Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AFC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 354-AB-21147
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Oaklands Centre
- Town
- Chichester
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 20/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Rapid Response Practitioner
NHS AFC: Band 7
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.
Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
The Rapid Response service was established in November 2024, building on the success of the Blue Light team. We effectively support emergency services responding to individuals experiencing mental health crisis. Interventions are largely delivered in individuals’ homes, avoiding unnecessary conveyance to A&E and reducing the use of Section 136 during operational hours.
We provide emergency responders with advice and the option to request on-scene attendance, resulting in more appropriate care and reducing the time emergency services spend managing mental health incidents in the community. We are looking for experienced mental health professionals to work across Sussex. You will be a responsive practitioner who carries out person centred interventions, assessments and develop an onward care plan that can address a mental health crisis. This could be on the telephone, virtually or 'at scene'. Practitioners will be accompanied by a community support worker who can provide basic first aid and assistance by providing support to carers and administrative tasks.
The service operates over 24 hrs, and Rapid Response practitioners currently work a mix of long days 10am-10pm and midday to midnight, 7 days a week.
They work in partnership with Blue Light Line who provide a single point of access to emergency responders giving information and clinical advice ensuring patients achieve the best outcomes and reduce the need for conveyance to A&E and alternatives to the use of S136
Main duties of the job
To receive information from emergency service colleagues, and give advice and support based on the clinical presentation of a person in crisis, including a self- defined crisis.
To receive information from emergency service colleagues and based on the clinical presentation of the person offer either a 'hear and treat intervention' by speaking directly to a person in crisis on the telephone, and when appropriate their carers and loved ones. Or if required attend the scene to carry out a face-to-face person-centred holistic assessment and formulate a care plan that addresses the presenting mental health need, and make any referrals required.
Complete written records that outline the presenting need for each referral, intervention offered and the outcomes.
When required, using clinical skills and knowledge, advise police colleagues on alternative means of support available to avoid the use of S136, offer least restrictive practice and gain the best outcomes for those in mental health crisis.
Advise paramedics on alternative pathways to mental health assessment without the need for conveyance to A&E when there is no medical need.
To have experience of and specialist knowledge on interventions to be able to lead in clinical area.
To demonstrate excellent communication skills and provide handovers of activity.
To work in partnership with other agencies to gain the best person -centred outcomes for the individual.
Working for our organisation
We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.
Working in Sussex:
· Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns
· Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
· With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure
We’d love you to join our organisation that is rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the CQC. Our staff agree, in our recent staff survey 82% told us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In order to be a successful senior member in our team you will be:
- Registered with the NMC, Social Work England or HCPC
- Experience working in mental health services
- Knowledgeable of factors which can impact on safety and service user experience
- Knowledgeable of factors which can impact on safety for emergency service colleagues.
Shifts are long days and evenings over 7 days but we will consider flexible working. The shift requirements ensure this post has generous enhancements attached to it.
It is essential you have:
- Either experience in an Urgent Care setting, ideally a CRHT or psychiatric liaison
- Or experience of crisis assessment in any setting that provides a safety care plan.
See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
Person specification
verbal and written
Essential criteria
- Registered Nurse, Social Work England or HCPC registered professional with current registration appropriate to the job role.
- Degree/diploma level supplemented by specialist qualification, training, experience, evidence of post registration training in relevant service area
- Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
- Extensive post qualifying experience in relevant service area
- Experience of supervising staff and students
- Comprehensive knowledge of interventions specific to service area
- Awareness of Trust policies and service specification
- Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills with staff, patients, families, carers and professionals
- Ability to provide and receive highly complex and highly sensitive information from multiple stakeholders and formulate the appropriate intervention
- Demonstrate empathy and reassurance skills to patients in crisis / intervention
- Able to establish links with other services and professionals
- Able to effectively manage risk
- To have a good knowledge of service objectives
- Able to lead clinical discussions in team
- Able to manage and delegate tasks
- To offer leadership and lead the team in absence of the service manager.
- Competent skills in use of PC for daily administrative tasks and able to use Trust IT systems to enter patient information, case notes, risk, Care Notes
- Physically fit to undertake duties related to service area and have an awareness of PMVA interventions
- Able to manage distressing or emotional situations involving staff and patients on a regular basis
- Awareness of policies relevant to workplace, ie lone working and able to manage and deal with incidents as per Trust Policy
- Ability to work in highly emotive and potentially hostile working environments on a regular basis
- Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Trust and demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
- To be a team player and be punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
Desirable criteria
- Lived experience of mental illness
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jill Robinson
- Job title
- Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07471 031925
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