Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join the Slough Community Mental Health Service at New Horizons. We are looking for an experienced, compassionate and autonomous practitioner who can work effectively with adults experiencing mental health problems. You will join a supportive multidisciplinary team of psychologists, CBT therapists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, nurses and social workers. The role combines specialist assessment, recovery-focused care planning, treatment delivery and positive risk management, with opportunities to support service development and junior colleagues. The post is based at New Horizons, Pursers Court, Slough, with community work across a range of settings.

Main duties of the job

• Hold and prioritise a defined caseload, working autonomously with people who have serious and enduring mental health needs.
• Complete comprehensive mental health assessments, formulations, care plans, crisis plans and risk assessments.
• Coordinate and deliver evidence-based, recovery-focused interventions in service users' homes, community venues and team premises.
• Work with the multidisciplinary team, carers, GP practices, local authority colleagues and partner agencies to develop coordinated packages of health and social care.
• Undertake relevant Care Act 2014 and safeguarding responsibilities on behalf of the joint NHS and local authority service.
• Participate in duty work, maintain accurate and timely Rio records, and contribute to clinical governance and service improvement.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to junior staff and students, including guidance on risk assessment and positive risk taking.
• Travel between Trust and community locations 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: 20 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £41,957 to £50,387 a year per annum (incl of HCAS)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 371-MHS1115-A

Job responsibilities
The must have's for this role:

• A diploma or degree-level professional qualification and current registration to practise with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• At least two years post-qualification experience of working with adults with mental health problems, including experience in community mental health services.
• Strong skills in specialist mental health assessment, formulation, treatment planning, risk management, report writing and recovery-focused interventions.
• The ability to work autonomously, manage and prioritise a complex caseload, contribute effectively within a multidisciplinary team, maintain high-quality electronic records and travel between sites.

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: Eunice Malahleka on 01753690950 or email: Eunice.Malahleka@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Person Specification
Essential

• Diploma or degree level professional qualification
• Registered for practice through NMC
• Further relevant qualification in the field of mental health or equivalent experience.
• Good standard of general education
• Evidence of continuous professional development to high standard
• Experience of assessment and report writing
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working.
• Thorough working knowledge of mental health problems and their management.
• Knowledge of assessment and treatment approaches
• Knowledge of current mental health policy
• Ability to carry out high quality assessments and treatment interventions to individuals and groups.
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities within caseload management
• Ability to apply client-led principles and form non-discriminatory therapeutic relationships with clients and carers
• Ability to maintain good quality records, and write reports
• Ability to take responsibility appropriate to senior clinician role
• Ability to contribute creatively to the development of the service.
• Ability to work within a changing and progressive environment.
• Ability to deal with emotionally demanding situations, to remain calm under pressure, and to be adaptable to demands of the role
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Basic computer literacy and ability to use electronic system
• Ability to travel between sites

Desirable

• PSI or other
• Experience of working in community mental health services, minimum two years post-qualification experience of working with adults with mental health problems

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: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address: CMHS Slough, New Horizons, Pursers Ct, Slough SL2 5BX
Employer's website: https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact: Senior Service Manager, Eunice Malahleka, Eunice.Malahleka@berkshire.nhs.uk, 01753690950

Supporting links
Belong at Berkshire Healthcare
Psychological professionals recruitment video
Mental Health Nursing video

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