Trainee Mental Health Practitioner jobs in Royal Docks

Date posted: 18th September 2026

Pay range: £30,784 to £36,968 depending on training & experience

Job description:

Post: Therapeutic Practitioner, permanent

Location: Southall (Primary location), Richmond & Surbiton (Secondary locations)

Hours: 40 hours per week (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm)

Benefits: 33 days’ annual leave, pension, life assurance, an employee assistance programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, fully funded placement on Level 7 accredited diploma

Salary: between £30,784 to £32,634 depending on training and experience

Community Housing & Therapy (CHT) is a local charity that supports people experiencing severe, often multiple mental health diagnoses to work through trauma, build supportive relationships, and explore ways to live fulfilling lives. Since 1994, we’ve championed a relational approach to mental health recovery, providing an alternative to hospital for people who, due to the complex nature of their conditions, are often excluded from other services.

We recognise that severe mental distress arises from experiences of repeated trauma and damaged and damaging attachment relationships, often exacerbated by deprivation, inequality, and stigma. Therefore, our approach to recovery is psychosocial and person-centred, which means we consider the whole person rather than just treating their diagnoses.

​Your role as a Therapeutic Practitioner provides the foundation for the therapeutic work in our communities. You will be working closely with each resident to create a recovery plan, listen to their needs, recognise their strengths, and respect their boundaries while supporting them to build relationships with staff and peers, and develop strategies for community engagement and daily task management.

We provide a reflective and collaborative work environment for our staff. Our supportive benefits package includes an Employee Assistance Programme and a Cycle-to-Work scheme. Other benefits include:​

• Training and development opportunities, including our Level 7 Diploma in Relational Practice in Mental Health which provides you with an opportunity to meet and work alongside other colleagues across our Services. This training currently takes place a our central office, weekly on Thursdays and is made up of seminars, practical skills and reflective practice groups.
• Regular clinical and line management supervision
• Weekly team reflective practice group
• Supportive, collaborative work environment

Support clients in initiating and/or progressing their recovery journeys so that they can achieve more of their aspirations and potential in life. To assist the Service Manager in maintaining a therapeutic culture and programme by facilitating a range of therapeutic groups, delivering individual key work sessions and administrative duties including report writing. Practitioners are also expected to participate fully in training and supervision sessions.

• To participate in the life of the service as a member of the community in line with CHT’s Psychologically Informed Environment model.
• To facilitate various groups within the community under the supervision of the Team Leader, Service Manager and Community Psychologist
• To co-produce clear and structured recovery, risk management and move-on plans with clients, working with the client both formally and informally towards their recovery goals
• To build supportive and therapeutic relationships with clients through dialogue
• To administer medication according to CHT’s policies and procedures
• Maintain excellent working relationships with Care Teams and Families

1 Therapeutic Practice

§ To participate in ensuring that the service runs in adherence to CHT’s model of service delivery.

§ To participate in all areas of community life, supporting clients both practically and emotionally in informal and formal settings

§ To facilitate various groups and meet with a number of clients individually for key work sessions

§ To aid clients in integrating into the community, both within the service and in the wider community

§ To promote high levels of client participation in service development and implementation

§ To attend review meetings for key work clients and prepare progress reports

§ To work with clients to develop and work towards their recovery plans

§ To encourage clients in engaging with activities within the service and within the wider community

§ To participate in formal reflective practice sessions run by the Community Psychotherapist

§ To participate in CHT’s internal training programme and periodic masterclasses

§ To administer and support clients with their medication in line with CHT’s procedures

§ To keep in mind the aspects of Safeguarding and work with an understanding of Mental Capacity and Dignity in line with CHT’s core framework

§ To promote equality and diversity in their practice

2 Administration

§ To share everyday administrative duties including writing up handovers, completing medication records, and various client focused reports

§ To take the lead on certain administrative roles as directed by the Service Manager such as Medication Management, Health and Safety and Petty Cash

§ To keep all written records up to date and clearly formulated

§ To provide regular reports of client progress using outcome measures under the direction of the Service Manager

§ To co-ordinate the collection and support in analysis of outcome measures

3 External Relations

§ Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with Care Teams and Families in support of the clients recovery and in line with their wishes

§ Organise regular meetings with Care Teams to discuss client progress and present outcome results

§ To develop links in the wider community to support clients in engaging in meaningful activities such as leisure, employment or education

• Comply with CHT’s Equal Opportunities Policy, Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and other policies and procedures
• Act in the best interests of CHT and its clients, and to promote CHT’s values and value in all conversations and situations
• To take part in various duties appropriate to being a member of the CHT Staff Team
• Undertake training and professional development appropriate to the role, and in agreement with the Chief Executive
• To take part in regular meetings, supervisions and appraisals

Essential:

Experience

• Experience of working with or lived experience of complex mental health conditions
• Experience of working within or lived experience of a recovery orientated approach to supporting adults with complex presentations

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Understanding of the recovery approach
• Understand the support requirements of people with mental health and other associated conditions.
• Ability to establish an effective working relationship with clients which is attachment centred and based on the Recovery approach including the skills for comprehensive assessment and action planning.
• Have good interpersonal skills including active listening, clear and thorough information sharing and good verbal communication skills.
• Ability to respond appropriately and effectively and de-escalate situations when faced with challenging or violent behaviour.
• Good written, numeracy and administrative skills e.g.: ability to accurately and competently record comprehensive assessments, action plans and letters.
• An awareness and understanding of Health & Safety issues related to working in a residential service
• Knowledge and understanding of the statutory and voluntary services within mental health
• The ability to initiate and maintain constructive and appropriate relations with clients and external agencies

General

• Have a positive and compassionate attitude to working with those with complex mental health conditions as well as a belief and commitment to recovery
• Able to demonstrate a willingness to engage in CPD
• Commitment to working within a recovery / psychologically informed framework
• An understanding of and commitment to diversity & equality
• Willingness and ability to work shifts including evenings, weekends bank holidays including Christmas Eve/ Day and New Years Eve/ Day
• Willingness to work flexibly in response to changing organisational requirements.

Desirable

• Certificate in counselling skills or other similar and relevant qualification or experience of engaging in own psychological therapy

Work remotely

• No

Closing date: Monday 9th November 2026

We will be interviewing candidates on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the vacancy at any time, we would therefore advise interested candidates to submit applications as soon as possible.

Please note: The interview process is made up of two parts. An initial face to face interview and a group meeting with residents. Candidates who have successfully passed the initial interview will be invited back to attend one Experiential Community Engagement meeting or group. The dates for these follow up groups are to be confirmed. We would request the candidate to be prepared to spend time with the community for around 3 hours.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• Based on your understanding of CHT's clinical model and the job description, explain how your experience would help you thrive in this role?

Experience:

• Support Environment: 1 year (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: Monday 9th November 2026

Reference ID: Therapeutic Practitioner TRC

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £30,784.00-£32,634.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• Based on your understanding of CHT's clinical model and the job description, explain how your experience would help you thrive in this role?

Experience:

• Support Environment: 1 year (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person