Job summary
Do you have excellent listening skills, enjoy solving problems and genuinely want to make a difference in the lives of others supporting people in mental health crisis?
As an NHS 111 press 2, Senior Mental Health Advisor, you will be the first point of contact for people who are struggling with their mental health. You will provide reassurance and comfort. You will provide advice and health information to patients calling 111, supporting callers to access the appropriate level of care. Your role will be to support the Mental Health Advisors within the team with complex calls and challenging, rapidly changing situations
This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit
Main duties of the job
You will work collaboratively with partner agencies to support patients who need onward support and will be able to refer directly into secondary care services such as the local Crisis and Intensive home treatment teams for those who need an urgent assessment. This will ensure there is an easier and smoother way for patients to get support for their mental health.
You will work as part of a team of people who have a passion for helping those in crisis, where no two days are the same. Professional registration within Mental health or social care is essential and experience within an urgent mental health care setting is desirable. Full training in managing calls, supporting patients during a crisis and the use of our systems will be provided.
About us
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.
Details
Date posted
25 March 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
346-DDA-044-26-A
Job locations
West Park Hospital
Darlington
DL2 2TS
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a job where you can truly make a positive impact. It will challenge you and help you grow as a person. You will need to be resilient, to think on your feet and be quick to adapt to changing situations. You will need to be empathetic and patient, able to understand and connect with people who are going through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. You will be part of a supportive and encouraging team that is constantly learning and growing, and you will be given opportunities to develop new skills and take on new challenges.
As a Senior Mental Health Advisor for Tees Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust you will work to improve the lives of people with mental ill health by minimising the impact of their condition through effective clinical leadership and management of the development and delivery of excellent services to promote recovery and wellbeing for all service users.
You will be responsible for the provision of excellence in clinical care, providing clinical leadership to the team and promoting a culture of evidence-based practice whilst acting as shift co-ordinator on a rota basis, ensuring the efficient and effective running of the team.
You will facilitate others in the team to develop competence by providing leadership, day to day supervision, clinical advice and clinical supervision to registered healthcare professionals as appropriate, community support workers / support, time and recovery workers and students.
You will be compassionate in meeting the needs of patients and their carers and will, at all times, promote a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
You will be responsible for ensuring that MH Advisors recognise the potential for or signs of client harm, abuse and neglect, including poor clinical practice, report all such occurrences and take all reasonable steps to protect the client.
You will also be responsible for ensuring that all staff identify, and report concerns regarding the safeguarding of children who may be at risk. You will also support Mental health advisors to use advanced communication, negotiation and probing skills across a wide range of calls including emotive circumstances or caller aggression.
18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework is essential.
For full role responsibilities, please see attached job description.
Additional contact details:Andrea Card, Service Manager
- 01325 552076
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Current professional registration with an approved professional body.
2. Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
3. For registered nurses: MIP, FLIP, ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice or City & Guilds 730 Teaching in Adult Education. Must be achieved within agreed timescale.
4. Clinical Supervisor
5. Recognised sign-off mentor, clinical educator or equivalent. Must be achieved within agreed timescale.
6. Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
Desirable
7. Leadership or management qualification
8. Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
Experience
Essential
9. Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting
10. 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework
11. Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers
12. Mentoring or facilitating students on practice placement
13. Working in a multi-disciplinary team
14. Quality improvement activities
Desirable
15. Leadership or management experience
Knowledge
Essential
16. Demonstrable knowledge to post-graduate level of evidence-based practice in caring for patients in the designated field
17. Understanding of relevant legislation (. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act)
18. Care Programme Approach and its application in practice
19. Detailed understanding of Safeguarding and its application in practice
20. Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice
21. Clinical Governance and its application in practice
22. Research and development methodology
23. Understanding of psychological models of care and treatment
Desirable
24. The Trust's Quality Improvement System (QIS)