Job summary
Within the Shaftesbury Older Persons Community Mental Health Team, a rare opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Community Mental Health Practitioner to join the service on a Full time basis ( 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm), although part time would be considered.

The successful candidate will work as part of a well-established, integrated multidisciplinary team comprising Psychiatrist, Nurses, Occupational therapist, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Psychologist, Support Workers and Administrative staff.

This is primarily a care coordination role, with responsibility for supporting individuals with complex mental health needs throughout their recovery journey. The post holder will undertake comprehensive assessment, care planning, risk management, and multi-agency liaison to ensure safe, person-centred care delivery.

As a key member of the team, the role offers a varied and professionally rewarding experience within a supportive environment. The team has strong values centred on evidence based and patient-led practice, ensuring that service users' wellbeing remains at the heart of all interventions. You can expect regular supervision, peer support, and opportunities for ongoing professional development to promote safe and confident practice.

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.

Main duties of the job
You will be a committed, dynamic, motivated professional with excellent communication, organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your work. You should have recent experience of working in a mental health environment and be able to apply the philosophies of engagement and recovery in your work with service users.

We encourage you to contact us to arrange an informal visit, come and meet the team and ask us any questions about the role.

You will contribute to effective multi-disciplinary working within the community mental health service and to build up effective liaison with community, primary, and other secondary and tertiary services/agencies within the locality to provide holistic care based on the individual's need and service development.

The team is based in Shaftesbury; the post holder will need to have the ability to travel by car, with business insurance, as they will be required to assess and monitor patients in their own homes and within other community or inpatient settings.

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

Driving is essential for this role. You will be required to have a full and valid UK driving licence and to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.

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.

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 AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidates individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, 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 contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training

• Registered and valid Mental Health Nurse
• Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio

Job Specific
Essential

• Able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care.
• Risk assessment and management
• The ability to prioritise and meet deadlines; organise work of self and others; supervising, teaching and assessing; self-motivated with the ability to motivate others; effective resource management.
• Skills in managing complex cases.
• Works well in a multi-disciplinary team.

Desirable

• Awareness of Primary Care and Steps to Wellbeing.
• Able to organise and co-ordinate services during the absence of more senior staff.
• Applies current research and theory into practice.
• Extensive post graduate experience in working in community mental health.

Additional requirements
Essential

• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively

Business travel
Essential

• Subject to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.

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.

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: Melbury suite, Westminster Memorial Hospital, Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury, SP7 8BD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Team Leader
Lucy Wells
lucy.wells3@nhs.net
01202475266