Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Mental Health Practitioner
The closing date is 23 November 2026

Job summary
We are pleased to be able to offer an exciting opportunity to join the Primary Care and Partnerships team within the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Mental Health Team (NMHT) as a Mental Health Practitioner (MHP)

This role will be part of a team of Mental Health Practitioners working into the newly formed NMHT's. You will be part of the core team working alongside the Specialist Adult Service, Specialist Older Adult Service and VCSE Partners. You will be closely aligned and work with colleagues within GP practices as well as Health in Mind (NHS Talking Therapies- NHS TT).

The MHP role will provide a critical function in triaging referrals into the service as well as those in NHS TT, providing timely and consistent assessments, brief interventions and onward referral as required. Liaison with key stakeholders and third sector organisations also forms part of this role.

This post offers the Trust's £2,000 Golden Hello or Relocation Incentive for Band 6 Nurses & Practitioners, (pro rata and subject to terms and conditions; please see attached Protocol Document for full details).

Main duties of the job
It is essential that you are a registered Mental Health Professional (Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist). Your role will include carrying out assessments, brief interventions, triage, onward referrals to Secondary or Urgent Care Services (if this is needed) and signposting advice. The successful applicant should have excellent clinical skills in assessment, risk assessment and as well as strong communication skills.

You will be working closely with a range of professional groups, including Mental Health Practitioners based within GP surgeries, NMHT colleagues, partner organisations, VCSE providers, and other aligned services within the Neighbourhood as well as NHS Talking Therapies Teams. Providing expert advice, guidance, and supporting colleagues will constitute a key element of this role.

The post holder will also contribute to wider Service and Trust initiatives, including the development of the Triage function, the operation of local Triage Hubs, and the ongoing enhancement of the Mental Health Practitioner role across Sussex. As part of an increasingly integrated network of services, the post holder will play a pivotal role in advancing and shaping the Neighbourhood model. For further detail on our strategic vision, please refer to the Sussex ICS mental health priorities webpage.

About us
As a Mental Health Trust, Sussex Partnership offers a supportive working environment and the opportunity for staff to flourish and professionally develop. We have a strong philosophy of a collaborative and client centred approach, and staff wellbeing is integral in our philosophy and in our practice. We have a huge focus on the wellbeing of staff and our reward packages reflect the immensely important work our staff do. If you are looking for the opportunity to work within a busy but rewarding team in a town like no other, then we would love to hear from you. East Sussex offers coastal living along with independent shopping and a variety of cafes, bars and restaurants and a creative music and artistic scene.

As a practitioner in our team we can offer you:

• Access to numerous wellbeing and support programmes
• Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development
• Flexible working patterns
• Reimbursed parking
• Child care vouchers
• Access to a host of NHS discount schemes (including gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars)
• A position within a trust rated as 'Outstanding' for caring and 'Good' overall by the CQC
• Generous holiday entitlement (dependent on length of NHS service) starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays
• NHS Pension contributions

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year pro rata for part time
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 354-AE-21376-1
Job locations: Eastbourne Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, St Mary's House, 2nd floor, 52 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UU, United Kingdom

Job description
Essential Qualifications
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker with current registration appropriate to the job role. Evidence of continuous professional development.

Experience/Knowledge

• Extensive post-qualifying experience of clinical work with people with a range of mental health problems across all age and disability categories.
• Experience of partnership working within and across various different statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies.
• Experience in working consultatively with professionals.
• Experience of providing low intensity psychological interventions including, provision of self help, behavioural activation, solution focused, guided self help, and a CBT informed approach using a range of delivery models, telephone, face to face, individual and workshops.
• Experienced in conducting clinical assessments, including risk assessments.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Mental Health qualification or equivalent. Include relevant professional registration.

Desirable

• Post Registration Study to Masters level in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Formal qualification in psychological intervention, such as CBT, EMDR or Counselling.

Knowledge/Experience
Essential

• Extensive post-qualifying experience of clinical work with people with a range of mental health problems.
• Experience of partnership working within and across various different statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies.
• Experience in working consultatively with professionals.
• Experience of providing low intensity psychological interventions including, provision of self help, behavioural activation, solution focused, guided self help, and a CBT informed approach using a range of delivery models, telephone, face to face, individual and workshops.
• Experienced in conducting clinical assessments, including risk assessments.

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.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer's website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Primary Care & Partnership Team Lead, Caroline Berry, caroline.berry8@nhs.net, 03003040590

Supporting documents
Privacy notice: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice