Job summary
Interview will be held on 13th Feb 2025
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in an innovative service within Berkshire Healthcare- the Family Safeguarding Service. This service forms the mental health component of the multidisciplinary 'Family Safeguarding Model'. It is a collaboration between health services and local authority Children's Social Care services (Bracknell Forest Council and West Berks Council). TheFamilySafeguarding Model isamultiagencyinitiative,wheremental health, domestic abuse practitioners and alcohol and substance misuse recovery workers are co-located within Children's Social Care, to provide a 'whole family' approach to safeguarding children.
The service supports adults, who are experiencing difficulties with their emotional wellbeing and mental health, to meet the needs of their children and to better safeguard them. Improving parental mental health, improves family functioning and the outcomes for children.
Flexible working is available, with a combination of home visits, on-site appointments and remote working. The role is an opportunity for part-time working between 0.6 and 0.8wte.
Main duties of the job
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The Family Safeguarding Mental Health practitioner will work as an integral member of a co-located multi-disciplinary team, which includes children's social workers, domestic abuse and substance misuse specialists, as well as mental health workers and clinical psychologists, to safeguard and reduce risks to children.
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The postholder will contribute to the holistic approach, recognising the impact on children where parents have poor mental health and limited coping strategies, as well as problems arising from domestic abuse, and parental alcohol and substance misuse.
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Our interventions are underpinned by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Systemic Family Therapy models. Brief emotional 'first aid' approaches are key to supporting our clients through periods of crisis, whilst motivational interviewing supports in maintaining their engagement.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
A team player with experience of multidisciplinary working and working flexibly
A holistic understanding of mental health needs and the intergenerational impact of mental health and trauma upon family functioning
A desire to support families to improve outcomes for parents and their children
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact: Jo Hadfield or Catherine Farr Jo.Hadfield@berkshire.nhs.uk or Catherine.Farr@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help or to arrange a phone call to discuss further.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
A team player with experience of multidisciplinary working and working flexibly
A holistic understanding of mental health needs and the intergenerational impact of mental health and trauma upon family functioning
A desire to support families to improve outcomes for parents and their children
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact: Jo Hadfield or Catherine Farr Jo.Hadfield@berkshire.nhs.uk or Catherine.Farr@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help or to arrange a phone call to discuss further.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Relevant professional degree level for own discipline: RMN or Dip/Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing, Registered Social Worker, Registered Occupational Therapist
- Continuing registration with body overseeing practice of core mental health profession, e.g. NMC or HCPC
- Completion of a range of post-graduate or professional training courses related to specialism
- Qualification to master's degree level (if relevant/ required for the profession at this band) or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Psychosocial interventions
- Motivational Interviewing training
- Practice Placement qualification / Preceptorship and Mentorship
- Training in CBT and DBT skills
- Training in Leadership skills
Previous Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years of post-registration experience
- Experience of working in acute mental health inpatient/community services
- Experience of working in situations of crisis and emotionally demanding environments.
Desirable
- Experience of leadership / management of professionally qualified junior staff
- Experience of effective supervision to professionally qualified staff
- Experience of group work
- Experience/training motivational interviewing
- Experience in research and or audit
- Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-ethnic community
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Experience of Clinical risk assessment and management in an inpatient or community setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of impact of mental health conditions on the welfare and safety of children and family
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
- Ability to communicate effectively within a multi-professional team.
- Ability to use outcome measures to evaluate progress
Desirable
- Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals in accordance with professional, ethical guidelines and Trust policies.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to travel independently locally and outside Berkshire as required.
Desirable
- Personal car and driver's license
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Relevant professional degree level for own discipline: RMN or Dip/Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing, Registered Social Worker, Registered Occupational Therapist
- Continuing registration with body overseeing practice of core mental health profession, e.g. NMC or HCPC
- Completion of a range of post-graduate or professional training courses related to specialism
- Qualification to master's degree level (if relevant/ required for the profession at this band) or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Psychosocial interventions
- Motivational Interviewing training
- Practice Placement qualification / Preceptorship and Mentorship
- Training in CBT and DBT skills
- Training in Leadership skills
Previous Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years of post-registration experience
- Experience of working in acute mental health inpatient/community services
- Experience of working in situations of crisis and emotionally demanding environments.
Desirable
- Experience of leadership / management of professionally qualified junior staff
- Experience of effective supervision to professionally qualified staff
- Experience of group work
- Experience/training motivational interviewing
- Experience in research and or audit
- Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-ethnic community
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Experience of Clinical risk assessment and management in an inpatient or community setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of impact of mental health conditions on the welfare and safety of children and family
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
- Ability to communicate effectively within a multi-professional team.
- Ability to use outcome measures to evaluate progress
Desirable
- Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals in accordance with professional, ethical guidelines and Trust policies.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to travel independently locally and outside Berkshire as required.
Desirable
- Personal car and driver's license
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).
