Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Job summary
Are you a nurse with an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice or undergone an accredited portfolio route to Advanced Clinical Practice? If so the Bridport Adult Community Mental Health Team are looking for an Advanced Clinical Practitioner to join them.

As an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, you will be dynamic and highly motivated, with exceptional assessment, risk management, and care formulation skills. You will have experience working with adults with significant mental illness in a multidisciplinary setting. High communication skills, clinical decision-making, understanding of MHA, MCA and safeguarding legislation are essential in this role. You will also prescribe, assess, support the Single Point of Access and support the flow in and out of the CMHT in line with the principles of the mental health transformation.

This post is full-time, working Monday to Friday 9:00 - 17:00, a job share would be considered of 18.75 hours. We also welcome discussions around flexible working. You will be based in the Shaftesbury CMHT in the North Dorset locality and work closely with other clinical and operational leads across our other CMHTS, Blandford, and Sherbourne. Being able to drive is essential for this role.

We welcome informal visits and discussions about the role, please contact Leanne Ballantyne, Integrated Community Mental Health Manager at leanne.ballantyne1@nhs.net

Main duties of the job

• You will undertake assessments, nurse reviews, and manage a small group of patients care. Also support carers while patients are under our care and signpost for ongoing support.
• You will have a job plan to ensure that you work across the four advanced practice pillars.
• You will work with other Community Mental Health Teams, Access Wellbeing Universal, Social Care and other agencies to benefit patients.
• Lead as a driver for change, to monitor and improve standards through supervision, evidence based practice, clinical audit, research and education.
• Plan and manage complete episodes of care; undertake independent comprehensive assessment and management of service users to incorporate pharmacological considerations; making complex clinical decisions regarding service user management and clinical outcomes.
• Work strategically, contributing to the planning and development of integrated services.

About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Details
Date posted: 13 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £55,227 to £62,160 a year p.a.
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 152-M416.26
Job locations: Bridport Community Hospital, Hospital Lane, Bridport, DT6 5DR, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.

Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.

Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential

• Effective leadership skills relevant to role (i.e demonstrated ability to provide clinical professional leadership and mentorship)
• Demonstrable experience of working in a provider organisation and within a relevant specialty as Registered Practitioner Band 7 level
• Evidence of effective leadership and risk management skills Evidence of relevant leadership in meeting clinical governance objectives
• Able to demonstrate advanced skills for assessing and interpreting complex client conditions, comparing a range of options and taking appropriate action
• Experience of interdisciplinary working
• Able to demonstrate highly developed physical skills where accuracy is important such as in the manipulation of fine tools and materials for patient interventions
• Evidence of proactive involvement in the supervision and development of members of the multi-disciplinary team and able to demonstrate changes of practice through these
• Able to undertake clinical supervision and systematic peer caseload review of colleagues on an individual or group basis and support aspiring and trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners through supervisory roles

Desirable

• Ability to promote the best use of available resources in the pursuit of quality service provision ensuring a safe environment.

Job specific experience
Essential

• Evidence of effective leadership and risk management skills
• Able to demonstrate advanced skills for assessing and interpreting complex client conditions, comparing a range of options and taking appropriate action
• Evidence of involvement in policy and leading practice change
• Able to demonstrate highly developed physical skills where accuracy is important such as in the manipulation of fine tools and materials for patient interventions

Managerial/supervisory experience
Essential

• Evidence of proactive involvement in the supervision and development of members of the multi-disciplinary team and able to demonstrate changes of practice through these
• Evidence of designing, delivering and evaluating education and training in practice
• Able to undertake clinical supervision and systematic peer caseload review of colleagues on an individual or group basis and support aspiring and trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners through supervisory roles

Personal qualities/attributes
Essential

• Evidence of demonstrating the Trust's values and behaviours.
• Able to communicate effectively at different levels of the organisation, and where there may be barriers, with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require the use of negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
• Able to analyse and assess situations and to interpret potentially conflicting situations and determine appropriate action, where there is a range of options and judgement is required.
• Experience of planning and organising complex activities requiring the formulation and adjustment of plans e.g. organising own time, co-ordination with other agencies and plans for sudden, unforeseen circumstances.
• Able to work independently and autonomously as role demands
• Evidence of skills in diplomacy, negotiation and influencing. Inquisitive and eager to learn, asks questions and responds positively to change in practice/procedure
• Seeks ways to improve self and others
• Ability to evaluate care leading to improvement in quality standards and service improvement
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and changing priorities

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: Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bridport Community Hospital, Hospital Lane, Bridport, DT6 5DR, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Head of the Secondary Care Mental Health Services, Marianne Gillingham, Marianne.gillingham@nhs.net, 07833442314

Supporting documents
Privacy notice
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)