Job summary
- Main area
- OPMH Services Reading
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 371-MHS874
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- OPMH Services Reading
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 28/10/2025
Employer heading
Mental Health Practitioner
Band 7
Job overview
An enthusiastic and experienced senior practitioner with an in-depth knowledge of the treatment of older people with mental health problems. With a passion for caring for patients with complex needs, you will have excellent communication and people skills, a warm personality, and the resilience to help us transform our patients’ lives.
You will be proactive, ensuring seamless delivery across a multi-disciplinary team. You will be an inspirational leader, striving to be your very best and supporting colleagues in the delivery of compassionate, safe, and structured care.
You will be enthusiastic to share your knowledge when managing and mentoring more junior team members 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. Your energy and drive will be rewarded with the support of a dedicated team that strives to create a progressive, warm, friendly, and considerate environment. You will enjoy working across multiple sites and have access to your own car. The post is 9-5pm including some evenings and one or two weekends per month
Main duties of the job
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Participating as a highly skilled member of a multi-disciplinary team managing a caseload of patients as a mental health practitioner.
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Taking responsibility for the provision of Occupational Therapy to older people with functional and/or organic mental health needs, as well as younger people with dementia.
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To undertake assessments of patients and conduct semi-structured interviews with family members and others involved in a patient’s care
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To be responsible for the formulation, execution, and evaluation of care plans for a designated number of patients who may present with significant complexity, in consultation with the patient and the multi-disciplinary team.
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As an experienced practitioner, the post holder will direct and supervise junior staff and/or students and resources within their area of responsibility and take an active role in clinical quality assurance and learning programmes.
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Post holder will provide advice to other members of the service and agencies on the needs of service users.
Working for our organisation
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 sites
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for you to be considered for this role:
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Have the relevant professional qualification for a Mental Health Nurse
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Experience of working with older people with mental health problems
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A passion and understanding for working with Older People
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Good understanding of the relevant legislation surrounding the Mental Capacity Act / Mental Health Act
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The ability to assess risk in both routine and urgent situations
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Be a car driver with the ability and readiness to travel
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’re 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.
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 criteria
- Registered Mental Health Nurse or equivalent, OT/SW
Desirable criteria
- ENB 998 or SLICE training
Continuous Professional Development
Essential criteria
- Ongoing professional development
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in dealing with challenging behaviour
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with older people with mental health problems
- Two years post qualification experience
- Experience of working in the community
- Supporting and empowering carers
- Multi-agency working
- Community working experience
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of mental health legislation
- Knowledge of risk assessment
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication
- Ability to deal with sensitive issues and manage conflict situations
- Intervention and outcome monitoring skills
- Able to work unsocial hours
- Ability to manage and prioritise workload
- Good IT skills
- Ability to manage stress
- Ability to work on own initiative and/or with a team
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- Ability to drive and have the use of a car for work
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Nafera Kamara
- Job title
- Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 9605959
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