Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for the position of a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join the Slough Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) at a time of new developments for the service.

Within the CMHT we have Senior Mental Health Practitioners who work as care coordinators in a longer-term way with people who live with severe and enduring mental illnesses. There are also a number of Senior Mental Health Practitioners who work in with smaller caseloads in a more intense, goal-orientated way for shorter periods. This is usually especially helpful for patients who require support to change their social circumstances.

The successful post-holder will work alongside dedicated clinicians from other disciplines: Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Psychiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses and Social Workers. We work in a multi-disciplinary way, undertaking comprehensive BioPsychoSocial assessments, developing transdiagnostic treatment plans, and with a focus on reablement and positive risk taking.

Working as a joint-funded service (NHS and Local Authority) we undertake statutory roles on behalf of Slough Borough Council, such as Care Act 2014 assessments for eligibility, Safeguarding reviews etc.; as well as NHS care coordination and treatment delivery in the community.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Mental Health Practitioner you will be a member of the Slough Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) based in New Horizons. Slough CMHT is a multi-disciplinary service. As such, you will be working alongside Social Workers, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Employment Support Workers (and more).

If this sounds like the sort of environment and role in which you will thrive, we would absolutely encourage your application.

Slough is the second largest town in Berkshire and is within the Greater London Urban Area. The A4, M4, M40 and M25 are all easily accessible making travel to and from very straightforward. Links to the centre of London are excellent with four trains an hour to Paddington, fast trains taking only 18 mins.

The \must haves for this role:

Have clinical responsibility for a dedicated case load as specified by the Clinical Team Leader.

Exercise a high degree of autonomy and make critical judgements and decisions for often complex and difficult casework and service delivery issues.

Have responsibility for specialist mental health assessment, formulation, and development of multidisciplinary and multi-agency packages of care to people with serious mental health problems.

Be responsible for identifying the specific interventions and skills required from the multidisciplinary team to deliver the plan of care and expected health/social outcomes which are evidenced based and lead to recovery and minimise risk.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare has a record of achievement and success that places us as one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We are rated 'Outstanding' by the CQC, we have a history of strong financial performance, and we have a highly skilled and engaged workforce. We aspire to be an outstanding organisation for everyone: our people, our patients, their families, and their carers.

For our people who work here that means we want Berkshire Healthcare to be a great place to work where everyone can thrive and grow. Some of the benefits of joining our team:

• Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance
• Annual leave - 27 days for new starters, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years NHS service. Pro rata for part time staff
• Excellent learning and development opportunities
• Salary sacrifice scheme for a new car
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff
• Advanced IT enablement and support
• Confidential telephone care service providing independent support and advice for staff.
• And so much more

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

The Trust may close any vacancy prior to the advertised closing date due to the high level of responses we receive for some of our vacancies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma or degree level professional qualification
• Registered for practice through NMC
• Further relevant qualification in the field of mental health or equivalent experience.
• Good standard of general education

Desirable

• PSI or other

Training

Essential

• Evidence of continuous professional development to high standard

Previous Experience

Essential

• Experience of assessment and report writing
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working.

Desirable

• Experience of working in community mental health services, minimum two years post-qualification experience of working with adults with mental health problems

Knowledge

Essential

• Thorough working knowledge of mental health problems and their management.
• Knowledge of assessment and treatment approaches
• Knowledge of current mental health policy

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to carry out high quality assessments and treatment interventions to individuals and groups
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities within caseload management
• Ability to apply client-led principles and form non-discriminatory therapeutic relationships with clients and carers
• Ability to maintain good quality records, and write reports
• Ability to take responsibility appropriate to senior clinician role
• Ability to contribute creatively to the development of the service.
• Ability to work within a changing and progressive environment.
• Ability to deal with emotionally demanding situations, to remain calm under pressure, and to be adaptable to demands of the role
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Basic computer literacy and ability to use electronic system

Additional requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel between sites

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

371-MHE554-E