Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Community Mental Health Nurse

The closing date is 23 September 2025

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Community Mental Health Nurseto join our Adult Community Mental Health Services Team in North Hertfordshire / Stevenage.

The area is well served with transport links to historic Hertfordshire and its glorious countryside as well as into London and beyond. We are looking for a Community Mental Health Nurse who is passionate about delivering care to Adults with mental health issues.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

We can offer you a competitive salary, staff benefits package, excellent career development and training that comes from working for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT.We are on a "Good to Great" journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.

Please refer to the "Main Duties Of The Job", "Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities" sections and the Job Description and Person Specification documents attached elsewhere for full details.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

The Community Mental Health Nurse will be responsible for the assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care for a defined caseload of people with complex mental health and or social care needs; and maintaining associated records. They will also act as mentor for Student Nurses as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

To support the CMHT Team Leader in establishing and maintaining effective inter-team and inter-agency communication

To provide effective liaison/communication relating to referrals to and discharge from the CMHT across in-patient, primary care and community services

Maintain effective joint working with Sector EPMHS, CATTs, EIP's, AOTs and other community based teams according to local circumstances

Ensure that all relevant information regarding client care is communicated to the appropriate persons within and outside the team, bringing to the CMHT Team Leader's attention issues of concern regarding practice or workload

Ensure effective communications with relatives, visitors, voluntary organisations and the general public, thus encouraging participation in care delivery.

To respond sensitively to the needs of relatives and carers, often in a highly emotive setting.

To liaise with other professionals in relation to client care, actively co-ordinating care planning and review meetings, and case conferences as appropriate.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Details

Date posted

09 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

367-ACMS-9715

Job locations

Saffron Ground

Ditchmore Lane

STEVENAGE

SG1 3LJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibility

To manage a patient caseload, identified in consultation with medical, nursing and other professions and agreed by the CMHT Team Leader.

To establish and maintain effective individualised nursing and social care by assessment of patients problems; planning; implementation and evaluation of agreed interventions; clear and concise documentation of individualised client care and use of electronic patient record systems.

To be aware of the physical needs of people with mental health problems and refer physical conditions on as appropriate.

Establish therapeutic relationships with individual clients, relatives and carers.

Be responsible for the administration, carriage and storage of medication in accordance with relevant Trust policies. To ensure safe disposal of equipment used in the Community e.g. syringes, needles, in accordance with Trust policies.

Be responsible for the administration of prescribed medical treatments and monitoring effects in accordance with clinical procedures adopted by the Trust.

Use research findings in designing nursing care programmes and develop awareness of the significance of nursing research and wider evidence based practice in community mental health care.

Participate and be responsible for running nurse led clinics e.g. Clozapine.

Demonstrate an awareness of the needs of carers of patients with mental health problems and develop strategies to meet those needs; e.g. self-help groups, respite care, Carers Act.

Ensure that the principle of continuity of care is maintained and that appropriate plans are made for clients discharge and transfer from the clinical areas in line with Care Programme Approach (including acting as care coordinator), Community Care Act 1990 and Discharge Policies and the National Service Framework for Mental Health.

To have a working knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983 and subsequent legislation as it affects the client group.

To participate in the Trusts adverse incidents reporting systems and comply with the Trusts procedure and techniques for managing risks.

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

Assist in identifying training needs with the community team for self and team members.

Act as preceptor and mentor for learner nurses.

Participate in annual appraisal, professional development and mandatory training.

Managers have a duty to promote and support staffs personal health and wellbeing at all times, this includes both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Managers have a responsibility to support staff by directing employees to services that are available to everyone to help in managing health and wellbeing.

They should be open and approachable as well as proactive in discussing and agreeing a process to monitor an employees mental and physical health.

Financial Responsibility

To assist the Team Manager to manage the Team budget effectively.

Comply with relevant Trust and Team financial policies and procedures to ensure cost effective and efficient use of team and Trust resources

Service Development and Improvement

To be involved in clinical audit and evaluation of mental health services within secondary care. Playing an enthusiastic role in the achievement of the teams contribution to achieving NSF objectives for the service at a local level and contribute to such audit requirements (of own practice and recording) as are requested from time to time.

To contribute to data collection and entry as part of audit and evaluation of such services.

To participate fully in training relevant to the delivery of the services outlined above.

To actively seek supervision for all aspects of the post.

To recognise personal and professional limitations

Communications

To provide and receive complex, sensitive and contentious information using developed skills of persuasion, motivation, negotiation, empathy and re-assurance to ensure client assessments, care planning, reviews and other tasks can be completed.

To be able to communicate with clarity, tact and purpose in all relevant situations.

To be able to use effectively a range of modes of communication including verbal, by email, by telephone, in formal reports, written clinical notes and in presentations taking into account issues of confidentiality.

To be able to communicate to people at various points within the hierarchy of relevant organisations.

Ensure effective and confidential communication between medical, nursing, social care and health care agents on significant information governing patient care and treatment. Adhere to NMC Code of Conduct and the HPFT policies on confidentiality and information sharing.

To keep accurate records on all clients in accordance with Trust Policy and guidance from professional bodies.

To collect data in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

To collect and submit activity statistics as required.

Other

Physical Working Conditions and Environment

The post holder is based within the Community Mental Health Team and will be expected to visit people within their own homes, or a variety of public places or voluntary organisations within the community as well as GP practices throughout the Trust.

The post holder will also be expected to carry out duties such as Phlebotomy or giving intramuscular injections on a frequent basis and dealing with people daily who display a full spectrum of behaviour from potentially violent and aggressive to suicidal and extremely distressed.

Travel throughout the County is required.

Knowledge and Skills Framework

The post holder will be expected to meet the requirements of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) appropriate outline for the post.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibility

To manage a patient caseload, identified in consultation with medical, nursing and other professions and agreed by the CMHT Team Leader.

To establish and maintain effective individualised nursing and social care by assessment of patients problems; planning; implementation and evaluation of agreed interventions; clear and concise documentation of individualised client care and use of electronic patient record systems.

To be aware of the physical needs of people with mental health problems and refer physical conditions on as appropriate.

Establish therapeutic relationships with individual clients, relatives and carers.

Be responsible for the administration, carriage and storage of medication in accordance with relevant Trust policies. To ensure safe disposal of equipment used in the Community e.g. syringes, needles, in accordance with Trust policies.

Be responsible for the administration of prescribed medical treatments and monitoring effects in accordance with clinical procedures adopted by the Trust.

Use research findings in designing nursing care programmes and develop awareness of the significance of nursing research and wider evidence based practice in community mental health care.

Participate and be responsible for running nurse led clinics e.g. Clozapine.

Demonstrate an awareness of the needs of carers of patients with mental health problems and develop strategies to meet those needs; e.g. self-help groups, respite care, Carers Act.

Ensure that the principle of continuity of care is maintained and that appropriate plans are made for clients discharge and transfer from the clinical areas in line with Care Programme Approach (including acting as care coordinator), Community Care Act 1990 and Discharge Policies and the National Service Framework for Mental Health.

To have a working knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983 and subsequent legislation as it affects the client group.

To participate in the Trusts adverse incidents reporting systems and comply with the Trusts procedure and techniques for managing risks.

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

Assist in identifying training needs with the community team for self and team members.

Act as preceptor and mentor for learner nurses.

Participate in annual appraisal, professional development and mandatory training.

Managers have a duty to promote and support staffs personal health and wellbeing at all times, this includes both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Managers have a responsibility to support staff by directing employees to services that are available to everyone to help in managing health and wellbeing.

They should be open and approachable as well as proactive in discussing and agreeing a process to monitor an employees mental and physical health.

Financial Responsibility

To assist the Team Manager to manage the Team budget effectively.

Comply with relevant Trust and Team financial policies and procedures to ensure cost effective and efficient use of team and Trust resources

Service Development and Improvement

To be involved in clinical audit and evaluation of mental health services within secondary care. Playing an enthusiastic role in the achievement of the teams contribution to achieving NSF objectives for the service at a local level and contribute to such audit requirements (of own practice and recording) as are requested from time to time.

To contribute to data collection and entry as part of audit and evaluation of such services.

To participate fully in training relevant to the delivery of the services outlined above.

To actively seek supervision for all aspects of the post.

To recognise personal and professional limitations

Communications

To provide and receive complex, sensitive and contentious information using developed skills of persuasion, motivation, negotiation, empathy and re-assurance to ensure client assessments, care planning, reviews and other tasks can be completed.

To be able to communicate with clarity, tact and purpose in all relevant situations.

To be able to use effectively a range of modes of communication including verbal, by email, by telephone, in formal reports, written clinical notes and in presentations taking into account issues of confidentiality.

To be able to communicate to people at various points within the hierarchy of relevant organisations.

Ensure effective and confidential communication between medical, nursing, social care and health care agents on significant information governing patient care and treatment. Adhere to NMC Code of Conduct and the HPFT policies on confidentiality and information sharing.

To keep accurate records on all clients in accordance with Trust Policy and guidance from professional bodies.

To collect data in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

To collect and submit activity statistics as required.

Other

Physical Working Conditions and Environment

The post holder is based within the Community Mental Health Team and will be expected to visit people within their own homes, or a variety of public places or voluntary organisations within the community as well as GP practices throughout the Trust.

The post holder will also be expected to carry out duties such as Phlebotomy or giving intramuscular injections on a frequent basis and dealing with people daily who display a full spectrum of behaviour from potentially violent and aggressive to suicidal and extremely distressed.

Travel throughout the County is required.

Knowledge and Skills Framework

The post holder will be expected to meet the requirements of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) appropriate outline for the post.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • RMN or Dip/Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing
  • ENB 998 / Preceptorship and Mentorship

Desirable

  • ENB812/Bsc in Specialist Community Nursing Practice (Mental Health)
  • Psychosocial interventions

EXPERIENCE AND ATTAINMENTS

Essential

  • Experience of working in a range of settings relevant to the post
  • Proven experience of post-registration experience at Band 5
  • Experience of working in an acute mental health inpatient/day care services
  • Experience of working in situations or crisis and emotionally demanding environments
  • Experience and knowledge of safeguarding process
  • Experience of teaching and training
  • Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-ethnic community
  • Experience of delivering evidence-based care

Desirable

  • Experience of working with acute mental health problems in a community setting
Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • RMN or Dip/Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing
  • ENB 998 / Preceptorship and Mentorship

Desirable

  • ENB812/Bsc in Specialist Community Nursing Practice (Mental Health)
  • Psychosocial interventions

EXPERIENCE AND ATTAINMENTS

Essential

  • Experience of working in a range of settings relevant to the post
  • Proven experience of post-registration experience at Band 5
  • Experience of working in an acute mental health inpatient/day care services
  • Experience of working in situations or crisis and emotionally demanding environments
  • Experience and knowledge of safeguarding process
  • Experience of teaching and training
  • Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-ethnic community
  • Experience of delivering evidence-based care

Desirable

  • Experience of working with acute mental health problems in a community setting

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Saffron Ground

Ditchmore Lane

STEVENAGE

SG1 3LJ


Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Saffron Ground

Ditchmore Lane

STEVENAGE

SG1 3LJ


Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head Of Service North & East/South-East ACMHS/PATH

Karen Howard

karen.howard1@nhs.net

01462407790

Details

Date posted

09 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

367-ACMS-9715

Job locations

Saffron Ground

Ditchmore Lane

STEVENAGE

SG1 3LJ


Supporting documents

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