarding opportunity to build meaningful therapeutic relationships, promote recovery, and help people achieve greater independence within their communities. Based in Yeovil, you'll work as part of a skilled multidisciplinary team, delivering person-centred care that empowers service users and supports long-term positive outcomes.

This role offers the chance to work autonomously while benefiting from the support of experienced colleagues across community, inpatient and voluntary sector services. You'll have opportunities to develop your leadership skills, contribute to service improvement initiatives, support junior staff and students, and continue your own professional growth.

Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced mental health professional who enjoys working creatively, collaboratively and proactively to improve outcomes for people facing significant mental health challenges.

You'll be at the heart of delivering high-quality community-based mental health care, taking responsibility for comprehensive assessments, personalised care plans and regular reviews. Every plan you develop will be built in partnership with the individual, ensuring their voice remains central to decision-making and recovery.

Working across community settings, including service users' homes, you'll support people to overcome barriers that may affect their wellbeing and independence. Your work will be varied, challenging and highly rewarding, requiring excellent communication, clinical judgement and relationship-building skills.

You will be part of a team that values collaboration, compassion and innovation. Alongside direct clinical work, you'll have the opportunity to mentor colleagues, contribute to service development, support student learning and help shape the future direction of assertive outreach services.

We're looking for a professionally registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist with experience in community mental health. You'll bring strong assessment and risk management skills, a compassionate and resilient approach, and the ability to work effectively both independently and within a multidisciplinary team.

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities
As a Community Mental Health Professional within the Assertive Outreach Team, you will:

• Manage a caseload of adults with severe and enduring mental health conditions, providing assessment, care planning and ongoing support.
• Develop strong therapeutic relationships with service users, particularly those who can be difficult to engage, helping them achieve their recovery goals.
• Work closely with families, carers and partner agencies to deliver coordinated, holistic care.
• Support individuals with a wide range of practical and social needs, including independent living, housing, finances, daily living skills and community participation.
• Carry out risk assessments, reviews and interventions, ensuring care remains safe, effective and person-centred.
• Collaborate with inpatient services, community teams, GPs and external organisations to ensure continuity of care.
• Provide guidance, supervision and support to junior colleagues and students, helping to develop the next generation of mental health professionals.
• Contribute to team development, quality improvement, audits and service initiatives that enhance patient care.

Qualifications
Essential
RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapy Qualification
Current registration with relevant professional body

Desirable
Evidence of recent relevant training.
Mentor qualification

Experience
Essential
Post qualification experience in mental health
Experience of care planning

Desirable
Working with severe and enduring mental health problems.
Working with clients in their own homes.
Experience with building collaborative therapeutic relationships with clients who are difficult to engage.
Supervision of staff

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details
Employer name: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Summerlands, 56 Preston Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2BN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/