Job summary
Are you a passionate and experienced mental health professional ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults? We are seeking a dynamic Band 6 Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join our dedicated Memory Assessment Service in Peterborough.
This is a rewarding opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team supporting individuals undergoing memory assessment and living with cognitive impairment or a potential undiagnoseddementia. You will play a key role in delivering high-quality, person-centred care, conducting assessments, developing care plans, and providing therapeutic interventions.
We welcome applications from experienced registered Mental Health Nurses with:
- Experience in mental health services, ideally with older people
- Strong assessment and clinical decision-making skills
- A compassionate, collaborative approach to care
- Commitment to promoting dignity, independence, and wellbeing
Main duties of the job
Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.
The main duties of the role include conducting dementia assessments, developing care plans, and working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Clinical Responsibilities
- Early identification and assessment of individuals with suspected dementia, using evidence-based tools
- Conducting comprehensive memory assessments, including cognitive testing and mental health evaluations.
- Formulating person-centred care plans based on assessment outcomes
- Providing therapeutic interventions and psychoeducation to individuals and families
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Working in a multi-agency team, with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, and social workers.
- Liaising with GPs, community services, and voluntary sector partners to ensure continuity of care and support for patients.
- Participating in team meetings, MDT discussions, and service development initiatives to enhance clinical practice and service delivery.
*DVLA have a number ofreciprocalarrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website
About us
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.
Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- Assessment of mental health needs
- Delivery of mental health interventions for both service users and their carers in accordance with memory assessment service care pathway.
- To provide post diagnostic support including Advanced Care Planning for service users and carers in line with NICE recommendations and guidelines.
- To supervise and assess the use of prescribed medications according to professional guidelines and policies. To be familiar with therapeutic and side effects of prescribed medication and observe statutory and local policies in the prescribing, storage and administration of medications.
- To practice as an independent / supplementary non-medical prescriber (with appropriate qualification) providing specialist advice in non-medical prescribing and medicine management policy in line with Trusts nonmedical prescribing policy.
- To contribute to the leadership within memory assessment services and service development.
- To offer guidance and support to colleagues within OPAC services including community Older Peoples Mental Health Teams and Stepped care therapy.
- To contribute to local multi-disciplinary team reviews and care planning for identified service users
- To work closely with colleagues in the mental health integrated care team and the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment team to ensure smooth transitions of care and joint work.
- To contribute to the wider functioning of the Older Peoples services in the locality by participating in the Duty rota system.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- Assessment of mental health needs
- Delivery of mental health interventions for both service users and their carers in accordance with memory assessment service care pathway.
- To provide post diagnostic support including Advanced Care Planning for service users and carers in line with NICE recommendations and guidelines.
- To supervise and assess the use of prescribed medications according to professional guidelines and policies. To be familiar with therapeutic and side effects of prescribed medication and observe statutory and local policies in the prescribing, storage and administration of medications.
- To practice as an independent / supplementary non-medical prescriber (with appropriate qualification) providing specialist advice in non-medical prescribing and medicine management policy in line with Trusts nonmedical prescribing policy.
- To contribute to the leadership within memory assessment services and service development.
- To offer guidance and support to colleagues within OPAC services including community Older Peoples Mental Health Teams and Stepped care therapy.
- To contribute to local multi-disciplinary team reviews and care planning for identified service users
- To work closely with colleagues in the mental health integrated care team and the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment team to ensure smooth transitions of care and joint work.
- To contribute to the wider functioning of the Older Peoples services in the locality by participating in the Duty rota system.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Mental Health nurse with NMC registration
- Training in supervision and appraisal
Desirable
- Post qualifying training in relevant field
- Non-medical prescribing qualification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in working within a mental health service.
- Experience of working with older people with mental health needs
- Experience of clinical and managerial supervision of junior staff
- Experience of working with people with a diagnosis of dementia.
Desirable
- Experience of working with an older people's community mental health service.
- Have a lived experience of mental health challenges
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- Excellent clinical skill in assessment and interventions for mental health conditions including dementia.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to summarise information and communicate with colleagues
- Ability to communicate effectively with people in distress or with communication difficulties.
Desirable
- Experience of working with nursing home and care providers
- Experience as safeguarding lead
Knowledge and understanding
Essential
- Excellent understanding of statutory framework and care commissioning including: safeguarding, commissioning of care and Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity act
Physical
Essential
- Ability to travel independently around Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A Full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Mental Health nurse with NMC registration
- Training in supervision and appraisal
Desirable
- Post qualifying training in relevant field
- Non-medical prescribing qualification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in working within a mental health service.
- Experience of working with older people with mental health needs
- Experience of clinical and managerial supervision of junior staff
- Experience of working with people with a diagnosis of dementia.
Desirable
- Experience of working with an older people's community mental health service.
- Have a lived experience of mental health challenges
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- Excellent clinical skill in assessment and interventions for mental health conditions including dementia.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to summarise information and communicate with colleagues
- Ability to communicate effectively with people in distress or with communication difficulties.
Desirable
- Experience of working with nursing home and care providers
- Experience as safeguarding lead
Knowledge and understanding
Essential
- Excellent understanding of statutory framework and care commissioning including: safeguarding, commissioning of care and Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity act
Physical
Essential
- Ability to travel independently around Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A Full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
