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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health & Intellectual Disabilities
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
152-M597.25A
Employer
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Seascape
Town
Bournemouth
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Practitioner

Band 6

 

 

Job overview

As a Specialist Practitioner, you will serve as a Care Coordinator for a specific caseload of patients presenting with complex behaviours and/or significant mental health needs. Your role will involve delivering person-centered, evidence-based, targeted interventions to support children, their families or carers, and the multi-disciplinary team. Regular clinical and peer supervision will be provided to support your ongoing professional development.

Our team operates collaboratively, fostering a supportive environment that encourages skill development and multi-disciplinary working.

This is a full-time, permanent position within the pan-Dorset ID CAMHS service. The role involves working across two sites in Dorset—Southbourne and Dorchester—with your primary base at Seascape, Southbourne. A valid driving license and access to a car are required, as travel to patient homes and community settings will be part of your duties. Flexible working arrangements may be available, provided service needs are met.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

 

Main duties of the job

Main duties include: 

  • To provide a high-quality person-centred approach to care delivery which considers people's safety, privacy and dignity
  • To provide specialist care and interventions, assessments, treatments and managing patients on a caseload, as part of a wider team.
  • To provide specialist advice to other agencies regarding management and care of patients.
  • To devise specialist programmes of care for other professionals to deliver and ensure they are delivered appropriately.
  • To plan, implement and review health improvement programmes in a range of settings.
  • Provide supervision, mentorship, training and clinical support to students and trained practitioners. 

Driving is essential for this role. You will be required to have a full and valid UK driving licence and to travel using own vehicle on Trust business. 

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.  Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

If you are interested in moving to Dorset we also offer a generous relocation package of up to £10,000.  For further details on relocation expenses please email [email protected]

Working for our organisation

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people. 

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves. 

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification.  When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post. 

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application.  However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience.  If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety.  If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

 As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [email protected]

Recommend a friend or family member and earn cash!

Do you have a friend or family member you would recommend to join us? Or do you know someone who wants to return to practice in the NHS? If the person you refer is appointed by the Trust and completes their probationary period you will receive £500 reward payment for the introduction! Please contact the recruitment team if you require further info!

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria
  • Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level supplemented by post registration diploma level specialist training and/or short courses or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant specialty
  • Membership of the relevant Professional Body
  • Evidence of recent professional development in an up-to-date portfolio
Desirable criteria
  • Learning and Assessing in Practice Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training
  • Non-Medical Prescriber (if professionally appropriate)

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level
  • Experience of specialist working
  • Demonstrable knowledge of assessment and therapeutic interventions in area of specialism
  • Experience of developing specialist programmes of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing highly specialist advice
  • Able to demonstrate specialist clinical reasoning skills to assimilate information in order to make a clinical judgement regarding diagnosis and intervention.
Desirable criteria
  • Recent previous experience within a comparable role

Job Specific

Essential criteria
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision and mentoring to junior staff
  • Experience of devising and delivering training
  • Able to effectively manage available resources in the pursuit of quality service provision ensuring a safe environment

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria
  • Able to communicate effectively at different levels of the organisation and with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require the use of negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
  • Able to overcome barriers to understanding where there are physical or mental disabilities.
  • Able to analyse and assess situations and to interpret potentially conflicting situations and determine appropriate action, where there is a range of options and judgement is required.
  • Experience of planning and organising complex activities, e.g. organise own time and that of junior staff and learners, planning off duty rotas and undertaking discharge planning involving co-ordination with other agencies.
  • Willingness to advance own clinical knowledge, skill and competence based on current evidence

Employer certification / accreditation badges

National Interim Quality MarkNHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardModern Slavery ActApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in PeopleImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare quality commission - OutstandingPrince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Gary Sutton-Boulton
Job title
Senior Clinical Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01202584353
Additional information

Please feel free to contact me for an informal discussion prior to application. 

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