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Job summary

Main area
OPMH Services Wokingham
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
371-MHS868
Employer
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Wokingham Hospital
Town
Wokingham
Salary
£40,617 - £48,778 per annum (inc. of HCAS)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Band 6

Job overview

The Wokingham Older Adult Mental Health Service is looking for an enthusiastic, caring and highly motivated Band 6 Senior Mental Health Practitioner (Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse or Occupational Therapist) to join our friendly and innovative Home Treatment Team (HTT). 

The Home Treatment Team is a multi-disciplinary team with specialist skills in caring for older people with mental health needs in the community. The successful candidate will have a shared responsible for managing the HTT caseload and tasks which are shared between the HTT practitioners on shift. You will also hold a community case load, monitoring the mental health needs of patients and working alongside their carers. 

Your base would be Wokingham Community Hospital where we have access to free parking facilities, staff room and a friendly and welcoming team. 

Main duties of the job

  • The successful candidate will have a shared responsible for managing the HTT caseload and tasks which are shared between the HTT practitioners on shift. 

  • Hold their own community case load, monitoring the mental health needs of patients and working alongside their carers. 

  • To undertake initial, comprehensive assessments in a range of settings, taking into account the person's physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. 

  • To identify and select from a range of health, social and voluntary agencies which could assist and improve the care of individuals and their families. 

  • To have knowledge of a variety of therapeutic interventions including short term problem solving, crisis intervention and basic CBT techniques. 

There may be an opportunity to work remotely once or twice a week in line with service and caseload needs

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 post holder will take responsibility for the assessment and implementation of intensive care and treatment in the homes of people with functional mental health problems, as well as people with dementia.  

The successful candidate will have a passion and understanding of older adults experiencing mental health difficulties. You will have the relevant experience gained over a minimum of 3 years acquired in a range of clinical settings.  

The normal rota hours are either 9-5pm or 11-7pm, including weekend shifts which are 9-3pm usually once a month (Appropriate supervision will be provided for weekend cover). We would also welcome candidates who may wish to work long days / and or work their shifts flexibly across the week.  There will be the opportunity for NHSP overtime to cover sickness and leave. 

 

The “must haves” for this role: 

  • Hold a current and relevant professional qualification (Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist)  
  • Have the relevant 3 years clinical mental health experience  
  • Be highly motivated, compassionate and demonstrate an understanding for working with older adults 
  • Have excellent interpersonal skills 
  • Hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a car for work purposes, including carrying patients and carers as passengers  

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: Clare Bailey (Service Manager) on 0118 904 7200 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
  • RMN or equivalent Professional Qualification (OT, SW)
  • Mentorship or equivalent.
  • Completion of post-graduate courses related to specialism e.g. Advanced Dementia Care, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Communicating & Caregiving in Dementia etc
  • Evidence of Statutory & Mandatory Courses

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Broad experience, gained over a minimum of 3 years, acquired by caring for Older People with mental health needs in a range of clinical setting.
  • Experience in multidisciplinary working
  • Experience in the use of evidence based interventions and provision of training of these to others within the wider primary and secondary team
Desirable criteria
  • Experiences of working in groups

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Current Government policies concerning the provision of Mental Health Care
  • CPA and Risk assessment
  • Therapeutic intervention
  • Ability to demonstrate effective team working and ability to work autonomously
  • Advanced assessment & clinical reasoning skills
  • Skilled in identifying and differentiating between a wide range of diagnoses
  • Confident to recommend treatment approaches appropriate to patients’ psychological needs
  • Thorough knowledge of the network of support services for patients and carers, and the means of accessing them

Competences

Essential criteria
  • Leadership Abilities
  • Teaching & group facilitation skills
  • Time management & workload prioritisation skills
  • Basic Computer skills

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria
  • Valid UK licence
  • Use of Car

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Clare Bailey
Job title
Joint Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07917326761
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