Chief Executive Emma Turner

May 2026

Re: Rapid Responder Practitioner

Thank you for your interest in this post and towards our organisation, Mind in Croydon.

I am pleased to enclose:

Job description and person specification for the Service Lead role

Guidelines for applicants

Organisation Summary

The closing date for receipt of applications is 31st May 2026. We will review applications and hold interviews on a rolling basis so we encourage you to submit your interest early. To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV and a cover letter no longer than 2 A4 pages to recruitment@mindincroydon.org.uk , outlining your reasons for applying and demonstrating how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification.

Applications without cover letter will not be accepted.

Your faithfully

Mind in Croydon

RAPID RESPONDER PRACTITIONER JOB ADVERT

Mind in Croydon is s recruiting a Rapid Responder Practitioner to support the delivery of Building Brighter Futures (BBF), an innovative partnership programme designed to improve access to early mental health support for young people in Croydon.

The post is hosted within the newly refurbished Mind in Croydon’s Counselling Service, with day-to-day work coordinated through the BBF partnership to ensure a consistent and joined-up response across organisations.

Rapid Response Practitioner

Salary: £33,368 (£26,694.4 Actual for 28.8 hour week)

Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2029

Hours 28.8 Hours a week

Reports to: BBF Project Coordinator (Croydon Voluntary Action) / Mind in Croydon Counselling Service Mana

Based at: Mind in Croydon Orchard House, Counselling Office 15 Purley Road, South Croydon, CR2 6EZ. with regular travel to Community-based projects across Croydon, working flexibly across partner sites

If you would like to discuss the post further, please contact: recruitment@mindincroydon.org.uk to arrange an informal conversation.

RAPID RESPONDER PRACTITIONER ORGANISATION SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE POST

Mind in Croydon (MiC) is a mental health charity founded in 1967 to promote good mental health. Our vision is a world where everyone with mental health issues receives support and respect, and where inequality and stigma are eliminated. We are a voluntary sector organisation, a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity, with over 50 members of staff working across multiple sites and outreach locations in the London borough of Croydon.

We deliver a wide range of mental health and wellbeing services, including counselling, advocacy, welfare benefit advice, peer support, group physical activities and crisis support. In the past year, we supported over 15,000 individuals across the borough.

Mind in Croydon is a delivery partner in Building Brighter Futures, a borough-wide initiative funded by the Maudsley Charity to transform how young people access early mental health support.

CONTEXT OF THE POST

Building Brighter Futures is a three-year programme (funded until 31 March 2029) focused on early intervention for young people aged 15–19 experiencing complex disadvantage. The programme brings together a partnership of voluntary sector organisations, including Croydon Voluntary Action, Reedham Children’s Trust, Mind in Croydon, Off The Record, Croydon Drop In, Palace for Life and Reaching Higher.

The programme aims to reduce waiting times, prevent escalation of need, and improve young people’s experience by providing rapid access to relational, non-clinical support and clear pathways into longer-term or specialist services, where required.

The Rapid Responder Practitioner role is central to the programme’s front-door and allocation model, ensuring young people receive timely contact, appropriate assessment and coordinated support, while minimising duplication and repetitions.

While the role is hosted within Mind in Croydon, it operates as part of a multi-agency delivery model, with close coordination, shared practice standards and collective accountability across the partnership.

Salary: £33,368 (£26,694.4 Actual for 28.8 hour week)

Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2029

Hours: 4 days a week

Reports to: Project Coordinator (Croydon Voluntary Action) CVA Counselling Service Manager

Based at: Mind in Croydon Orchard House, Counselling Office 15 Purley Road, South Croydon, CR2 6EZ. with regular travel to Community-based projects across Croydon, working flexibly across partner sites

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Rapid Responder Practitioner provides early, trauma-informed and youth-centred intervention for young people aged 15–19 presenting with mild to moderate emotional wellbeing, mental health and social needs.

The role focuses on rapid engagement (first contact within 72 hours), holistic assessment, short-term support and navigation into appropriate pathways across the Building Brighter Futures partnership. It is a non-clinical role and does not deliver therapy.

Pmind in Croydon

KEY TASKS

Young Person engagement and assessment

Make first contact with young people within 72 hours of referral and agree a youthfriendly setting for initial engagement.

Complete holistic assessments covering presenting needs, strengths, risks, safety and early goals.

Co-create stabilisation and safety plans and introduce goal-based outcomes.

Brief intervention and navigation

Hold a small caseload and deliver short-term, trauma-informed support focused on engagement, stabilisation and goal-based progress.

Support young people to access partner services and community resources, including planning and delivering warm handovers where longer-term support is needed.

Work flexibly across community settings including youth hubs, schools, partner sites and public spaces, in line with policy and risk assessment.

Partnerships and coordination

Participate in weekly triage meetings and monthly case monitoring panels to support allocation decisions and joined-up case management.

Liaise with partner organisations, schools and statutory services (including CAMHS where appropriate) to ensure coordinated support and reduce duplication.

Maintain close communication with the BBF Project Coordinator and Rapid Responder colleagues across the partnership.

Recording, monitoring and learning

Maintain accurate and timely records within the BBF project system, covering referral, engagement, assessment, outcomes and exit.

Contribute to evaluation activity, including capturing outcomes, feedback and learning to inform service development.

Safeguarding

Identify and respond to safeguarding and risk concerns in line with Mind in Croydon and partnership procedures.

Share information appropriately to support young people’s safety and continuity of care.

Youth participation

Support youth participation and co-production activities within the programme.

Contribute feedback from young people to inform ongoing service development.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Experience supporting young people experiencing emotional distress, trauma or social vulnerability.

Strong relational engagement skills and commitment to trauma-informed practice.

Ability to complete holistic assessments, set goals and make informed pathway decisions.

Experience working collaboratively across organisational boundaries.

Ability to maintain accurate, concise records and engage with outcome measures.

IT literate.

Desirable

Experience in youth work, mentoring or non-clinical therapeutic support.

Familiarity with THRIVE, AMBIT or similar practice frameworks.

Experience contributing to multi-agency meetings and partnership working.

TRAINING, SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT

Line management and supervision through Mind in Croydon.

Close day-to-day coordination with the BBF Partnership Lead.

Access to training in trauma-informed practice and agreed partnership tools.

Peer support through partnership huddles and learning activities.

ORGANISATIONAL VALUES

All staff are expected to uphold Mind in Croydon’s values of:

Equality and inclusion

Authentic service user involvement

Professional integrity

Recovery-focused and person-centred approaches

Collaboration and respect

JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT

This job description outlines the main responsibilities of the role but is not exhaustive. Duties may be reviewed and amended as the needs of the organisation evolve. Any changes will be discussed with the postholder.