Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Community Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 01 October 2025

Job summary

Are you a trained mental health nurse, occupational therapist or social worker with an interest in older person's mental health. Or are you a newly qualified mental health nurse looking for a community post with a clear 12 month progression pathway to band 6.

The Oakley House OPCMHTs are looking for the right person to join this well-established, supportive team.

The Community Mental Health team provides recovery focused treatment plans for those people who are 65 and over with severe mental illness or who have organic mental ill health.

You will manage a caseload of patients with a mixture of functional and organic disorders and provide a comprehensive, accessible and responsive mental health service to patients and their families.

This role is a full/part-time position working Monday to Friday 9 to 5 covering the Wareham and Purbeck locality, however part time/job sharing will be considered. You will be based at Oakley House in Wimborne and will need to have a valid driving licence and use of a car to travel to assess and monitor patients in their own homes and within other community or inpatient settings.

Main duties of the job

You will have recent experience of working in a mental health environment and be able to apply the philosophies of engagement and recovery in your work with service users and have an awareness of the Mental Health Act.As a Community Mental Health Practitioner, you will contribute to effective multi-disciplinary working within the community mental health service and build up effective liaison with community, primary, and other secondary and tertiary services/agencies within the locality to provide holistic care based on the individual's need and service development.

You will communicate effectively in verbal and written form in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in difficult situations using de-escalation, mediation, resolution and professional Duty of Candour.

You will evaluate care, taking appropriate action leading to improvement in quality standards through clinical audit.

For further details or to arrange an informal visit please contacttracey.fuller1@nhs.net, on 01202 639560.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Details

Date posted

17 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

152-M286.25

Job locations

Oakley House

15 Oakley Lane, Canford Magna

Wimborne

BH21 1SF


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Registered practitioner to degree/diploma leve

Desirable

  • Previous experience/ interest in the speciality

Knowledge

Essential

  • Registration with professional body

Desirable

  • Experience supporting students in practice

Job specific experience

Essential

  • Experience of developing programmes of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing advice

Desirable

  • Good understanding of different therapeutic interventions used in secondary care.

Job Specific

Essential

  • Able to work autonomously whilst supporting the wider team.

Business Travel

Essential

  • Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Registered practitioner to degree/diploma leve

Desirable

  • Previous experience/ interest in the speciality

Knowledge

Essential

  • Registration with professional body

Desirable

  • Experience supporting students in practice

Job specific experience

Essential

  • Experience of developing programmes of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing advice

Desirable

  • Good understanding of different therapeutic interventions used in secondary care.

Job Specific

Essential

  • Able to work autonomously whilst supporting the wider team.

Business Travel

Essential

  • Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Oakley House

15 Oakley Lane, Canford Magna

Wimborne

BH21 1SF


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Oakley House

15 Oakley Lane, Canford Magna

Wimborne

BH21 1SF


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Leader

Tracey Fuller

tracey.fuller1@nhs.net

01202639560

Details

Date posted

17 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

152-M286.25

Job locations

Oakley House

15 Oakley Lane, Canford Magna

Wimborne

BH21 1SF


Supporting documents

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