Mental Health Practitioner

BERKSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Slough; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in Slough is seeking a professional to join their dynamic team assisting adults with mental health issues. This role involves supporting the development of services and working alongside various teams to ensure comprehensive care for patients. Candidates should have an RMN or equivalent qualification and relevant experience in mental health services. Flexible working options and numerous benefits are offered, including generous annual leave and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Access to wellbeing tools

Discounts at popular retailers

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Broad experience of caring for adults with mental health needs.
• Minimum two years as Band 6 in mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Respond to referrals from the Emergency Department.
• Carry out psychosocial assessments and formulate discharge plans.
• Provide liaison work with wards for patients with mental health problems.

Skills

Good communication skills

Ability to work autonomously

Multi-disciplinary approach

Education

RMN or equivalent professional qualification

Ongoing professional development

Job description

Overview

The post holder will be joining a well-established team working with adults over 18 years old who are referred from the Emergency Department or the wards at Wexham Park Hospital. The work can be dynamic and complex and there are many opportunities to develop strong working relationships with our key stakeholders at Wexham Park Hospital and across mental health services. The East Berkshire Psychological Medicine Service is part of the Berkshire urgent care pathway, and we are keen to develop staff to ensure the service comprises highly skilled and competent professionals.

The team supports patients presenting with a wide range of mental health issues as well as co-occurring drug and alcohol problems. This is a new role, and the post holder will be integral in supporting the team's development and understanding of co-occurring mental health and drug and alcohol problems for those patients who are referred.

You will work alongside both the working age team and the older adult team within the East Berkshire Psychological Medicine Service.

The post is suited to someone who can work in a fast and dynamic environment, work autonomously while remaining calm, and has good communication skills for liaising with colleagues in the acute hospital.

Responsibilities

• Respond to referrals made by the Emergency Department and the wards at Wexham Park Hospital Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Carry out psychosocial assessment of the patient and formulate a safe discharge plan.
• Provide liaison work with wards for patients admitted with medical issues who also present with mental health problems.
• Act as the link between the Trust Drug and Alcohol Specialist, community drug and alcohol teams and the acute hospital specialist.
• Provide training on co‑occurring mental health and drug and alcohol problems to the acute hospital team and within the service.
• Adopt a multi‑disciplinary approach to ensure a safe care plan is formulated.

Qualifications

• RMN or equivalent professional qualification.
• Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years, acquired by caring for adults with mental health needs in a range of community or inpatient settings.
• Minimum two years as Band 6 grade mental health services.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.

Benefits and Working Arrangements

• 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.

Additional Information

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. We offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.

Please note we may close positions before the advertised date. For further information, please contact us on [email protected].

No agencies, please.