East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Adult Mental Health Specialist

The closing date is 21 May 2025

Job summary

We are pleased to be able to offer two substantive posts for registered Mental Health Professionals to join our complex health team in our new Adult Mental Health Specialist roles.

You will have post-registration experience of working with and supporting people over the age of 18 who have mental health needs. Your expertise and knowledge will support the continuing service which we provide in Colchester Hospital for adults who have been admitted with mental health related needs. The specialist posts have been approved due to recognition of how these will complement the specialist service we provide for people with complex health needs and the staff who care for them in ESNEFT. You will join our complex health service which has established registered professionals who provide care people with Dementia, Learning disabilities and children and young people with mental health needs. This will be an excellent opportunity for someone with the relevant qualification, skills and experience to be part of this valued service.

The post holders will provide clinical intervention, leadership and training on the delivery of care for adults who have mental health needs. To achieve this they will be responsible for developing care packages and programs of care for patients including those who self-harm or have an eating disorder. They will work closely with partners to enable multi-agency input around the child or young person and their family's needs.

Main duties of the job

To provide clinical leadership and training on the delivery of care for adults (over the age of 18) who have mental health needs. To provide training and support that will improve the experience of these patients and those who are involved in their care.

To be responsible for developing care packages and programs of care for adults, including older people who self-harm or have an eating disorder, including the involvement of multi-agency input around the patient and their carer or family's needs.

To communicate complex and sensitive information and advice to patients and, as appropriate, their families, carers and professionals, including information about diagnosis and prognosis, to find ways of enabling the information to be understood, providing empathy and reassurance.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here -www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Date posted

07 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

432-HR166-25

Job locations

Colchester General Hospital

Colchester

CO4 5JL

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse or Health or Social Care professional
Post registration qualification / training in mental health
Formal knowledge of adult and/or older adult mental health acquired through clinical post-graduate education

Desirable

Additional nursing qualification.
Degree/ Masters level qualification relevant to mental health
Mentorship Qualification
Relevant teaching qualification

Experience

Essential

Significant post-registration clinical experience of working with adults, including older people with mental health needs in different settings
Experience of recent involvement in practice/ service development.
Experience of working with groups and individuals in a variety of roles and settings
Demonstrated experience of working as an autonomous practitioner
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage services
Experience of professional supervision of staff
Experience of audit/ evaluating clinical practice

Desirable

Experience of undertaking staff performance reviews and planned development of staff
Experience of working with patients/ clients to develop practice

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Ability to use a range of therapeutic skills
Incorporating and demonstrating competencies including person-centred care, therapeutic skills, sharing knowledge, best practice, and critical reflective practice at enhanced specialist level
Understanding practice and promoting person-centred and relationship-centred care
Experience of supporting people who are subject to detention under the Mental Health Act
Experience and understanding of the use of restrictive interventions and strategies to reduce this

Desirable

Knowledge of research methods and methodologies
Understanding of competency frameworks
Experience of supporting systematic practice development/ quality improvement

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse or Health or Social Care professional
Post registration qualification / training in mental health
Formal knowledge of adult and/or older adult mental health acquired through clinical post-graduate education

Desirable

Additional nursing qualification.
Degree/ Masters level qualification relevant to mental health
Mentorship Qualification
Relevant teaching qualification

Experience

Essential

Significant post-registration clinical experience of working with adults, including older people with mental health needs in different settings
Experience of recent involvement in practice/ service development.
Experience of working with groups and individuals in a variety of roles and settings
Demonstrated experience of working as an autonomous practitioner
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage services
Experience of professional supervision of staff
Experience of audit/ evaluating clinical practice

Desirable

Experience of undertaking staff performance reviews and planned development of staff
Experience of working with patients/ clients to develop practice

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Ability to use a range of therapeutic skills
Incorporating and demonstrating competencies including person-centred care, therapeutic skills, sharing knowledge, best practice, and critical reflective practice at enhanced specialist level
Understanding practice and promoting person-centred and relationship-centred care
Experience of supporting people who are subject to detention under the Mental Health Act
Experience and understanding of the use of restrictive interventions and strategies to reduce this

Desirable

Knowledge of research methods and methodologies
Understanding of competency frameworks
Experience of supporting systematic practice development/ quality improvement

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

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

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Colchester General Hospital

Colchester

CO4 5JL

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Colchester General Hospital

Colchester

CO4 5JL

Employer's website

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