Mental Health Practitioner

The Reading Older Peoples Mental Health Service is looking for an enthusiastic, caring and highly motivated Mental Health Practitioner with a relevant professional qualification (Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse) to join our friendly and innovative team. The post holder will have the opportunity to work across the teams, CMHT, HTT and Memory Clinic.

An experienced practitioner to contribute towards maintaining our standards of high-quality care to our patients. Excellent assessment and communication skills are essential. You must be committed to older people's mental health and demonstrate a person-centred care approach.

The post holder is responsible for managing his/her own caseload, working collaboratively with other disciplines from both statutory and voluntary sectors as well as contributing towards the development of the service. He/she may be required to take a lead in an area of special interest, such as working with carers or Younger People with Dementia. The post holder is also responsible for ensuring clinical governance guidelines are followed and to be involved in delivering training and educational programmes as well as participating in audit and research.

Working hours are 09:00 - 17:00 hrs, Monday
- Friday and opportunity for flexible working.

To embrace and apply Quality Improvement Methodology.

• To undertake initial comprehensive assessments in a range of settings including patient's own home, taking into account the person's physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.
• To develop an agreed care plan with the service user and where appropriate include the views of the families and carers.
• To manage and be responsible for an identified caseload of patients.
• To act as supervisor to junior members of staff and students as required.
• To maintain accurate clinical documentation as per Trust guidance.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated "outstanding" by the CQC, we are committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we are 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
• 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

• Have the relevant professional qualification for a Mental Health Nurse.
• Experience of working with older people with mental health problems.
• A passion and understanding for working with Older People.
• Good understanding of the relevant legislation surrounding the Mental Capacity Act / Mental Health Act.
• The ability to assess risk in both routine and urgent situations.
• Be a car driver with the ability and readiness to travel.

• Registered Mental Health Practitioner
  - Nurse / Social Worker

• Experience of working with older people with mental health needs.
• Primary nursing experience.
• Experience of working in the community.

• Understanding of the effect of mental illness on patients and carers.
• The care of people with dementia.
• The care of people with functional illness.

• Ability to plan, implement and evaluate care plans.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Flexible.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to remain calm/manage stressful situations.
• Car driver with use of a car for work purposes.

• Valid UK licence.
• Use of Car.
• Willing to undertake training in a Specialist Area as required by the service.
• For HTT role, able to work unsocial hours and weekends.

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.

Prospect Park Hospital, Honey End Ln, Reading RG30 4EJ