Job Summary
A Vacancy at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.
The Initial Response Service (IRS) launched in the Bay in 2023 and since then it has consistently demonstrated itself to be an integral part of secondary mental health services; we’ve improved access to mental health services for individuals who need it, whilst reducing demands on care and treatment delivery services. In the most recent CQC report, the IRS was identified as a source of positive change in how mental health services are delivered in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Forget caseloads and case management. In the IRS your skills and expertise will be in assessing patients at the point of referral and identifying what service will best meet their needs moving forwards. The spectrum of mental health needs vary significantly; you will have the ability to offer advice and guidance for mild to moderate mental health issues and ways this can be managed and improved. Equally, you’ll have the ability respond to urgent referrals with more acute needs and higher risks in the community.
We want to hear from practitioners who are experienced in the field of mental health, and its care and treatment pathways (including third sector service). We need confident practitioners with an ability to assess risk and respond to it appropriately in a fast-paced environment. This post is open to those with a Recognised Core Mental Health Professional Qualification (RMN, SW, OT).
3 Permanent Full Time Mental Health Practitioner posts available.
Key Responsibilities
* Ability to use your skills to triage and assess individuals with varying degrees of mental health difficulties over the phone and/or face to face in the community.
* Identify community services that are most appropriate for presenting need (third sector, CMHT, HBTT, and Talking Therapies).
* Act as shift lead, screening referrals and prioritising them based on your clinical judgment of risk and need.
* Working alongside the police to support patients and implement care when they are at risk of being held under s.136 of the MHA.
* Fast paced environment and supportive developing team.
Contact
If you require more details about the role or an informal chat please contact us on the details provided.
About the Trust
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well‑being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi‑time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.
This advert closes on Thursday 23 Oct 2025.
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