Lead Practitioner – Horsham Neighbourhood Mental Health Team
Band 6 | Permanent
Full Time – 37.5 Hours per Week | Flexible Working
Horsham Neighbourhood Mental Health Team | Horsham
£39,959 – £48,117 per annum, pro rata for part time
Closing date: 7 September 2026
Join our Horsham Neighbourhood Mental Health Team as a Lead Practitioner and help provide responsive, compassionate and recovery-focused care to people experiencing complex mental health difficulties in the community.
Why this role stands out
• Open to qualified Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers
• Join a warm, friendly and highly supportive multidisciplinary team
• Develop your expertise in complex assessment, crisis response and community mental health care
• Play a key role in urgent and priority assessments and clinical decision-making
• Support people to receive effective care in the community, including Intensive Home-Based Treatment where required
• Regular supervision, reflective practice, mentoring, appraisal and training
• Predominantly Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm working
• Eligible candidates can access a £2,000 Golden Hello or Relocation Incentive, subject to terms and conditions
• Opportunity to be part of the continuing transformation of community mental health services
Who can apply
We’re looking for a qualified and experienced mental health professional with:
• Current registration as a Nurse or other health professional appropriate to the role
• Completion of a Mentorship Course, ENB or professional equivalent
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Significant post-qualifying experience within mental health or neurodevelopmental services
• Experience supporting people with complex health and mental health needs
• Experience undertaking clinical and risk assessments
• Experience delivering a range of clinical interventions
• Experience supervising and supporting staff
• Experience working consultatively with other professionals
• Experience of partnership working across statutory and non-statutory services
• Experience of the CPA process and an understanding of clinical governance
• Previous experience working in a community setting
The role
As a Lead Practitioner, you’ll provide experienced clinical input across the team, supporting people with complex needs and helping the service respond effectively when urgent or crisis situations arise.
You’ll:
• Undertake urgent and priority mental health assessments, including comprehensive risk assessment
• Make and coordinate clinical decisions during crisis situations
• Help maintain patient safety and recognise and respond appropriately to potential harm, abuse or neglect
• Provide clinical advice on complex issues to colleagues and professionals from other disciplines
• Take responsibility for people requiring an urgent response when their usual Care Coordinator or Lead Professional is unavailable
• Support the delivery of Intensive Home-Based Treatment where required
• Liaise with partner services including the Police and A&E
• Support colleagues to deliver interventions in accordance with agreed care plans
• Contribute to specialist assessments relating to the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and adult safeguarding
• Maintain clear verbal and written communication regarding patient presentation and care
• Contribute to quality standards and a consistent approach to care across the team
• Maintain high professional and clinical standards at all times
What we’re looking for
You’ll be someone who:
• Is confident working with people experiencing complex mental health difficulties
• Can remain calm and make sound clinical decisions in urgent and crisis situations
• Has excellent communication skills and can work effectively with service users, carers and a wide range of partner organisations
• Is comfortable working autonomously while being a collaborative member of a multidisciplinary team
• Has strong assessment, risk management and clinical intervention skills
• Can provide guidance and support to colleagues
• Brings an inclusive, positive and person-centred approach to their work
• Understands safeguarding, clinical governance and the legal frameworks relevant to community mental health practice
• Is committed to maintaining high standards of safe, compassionate care
Working in Horsham
You’ll join a supportive multidisciplinary team working with people experiencing a range of mental health difficulties across the Horsham locality.
The role involves working closely with service users, carers, primary care, third-sector organisations and other statutory and non-statutory agencies, with Lead Practitioners playing an important role in maintaining continuity of care and responding when people’s needs become more urgent.
Because the role involves community working across the locality, you’ll need to be able to travel independently and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.
Developing your career in community mental health
Community mental health services are continuing to develop towards a more integrated model of care, with closer working between mental health services, primary care and third-sector partners.
You’ll be supported through regular supervision, reflective practice, mentoring, appraisal and training, with staff wellbeing prioritised alongside your professional development.
The team is also keen to hear from Band 5 or newly qualified nurses with previous mental health experience who are interested in developing towards a community mental health nursing role and would like to discuss potential development opportunities.