Job summary
- Main area
- Care Pathways Newbury
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- 2 years (fixed term end date will be determined after pre-employment checks have been completed)
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 371-TAP-MHS8371
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Hillcroft House
- Town
- Thatcham
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Dual Diagnosis Recovery Practitioner
Band 6
Job overview
Are you a registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist passionate about supporting people with co-occurring mental health, alcohol and substance use needs?
Do you have a problem-solving approach and enjoy building and developing relationships?
We’re looking for a Dual Diagnosis Recovery Practitioner to join our experienced Community Mental Health Team in Newbury. This new role, jointly funded by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and West Berkshire Council, bridges mental health and substance use services helping people with co-occurring needs access the right care.
Day to day you’ll:
- Carry out specialist assessments and coordinate person-centred recovery plans
- Build strong, trusting relationships to support engagement and motivation
- Work closely with partners across housing, benefits, and primary care
- Improve pathways between mental health and drug and alcohol services
You’ll use your experience of working within the mental health or substance use field help provide joined-up, recovery-focused care across health and social care systems.
Our Trust is rated Outstanding by the CQC, who note staff feel valued, supported, and encouraged to develop their interests.
This Band 6, two-year fixed-term role (Mon–Fri, 9–5) has some flexibility and opportunities for home working. There may be potential for the post to continue beyond the initial term.
Applications are reviewed as received. We'd encourage you to apply ASAP as roles can close early.
Main duties of the job
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Conduct comprehensive assessments of individual’s substance use and mental health needs
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Complete effective risk management/safety plans to manage an individual’s risk to self and others
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Respond to the full range of mental health and drug and alcohol needs which maximises opportunities for engagement and eventual recovery
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Show empathy and utilise a non-judgmental approach to listening to service users
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Identify and respond to service user’s needs and goals
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Work flexibly and persistently to respond to a range of needs
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Recognise the service user’s level of motivation to address co-occurring mental health and drug and alcohol use conditions and adapt their approach accordingly
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Work proactively and flexibly to prevent service users from dropping out of the assessment process and to re-engage them if they do
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Maintain accurate and timely case notes of service user engagement and contact
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Make appropriate and timely safeguarding referrals in cases of vulnerable adults and children
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To maintain professional integrity in relationships with service users, peers and other relevant professionals
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Coordinating care with other professionals such as psychiatrists, social workers
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Contribute to the development of service policies, joint working protocols and procedures for co-occurring mental health and substance use
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Building partnerships with other organisations to improve service integration and access
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 this role:
- A registered Mental Health Nurse OR Social Worker or Occupational Therapist with mental health experience
- Post qualified experience in Mental Health and alcohol or substance misuse
- An understanding of the Mental Health Act and other related legislation
- Driver with vehicle or the ability and willingness to travel between multiple sites efficiently.
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.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Maureen Rawson on 0118 904 3200 or email: [email protected] who’ll 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 criteria
- Registered Mental Health Nurse or equivalent professional qualification
- Experience of working within the mental health or substance use field, or relevant training in an appropriate area
- A proven commitment to anti-discriminatory practices and an understanding of Equal Opportunities policy and practice
- A good understanding of safeguarding practice in relation to vulnerable adults and children.
- An understanding of the Mental Health Act and other related legislation.
Continuous Professional Development
Essential criteria
- Evidence of continuing professional development, particularly in relation to the development of knowledge and skills for working with people with dual diagnosis.
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Catherine Moulds
- Job title
- Talent Acquisition Partner
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
Or Maureen Rawson, Service Manager: [email protected]
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