Job summary
An exciting career opportunity has arisen for a Community Staff Nurse to join the Reading Community Nursing team.

Within the community we are seeing more complex and acute patients than ever before, with increasingly specialist treatment and care being provided by highly skilled staff. Working within our Community Nursing Team you will support, assess, and treat patients with a variety of health needs, delivering high quality, evidence-based practice. You will have a passion and enthusiasm to care for patients in their own homes.

The Community Nursing service offers care to patients in their own homes, 7 days a week, 08.30 - 19.00, inclusive of Bank Holidays. The service has a wide range of skill mix from Band 3 Healthcare assistants, through to band 7 Community Matrons.

You will have a commitment to providing holistic care to patients in their own homes, be able to work on you own initiative and work well within a team. Key clinical skills include complex wound care, bladder & bowel management, palliative & end of life care, as well as medication administration.

You will receive support into the role through induction, training and beyond. There will be opportunities for personal development and career progression if desired.

Main duties of the job

• To work in conjunction with the Team Leader/ Community Nursing Band 6/ Community Matron and all staff within the team to holistically assess the needs of patients and carers, and to work in partnership with the patient and family to plan, implement and evaluate programmes of nursing care.
• To be able to undertake first visits and take any immediate action, reporting back to the Team Leader/Community Nursing Band 6/Community Matron for further discussion and/or assessment.
• To undertake practice assessor and supervisor training support students and new staff to the service.
• Provide care according to the available evidence of best practice and the support of others in the development of evidence based practice.
• To be actively involved in promoting self-care for patients and building Health Promotion into care.
• To develop and participate in planned teaching programmes for patients.
• To demonstrate knowledge and skills including assessment, reassessment, medication management, bladder bowel care, tissue viability, care, use and administration of treatment using specialist equipment, palliative care and symptom control, managing acute episodes of care, reducing hospital admissions, as per band 5 competency document.
• To provide care to people with long term conditions undertaking reviews in accordance with the individual patient care plan and with support of more experienced colleagues as required.

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

Details
Date posted: 05 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 371-CHS1384
Job locations: 57-59 Bath Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 2BA

Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:

• People skills to work effectively with colleagues and patients with excellent listening and communication skills
• A driving license and access to a car
• Calm approach and ability to prioritise and work within a busy team

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it's important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be 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: Stonewall Proud Employer, 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: Rebecca Barnes on 07812469226 or email: Rebecca.Barnes2@berkshire.nhs.uk 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
Essential

• Registered Nurse
• NMC Registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Demonstrable experience of excellent communication skills which promote two-way communication and help to establish collaborative team working and patient centred care.
• Uphold the Trust's values of being caring, committed and working as team through demonstrable examples and experience.
• Proficient use of digital tools and applications including Word, Outlook and patient management systems.
• Ability to travel between multiple Trust sites and non-Trust locations, including patient homes, some of which may not be easily accessible via public transport.

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address: 57-59 Bath Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 2BA
Employer's website: https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Community Nurse Team Lead, Rebecca Barnes, rebecca.barnes2@berkshire.nhs.uk, 07812469226

Apply through our website