Job summary
This is a very rewarding role within the Older Adults team at East Berkshire Psychological Medicine, based at Wexham Park Hospital. The role would suit an experienced practitioner from a mental health nursing background or similar profession with older adult mental health experience.
The post holder will be joining a well-established and supportive team working with older adults admitted to Wexham Park Hospital, Slough. The team supports patients on all medical wards across the hospital as well as A&E, and is patient centred. Patients present with mental health or cognitive difficulties in the context of declining physical health and/or neurological or neurodegenerative conditions.
The post is within a supportive multidisciplinary team of mental health practitioners, including mental health nurses, psychologists, and a full-time consultant psychiatrist. The older adult service (65+) is a small team and works alongside the adult team within the East Berkshire Psychological Medicine Service at WPH.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about providing mental health care for older people and has approach that displays compassion. A strong interest in mental health in the context of physical health in old age is essential for this role.
An informal visit to the service is encouraged. The working hours are Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm and are office based.
Main duties of the job
About us
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
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- RMN, Social work or equivalent Professional Qualification
- Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years , acquired by caring for older people with mental health needs in a range of community/inpatient settings
- Minimum 2 years as Band 6 grade in older peoples mental health services
- Evidence of on-going professional development
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.
Were 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 dont hesitate to call: Sue Barclay on 07890 606956, or email: Suzanne.barclay@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- RMN, Social work or equivalent Professional Qualification
- Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years , acquired by caring for older people with mental health needs in a range of community/inpatient settings
- Minimum 2 years as Band 6 grade in older peoples mental health services
- Evidence of on-going professional development
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.
Were 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 dont hesitate to call: Sue Barclay on 07890 606956, or email: Suzanne.barclay@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl 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
- RMN or equivalent Professional Qualification with mental health experience
Desirable
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Evidence of on-going professional development
- Student mentorship
Desirable
- Completion of a range of post-graduate courses related to specialism eg Advance Dementia Care, Nurse Prescribing, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Communicating and caregiving in Dementia, or Masters Degree
- Specialist training in liaison psychiatry
Previous Experience
Essential
- Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years , acquired by caring for older people with mental health needs in a range of community/inpatient settings
- Minimum 2 years as Band 6 grade in older peoples mental health services
- Involvement in service development projects and policy reviews
- Support and empowerment of carers
- Supervision of others
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Advanced assessment and clinical reasoning skills
- Skilled in identifying and differentiating between a wide range of diagnoses
- Confident to recommend to non mental health staff treatment approaches and/or medication for a patient's psychological needs
- Thorough knowledge of the network of support services for patients and carers, and the means of accessing them
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Time management and identifying priorities
- Comprehensive knowledge of Mental Health Legislation
- Experience of conducting staff supervision/appraisals
- Risk assessment and management skills
- Good IT skills
- Ability to manage stress
- Able to work unsocial hours
Desirable
- Teaching and facilitating group work
- Experience of conducting audit/research
- Car driver with use of a vehicle for work purposes
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- RMN or equivalent Professional Qualification with mental health experience
Desirable
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Evidence of on-going professional development
- Student mentorship
Desirable
- Completion of a range of post-graduate courses related to specialism eg Advance Dementia Care, Nurse Prescribing, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Communicating and caregiving in Dementia, or Masters Degree
- Specialist training in liaison psychiatry
Previous Experience
Essential
- Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years , acquired by caring for older people with mental health needs in a range of community/inpatient settings
- Minimum 2 years as Band 6 grade in older peoples mental health services
- Involvement in service development projects and policy reviews
- Support and empowerment of carers
- Supervision of others
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Advanced assessment and clinical reasoning skills
- Skilled in identifying and differentiating between a wide range of diagnoses
- Confident to recommend to non mental health staff treatment approaches and/or medication for a patient's psychological needs
- Thorough knowledge of the network of support services for patients and carers, and the means of accessing them
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Time management and identifying priorities
- Comprehensive knowledge of Mental Health Legislation
- Experience of conducting staff supervision/appraisals
- Risk assessment and management skills
- Good IT skills
- Ability to manage stress
- Able to work unsocial hours
Desirable
- Teaching and facilitating group work
- Experience of conducting audit/research
- Car driver with use of a vehicle for work purposes
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).
