Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

The closing date is 22 May 2025

Job summary

Come and join our friendly team as a Senior Mental Health Practitioner for the Community Mental Health Team within Wokingham Mental Health Services. Our main mission? To deliver top-quality care to our amazing patients and offer an alternative to traditional mental health admissions. If you are on the lookout for a role to work in a flexible environment plus loads of opportunities for growth and development, then you're in the right place!

Your role will involve conducting thorough One Assessments, delivering effective treatments, and offering brief, evidence-based follow-up services to patients referred from CPE, the psych liaison service, Crisis Resolution Home Treatment team, or inpatient wards.

While you'll be based in the heart of Wokingham, get ready for some exciting variety as you might occasionally travel to other locations like Windsor, Maidenhead, or Bracknell to meet the diverse needs of our services.

If you're passionate about mental health, crave a dynamic work environment, and want to make a real impact, this could be the role for you! Apply now and let's create positive change together!

Main duties of the job

  • Responsibilities include initial assessments through the One Team process, developing, implementing, and evaluating individualised care plans, along with directing patients to other services when necessary.
  • Collaboration with service users and the broader multidisciplinary team is integral to the development of each personalised plan.
  • Operating within a multidisciplinary team, you'll oversee care delivery, manage risks, and evaluate care outcomes, prioritising the recovery of each service user.
  • You should be adept at taking calculated positive risks, aligning with the Trust Policy on Risk Assessment and Management.

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

Date posted

01 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,205 to £47,084 a year per annum pro rata (Incl. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

371-MHS738-A

Job locations

Resource House

20 Denmark Street

Wokingham

RG40 2BB


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1) Be a Mental Health Nurse along with relevant professional registration.

2) Hold a full UK Driving License and have use of a car for work purposes.

3) Broad post qualification experience within a Mental Health setting

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 are 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 call Godfrey Karambakuwa (Joint Service Manager) or Kseniya Wimbush (Clinical Team Lead) on 0118 904 4800 or email: godfrey.karambakuwa@berkshire.nhs.uk / kseniya.wimbush@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.

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:

1) Be a Mental Health Nurse along with relevant professional registration.

2) Hold a full UK Driving License and have use of a car for work purposes.

3) Broad post qualification experience within a Mental Health setting

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 are 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 call Godfrey Karambakuwa (Joint Service Manager) or Kseniya Wimbush (Clinical Team Lead) on 0118 904 4800 or email: godfrey.karambakuwa@berkshire.nhs.uk / kseniya.wimbush@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.

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

  • RMN (current NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) registration)
  • Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

Desirable

  • Diploma in psycho-social interventions, or similar post registration qualification relevant to the post

Continuous Professional Development

Desirable

  • Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working with people who experience serious ongoing mental health problems
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
  • Experience of assessing and managing crisis with those with a severe mental illness

Desirable

  • Experience of contributing to policy and procedure development and implementation
  • Experience of managing and supervising other staff
  • Experience of managing and monitoring budgets
  • Experience of perinatal work

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to assess clinical situations quickly and use initiative
  • Good time management skills and ability to prioritise
  • Effective team worker
  • Good IT skills
  • Clinical supervision skills
  • Skills in assessment, care planning and case management
  • Ability to interpret research and apply to practice
  • Knowledge of counselling skills, group skills, cognitive skills, and behavioural skills
  • Knowledge of psycho-social interventions
  • Knowledge of our business and how it supports patient care
  • Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act and National Policy
  • Ability to work as an active member of the multidisciplinary team
  • Knowledge of recent initiatives in nursing
  • Report writing skills

Desirable

  • Skills in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) or family work
  • Research and audit skills
  • Group facilitation skills

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • An understanding and positive regard for the needs and rights of people with mental health problems and their carers
  • Ability to manage stress and work under pressure
  • Ability to work to ensure effective communication both within and outside the services
  • Ability to adapt to changing environments, needs and demands
  • Act as a positive role model, dynamic, motivated caring and supportive
  • Ability to work closely and form good working relationships with a wide range of people
  • Interested in further development
  • An understanding of Safeguarding procedures
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • RMN (current NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) registration)
  • Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

Desirable

  • Diploma in psycho-social interventions, or similar post registration qualification relevant to the post

Continuous Professional Development

Desirable

  • Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working with people who experience serious ongoing mental health problems
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
  • Experience of assessing and managing crisis with those with a severe mental illness

Desirable

  • Experience of contributing to policy and procedure development and implementation
  • Experience of managing and supervising other staff
  • Experience of managing and monitoring budgets
  • Experience of perinatal work

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to assess clinical situations quickly and use initiative
  • Good time management skills and ability to prioritise
  • Effective team worker
  • Good IT skills
  • Clinical supervision skills
  • Skills in assessment, care planning and case management
  • Ability to interpret research and apply to practice
  • Knowledge of counselling skills, group skills, cognitive skills, and behavioural skills
  • Knowledge of psycho-social interventions
  • Knowledge of our business and how it supports patient care
  • Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act and National Policy
  • Ability to work as an active member of the multidisciplinary team
  • Knowledge of recent initiatives in nursing
  • Report writing skills

Desirable

  • Skills in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) or family work
  • Research and audit skills
  • Group facilitation skills

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • An understanding and positive regard for the needs and rights of people with mental health problems and their carers
  • Ability to manage stress and work under pressure
  • Ability to work to ensure effective communication both within and outside the services
  • Ability to adapt to changing environments, needs and demands
  • Act as a positive role model, dynamic, motivated caring and supportive
  • Ability to work closely and form good working relationships with a wide range of people
  • Interested in further development
  • An understanding of Safeguarding procedures

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

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Resource House

20 Denmark Street

Wokingham

RG40 2BB


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Resource House

20 Denmark Street

Wokingham

RG40 2BB


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

Joint Service Manager

Godfrey Karambakuwa

godfrey.karambakuwa@berkshire.nhs.uk

01189044800

Date posted

01 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,205 to £47,084 a year per annum pro rata (Incl. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

371-MHS738-A

Job locations

Resource House

20 Denmark Street

Wokingham

RG40 2BB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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