Community Mental Health Nurse

Job summary

Darlington Mental Health Services for Older People are looking to expand their current workforce and recruit a Community Mental Health Nurses who will join the team at an exciting time of change for mental health services in Teesside. We are looking for a band 6 Mental health nurse to help us diversify the way on which we work and help shape the service we offer through community transformation.

Community Mental Health Nurses will need a good understanding of collaborative practice and in working with Older Adults and complex needs, including service users, their carers' and families.

This post is only open to those candidates who already have their NMC registration in place and have successfully completed the preceptorship programme. Please note: Newly qualified applicants or those due to qualify will be recruited via a different process.

Main duties of the job

We provide assessment for service users who may be experiencing cognitive decline. This includes initial cognitive screening, diagnosis, treatment and support. We also provide signposting when relevant and have close links with the Dementia and Well being hub and social care.

Further to this the team supports people over the age of 65 who may be experiencing mental health difficulties which require secondary mental health support. This may include affective disorders and psychosis.

Interventions are designed to support people with acute mental health difficulties and / or behaviours that challenge. This includes support for carers and families, to help reduce or avoid a breakdown in care.

The teams current working hours are Monday - Friday 9am-5pm.

Community Mental Health Nurses will need a good understanding of collaborative practice and in working with Older Adults and complex needs, including service users, their carers' and families.

As a core member of the team, you will also be responsible for:-

• your own caseload
• providing assessments
• risk assessment and management of risk.
• delivering intervention in the community.

You will ensure that the service users' needs are:-

• identified and central to their safety and Recovery plans
• promoting social inclusion
• independence and well-being

You will demonstrate:-

• excellent assessment skills
• interpersonal and team working skills
• ability to work collaboratively with a range of statutory and third sector agencies.

About us

The team prides itself on providing compassionate care to service users. We work closely with families and carers alongside partner organisations. The successful candidates will be involved in the upcoming changes to service relating to the community transformation project, making this an exciting time to join the team.

The team embraces changes to improve the quality and effectiveness of the service provided you would be expected to demonstrate leadership skills to bring these about. As a Band 6 you will be expected to take on day to day support of the team and offer supervision to other staff and students.

In return you will have access to fantastic training & development opportunities with the strong links we have developed at our local universities'. Post-grad qualifications can be supported throughout your career pathway in mental health practice, as well as clinical skills or leadership & management skills, that can lead onto more senior roles within the organisation, helping you to identify and build upon a career pathway. Future planning is supported by the Trust's Talent Management and Workforce Development Team, so we can continue to build upon our commitment of being well led and to deliver excellent care to our communities in either leadership & management or clinical practice modules.