Senior Mental Health Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Slough; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

NHS pension scheme

Learning and career development

Job summary

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join the Slough Community Mental Health Service at New Horizons. The role focuses on assessing adults with serious mental health needs, building recovery-focused care plans, and managing risk in home and community settings.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists and social workers, supervising junior staff and students and ensuring high-quality care.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree-level professional qualification.
• Further relevant mental health qualification or equivalent experience.
• Good standard of general education.

Responsibilities

• Hold and prioritise a defined caseload, working autonomously with people who have serious and enduring mental health needs.
• Complete mental health assessments, formulations, care plans, crisis plans and risk assessments.
• Deliver evidence-based, recovery-focused interventions in homes, community venues and team premises.
• Work with the multidisciplinary team, carers, GP practices, local authority and partner agencies to build coordinated health and social care packages.
• Carry out Care Act 2014 and safeguarding responsibilities for the joint NHS and local authority service.
• Take part in duty work, keep accurate and timely Rio records, and contribute to clinical governance and service improvement.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to junior staff and students, including on risk assessment and positive risk taking.
• Travel between Trust and community locations as required.

Skills

Mental health assessment

Risk management

Leadership supervision

Record keeping

Client-centred approach

Education

Diploma or degree-level qualification

Further mental health qualification

Good general education

Tools

Rio records

Computer literacy

Job description

Senior Mental Health Practitioner post in the Slough Community Mental Health Service at New Horizons, run by Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust. The work centres on assessing adults with serious and enduring mental health needs, building recovery-focused care plans and managing risk, with interventions delivered in homes and community venues. Post holders work within a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists and social workers, and also supervise junior staff and students. Current NMC registration is required.

What the job involves

• Hold and prioritise a defined caseload, working autonomously with people who have serious and enduring mental health needs
• Complete mental health assessments, formulations, care plans, crisis plans and risk assessments
• Deliver evidence-based, recovery-focused interventions in homes, community venues and team premises
• Work with the multidisciplinary team, carers, GP practices, local authority and partner agencies to build coordinated health and social care packages
• Carry out Care Act 2014 and safeguarding responsibilities for the joint NHS and local authority service
• Take part in duty work, keep accurate and timely Rio records, and contribute to clinical governance and service improvement
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to junior staff and students, including on risk assessment and positive risk taking
• Travel between Trust and community locations as required

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree-level professional qualification
• Further relevant mental health qualification or equivalent experience
• Good standard of general education

Registration & licences

• Current NMC registration to practise

Experience

• At least two years post-qualification experience with adults with mental health problems, including community services
• Assessment and report writing experience
• Experience supervising staff and students
• Multidisciplinary team working experience

  Skills & knowledge

  • Thorough knowledge of mental health problems, assessment and treatment approaches, and current mental health policy
  • Strong skills in specialist assessment, formulation, treatment planning, risk management and recovery-focused interventions
  • Applying client-led principles and forming non-discriminatory relationships with clients and carers
  • Maintaining good quality records and writing reports, with basic computer literacy

  Other

  • Autonomous working and setting own priorities within caseload management
  • Senior clinician responsibility, contributing to service development and critically appraising own performance
  • Staying calm under pressure and adapting to emotionally demanding and changing situations
  • Ability to travel between sites

  Nice to have

  • PSI or other qualification
  • Community mental health service experience, with at least two years post-qualification with adults with mental health problems

  What’s offered

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service, plus opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Learning and career development opportunities
  • Cycle to Work and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to wellbeing tools and services
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust sites, discounts at retailers and restaurants, and staff networks