Job overview
This is a new and exciting post created within the Bolton Specialist CMHT's to enhance the support offered to service users with an SMI and a co-occurring condition.
This senior practitioner post will lead a cluster team within the CMHT, in line with the Community Transformation transformed model offer, to offer an flexible and proactive approach to supporting this client group
Main duties of the job
The Senior Practitioner role will provide assessment, formulation, brief and extended interventions, and collaborative care planning with the MDT and wider substance misuse services. The post will strengthen pathways into substance misuse support, improve continuity of care between inpatient and community teams, and between specialist CMHT and external providers.
Key responsibilities include delivering and embedding training, supporting CMHT keyworkers, leading the co‑occurring conditions cluster within the community transformation model, and holding a small caseload or joint work. The role also contributes to relevant Rapid Reviews of Care and facilitates reflective supervision groups.
A core focus is ensuring people are not excluded from mental health or substance misuse services due to co‑occurring conditions. Strong multidisciplinary relationships are essential.
The post covers the Bolton borough and requires travel. Relevant CPD opportunities will be available. The post holder will also join the operational on‑site/on‑call rota and deputise for team managers as required
Working for our organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.
We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.
Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.
Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.
Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Please see attached job description and person specification
Staff benefits
Pay Enhancements – 30% additional for Evenings (8pm onwards) and Saturdays and 60% additional for Sundays and Bank holidays. 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years Excellent pension Cycle to work scheme Salary sacrifice car scheme Wellbeing programme
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
2. professional qualification (ie RMN, OT, SW)
Desirable criteria
3. •Further training relevant to this field of working
Experience
Essential criteria
4. •Significant experience of working with service users with substance misuse and
5. •Experience of working with service users in a community mental health setting with co-occurring conditions
6. •Experience of leading on a piece of work that has contributed to effective and efficient service delivery
Desirable criteria
7. •Experience of working within specialist substance misuse service
Knowledge
Essential criteria
8. •Knowledge of the physical, psychological and social effects of substance misuse and appropriate interventions
9. •An understanding of the complex needs of this client group
Skills
Essential criteria
10. •Ability to handle challenging situations and behave in a professional manner
11. •To have a positive regard for people with co-occurring mental health, alcohol or drug use and to understand the importance of involving them in their care
12. •Good understanding of positive and therapeutic risk taking, and able to demonstrate professional curiosity
13. •Ability to work in a flexible way, to meet the needs of this client group
14. •Ability to use own initiative and work autonomously, seeking support and advice where necessary & good organisational skills
Desirable criteria
15. •Experience of delivering training to others
Other requirements
Essential criteria
16. •Prepared to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
17. •To participate in the Operational on site / on call rota (formerly known as Bronze on site / call)
The Trust mandates all post holders who require a DBS for their role to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration throughout your employment with GMMH.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.
The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities. If you would like to have an informal chat about the recruitment process for this role or would value some additional support, we’d love to hear from you.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications
A candidate may utilise the help of AI when writing job application. The assessment of an application is made on its entirety and most times AI-generated content does not fully grasp the context and requirements of the job one applies for thus producing inaccurate and misleading information, especially in the supporting statement section of an application that can lack real life examples of one’s achievements, success and challenges.
We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored. GMMH reserves the right to follow up with a candidate at the interview on specific responses and those examples used in the supporting statement to explore it further.
Sponsorship
We are proud to be an approved sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa. Applications from individuals who require sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications. Please be aware that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible roles and salary requirements on the UK Government’s website – click .
If you are offered a role with us and you require sponsorship, we will check your eligibility in line with the information on the above website. Your offer of employment could be withdrawn if the role is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not otherwise able to evidence your right to work in the UK.
The Home Office introduces new changes from 22/07/2025 that impact the health and care sector, you may wish to familiarise with it.
Do you have experience outside the NHS?
We want to attract and retain people with diverse skills and experience, to deliver inclusive healthcare services to our communities.
We will consider relevant experience outside the NHS to calculate your salary on appointment.