About us

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SHPU) is an NHS Trust that is primarily focused on mental health and wellbeing, learning disabilities, neurodiversity and dementia. Our vision is to improve the mental, physical and social wellbeing of the people in our communities. Our services include some highly specialised regional services such as Gender Identity Services and Forensic Secure Mental Health; and a wide variety of local and neighbourhood-based services such as primary care mental health and Talking Therapies. This is in addition to being the major provider of secondary mental healthcare for the people of Sheffield. 

We have a dedicated and skillful team of people caring in Sheffield, which you could become a part of.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do.

We work together, We are respectful and Kind, We are inclusive and We keep improving.

Person specification

We aim to be an organisation that is diverse and inclusive and to meet this aim we welcome applications from people with a wide range of life experience and whose diversity echoes the diversity of Sheffield, that of the people who use our services, and that of the people who may need to use our services but face barriers to access. Please think about your personal values and how these align with our Values when you are applying. Find out more about our organisation through our website.

We are a Disability Confident employer. We offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for a role. When you apply you will have the opportunity to let us know if you require adjustments to be made, please contact us if you are not sure or if you require adjustments to the application process itself.

Our six staff network groups welcome new members, these are:

• The Ethnically Diverse Staff Network Group
• The Disability Staff Network Group
• The Lived Experience Staff Network Group
• The Rainbow Staff Network Group
• The  Staff Carers Staff Network Group
• The Women’s Staff Network Group  

We know how important flexible working can be to applicants and therefore we encourage you to discuss any working arrangements as part of this process. We will always aim to accommodate requests, wherever possible.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children and as part of our safe recruitment practice the successful applicant(s) will be subject to a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if it is deemed appropriate for the role. The cost of the DBS check  must be met by the successful applicant(s).

At SHPU, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front. However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.

When applying for this post you will redirected to complete your application in our preferred applicant management system, Trac. If you are successfully offered a role, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. In addition, in submitting an application, you authorise our Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the ESR IAT process should you be appointed.

Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting statement.

While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for, nor can they accurately reflect your skills, knowledge, and experience. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice.

Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting statement is not advocated by SHPU and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

For example, AI responses…

•         usually lack relevance and fail to address the key criteria outlined in the job description and person specification.

•         may come across as generic and fail to distinguish you from other applicants.

•         may be ambiguous or open to misinterpretation. Without careful review and editing, the supporting statement could convey messages that are unclear or misconstrued by hiring managers.

•         may include qualifications, skills, knowledge or experience that you do not possess, potentially leading to misrepresentation.

Supporting Statement

The supporting statement is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.

Recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. Managers will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria.  These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.

Consider structuring your statement with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

In order for your application to progress, where applicable you are required to supply your share code.