Go back Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner - Op COURAGE Veterans

The closing date is 14 October 2025

Are you a member of the Armed Forces Community? Maybe you have experience working with the Armed Forces Community? Or perhaps you are someone with the desire to support those who have given so much to our country? If so, consider joining us in Op COURAGE - The Integrated Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

We need a passionate clinician who understands the need to tailor mental health care for the Armed Forces community and who is sensitive to the unique experiences that life in the Armed Forces brings. We provide ongoing training opportunities and encourage our staff to attend learning and networking events, to improve the care we can give to our patients.

You will be responsible for the care of a caseload of patients in the community, under the Op Courage Community Veterans Mental Health Service.

The service is primarily a Monday-Friday 9-5 service, however there will be an expectation to work one weekend on a rota basis roughly every 8 weeks, with two weekdays off during this week

This service covers the six counties that fall within the geographical patch of the East of England. A blend of face-to-face and remote working is required for working across this geography

Main duties of the job

You will;

• Manage a caseload of community based patients and be responsible for assessing need, care-planning and coordinating care, and discharging from services when care is complete.
• You will provide face-to-face and/or remote contact with your patients.
• You will have an understanding of what is available for this community across the social prescribing and charity sector, and provide referrals to these other organisations that can help meet identified needs
• Advocate for the needs of the Armed Forces Community
• Empower people to address specific needs in relation to health and wellbeing and enable individuals to become experts in managing and taking responsibility for their own condition

About us

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Job responsibilities

You will be able to provide the main duties of the job listed above, by;

Building up rapport and establishing a therapeutic working relationship

Understanding the specific needs of the Armed Forces Community and the challenges they may have faced with service life

Assessing personal, social, and medical history and identify and verify factors including contra-indications apparent from patient history

Sensitively be able to elicit a picture of the military service and challenges this have brought to the individual and their family

Identify clinical mental health disorder, or those at risk of

Develop a person-centred and needs-led care plan

Refer-on to other appropriate healthcare services

Liaising with relevant statutory and non-statutory services involved with provision of care

Being aware of military related charities and community provision for Armed Forces community in their area.

Evaluating potential efficacy of planned intervention

Presenting cases to the MDT for clinical decision making and update the MDT on progress working towards discharge from the service.

Ensuring that care plans, risk assessments and all patient care records are completed and maintained in line with set key performance indicators.

Taking responsibility for and assist in the management of incidents, ensuring timely investigation and reporting of any incidents.

Keeping up-to-date with current practices, local and national policies and agendas in relation to Veterans mental health.

Empower people to address specific needs in relation to health and wellbeing and enable individuals to become experts in managing and taking responsibility for their own condition.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of qualified service providers within the local region.

Person Specification

Registration and Education

• RMN/OT/SW
• Post-registration education related to mental health

Skills/experience

• Experience working within a community setting/lone working
• Ability to assess for evidence of clinical mental health disorders or those at risk of, and formulate a treatment plan
• Confidence to use clinical judgement to decide when treatment is complete and facilitate client discharge from services
• Ability to risk assess and provide clear risk management plan
• 2 years post registration experience in mental Health
• Personal or professional experience with the Armed Forces community

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the mental health challenges faced by armed forces veterans
• Understanding of evidence based treatments and NICE guidance for mental health disorders
• Knowledge of the wider services interested in the general welfare of veterans.
• Understanding of your duty of care and responsibilities in line with the Mental Capacity Act, Mental Heath Act and Safeguarding legislation

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust