Assistant Practitioner

Job summary

We are recruiting a compassionate and skilled Assistant Practitioner to join our new Under 18's Suffolk Crisis Service Team at NSFT which is due to go live from April 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team delivering urgent mental health support to children, young people and families across Suffolk.

You will work under the supervision of registered professionals to provide high-quality care and interventions, supporting individuals in crisis and helping to reduce risk in the community.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team consisting of Consultant Psychiatrists, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, a Therapies team, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Assistant Practitioners, Peer Support Workers, Nursery Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Community Team Managers, a Matron and a Service Manager specialising in perinatal mental health.

We are looking for an experiencedB4 Assistant Practitioner with relevant mental health and community experience to join our Perinatal Community Mental Health Team. This vacancy is based in the county of Suffolk. Within our specialist service you can look forward to a supportive and collaborative team, with friendly, visible and accessible senior staff and medics.

Main duties of the job

The under 18's Suffolk Crisis Service Team provides prevention, detection and management of mental health problems that complicate pregnancy and the postpartum year.

You will be responsible for:

• • Deliver direct care and support to service users in crisis, under supervision of registered clinicians.

  • Carry out delegated clinical tasks including care planning and interventions.

  • Support triage and response functions for urgent referrals, including from A&E and 111.

  • Maintain accurate records using Trust systems such as Lorenzo and System One.

  • Promote recovery-focused care and social inclusion.

  • Work collaboratively with families, carers, and multi-agency partners

About us

We are a cohesive, friendly, and kind team and will support you every step of the way.

This is an opportunity to work within a specialist multi-disciplinary setting, which offers a wide range of MDT clinical assessments and treatments, specific specialist perinatal therapeutic individual and group interventions. We promote a strong service user led participation culture as well as supporting partners and families.

We are looking for passionate and high-spirited individual who can be a part of our amazing team to improve services for our service users. We want people to be proactive, creative and innovative to advocate for our service users and develop our service further.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Details

Date posted

08 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year Pa/ Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

246-WSU7661306

Job locations

Stowmarket

Suffolk

IP14 1RF

Job description

Job responsibilities

It is expected most of our work is completed face to face in service users homes or in the community, so a valid UK full driving licence is essential. Access to your own vehicle is preferred, though pool cars can be booked through the Trusts hire car system.

If youre enthusiastic, person centred and have the skills needed to work in a community setting, we would love to hear from you.

We offer a comprehensive induction programme that includes a review of the Perinatal research and literature, specific training, shadowing with colleagues and other initiatives. We believe that staff, who feel valued by their employers and are truly engaged, can provide better outcomes for our service users.

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Job description

Job responsibilities

It is expected most of our work is completed face to face in service users homes or in the community, so a valid UK full driving licence is essential. Access to your own vehicle is preferred, though pool cars can be booked through the Trusts hire car system.

If youre enthusiastic, person centred and have the skills needed to work in a community setting, we would love to hear from you.

We offer a comprehensive induction programme that includes a review of the Perinatal research and literature, specific training, shadowing with colleagues and other initiatives. We believe that staff, who feel valued by their employers and are truly engaged, can provide better outcomes for our service users.

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Person Specification

Other

Essential

• Able to travel independently
• Flexible attitude

Experience

Essential

• Working with Service Users with mental health needs
• Working within Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
• Working knowledge and understanding of CPA process.

Qualifications

Essential

• Care certificate or relevant equivalent
• Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/mental health or apprenticeship in H&SC/mental health L5

Person Specification

Other

Essential

• Able to travel independently
• Flexible attitude

Experience

Essential

• Working with Service Users with mental health needs
• Working within Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
• Working knowledge and understanding of CPA process.

Qualifications

Essential

• Care certificate or relevant equivalent
• Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/mental health or apprenticeship in H&SC/mental health L5

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).

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 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).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

Stowmarket

Suffolk

IP14 1RF

Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

Stowmarket

Suffolk

IP14 1RF

Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)