Mental Health Practitioner/Memory Clinic Nurse

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking an experienced practitioner to enhance mental health care for older adults. This role involves comprehensive assessments, tailored nursing interventions, and collaboration with various agencies. The ideal candidate will possess strong assessment and communication skills, alongside a commitment to high-quality patient care.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days' annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

'Cycle to Work' scheme

Access to wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at popular retailers

Generous maternity and paternity leave

Free parking

Qualifications

• 2+ years experience working with Older People with mental health needs.
• Experience in multidisciplinary working.
• Student Assessor/Mentorship qualification.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial comprehensive assessments in various settings.
• Ensure nursing care interventions are tailored to individual needs.
• Provide specialist consultation on care for older people.

Skills

Assessment skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Crisis management

Education

RMN or equivalent Professional Qualification

Job description

Job summary

Interviews are due to be held on 26 June 2025.

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 approach.

You will be enthusiastic to share your knowledge when managing and mentoring junior members of the team and a sympathetic advocate for patients, ensuring that they are supported in their preferences, their dignity is maintained, and cultural and spiritual values met. A calming influence, you will be able to deal with difficult and distressing situations professionally and with sincerity.

Main duties of the job

• 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 ensure that all programmes of nursing care interventions are based upon the service user's individual needs and that they are consistent with the Memory Clinic Care Pathway
• To identify and select from a range of health, social and voluntary agencies which could assist and improve the care of individuals and their families.
• To participate and support on the MSNAP accreditation process
• To provide specialist consultation and advice on issues relating to the care of older people with mental health problems to other professionals within the wider care community such as Adult Social Care Service, Residential and Nursing Care Homes, Sheltered Housing, Day Centres etc.

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 site

Details Date posted

21 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS773

Job locations

Prospect Park Hospital

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

Job description Job responsibilities

The "must haves" for you to be considered for this role:

• Have the relevant professional qualification.
• A passion and experience of working with Older People with mental health problems.
• The ability to assess risk in both routine and urgent situations.
• Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• Ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements of the position.

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: Nafera Kamara on 0118 960 5959 or email: [e-mail] or Bolanle Matthews, Memory Clinic Lead email: [e-mail] 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 you to be considered for this role:

• Have the relevant professional qualification.
• A passion and experience of working with Older People with mental health problems.
• The ability to assess risk in both routine and urgent situations.
• Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• Ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements of the position.

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: Nafera Kamara on 0118 960 5959 or email: [e-mail] or Bolanle Matthews, Memory Clinic Lead email: [e-mail] 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 or equivalent Professional Qualification with mental health experience

Desirable

• Dual qualified RMN and RGN

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Student Assessor/Mentorship

Desirable

• Completion of Post Graduate Course relating to Older Adults

Previous Experience Essential

• 2 years+ experience of working with Older People with mental health needs in a range of clinical setting.
• Experience in multidisciplinary working

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Advanced interpersonal/communication skills
• Ability to demonstrate effective team working and ability to work autonomously
• Advanced assessment & clinical reasoning skills
• Time management & workload prioritisation skills

Desirable

• Leadership Abilities
• Capable of remaining calm during crisis situations

Additional Requirements Essential

• Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service with the ability to travel independently between location to fulfil the requirements of the position

Person Specification Education/Qualifications/Training Essential

• RMN or equivalent Professional Qualification with mental health experience

Desirable

• Dual qualified RMN and RGN

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Student Assessor/Mentorship

Desirable

• Completion of Post Graduate Course relating to Older Adults

Previous Experience Essential

• 2 years+ experience of working with Older People with mental health needs in a range of clinical setting.
• Experience in multidisciplinary working

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Advanced interpersonal/communication skills
• Ability to demonstrate effective team working and ability to work autonomously
• Advanced assessment & clinical reasoning skills
• Time management & workload prioritisation skills

Desirable

• Leadership Abilities
• Capable of remaining calm during crisis situations

Additional Requirements Essential

• Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service with the ability to travel independently between location to fulfil the requirements of the position

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

Prospect Park Hospital

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Prospect Park Hospital

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

Employer's website

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