Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
Mental Health Nurse

The closing date is 23 November 2026

Job summary
We are recruiting a Mental Health Nurse to join our Team working with Older Adult services in West Suffolk within the Dementia Assessment Service (formerly known as MATS)

We are keen to recruit practitioners who have an interest in older people but particularly dementia so that they can develop in the speciality.

You will need to be enthusiastic and conscientious with an ability to be motivated for working independently, with a view to providing the best outcomes for people using our service. We are looking for someone who displays compassion, empathy and sensitivity in their approach to both working with people accepted into the service and with fellow team members, to foster positive team culture.

In return we offer a supportive multi-disciplinary team environment where you will be encouraged to develop your own knowledge of dementia assessment and diagnosis. Development within the team is encouraged with a firm sense of working towards the national dementia diagnostic rates and the processes that support this outcome.

Main duties of the job
The primary focus of the team is on collaborative working to provide timely diagnosis and early treatment through processes universal to dementia assessment services throughout the country. Specific roles of the band 5 practitioners includes triage and information finding on referral to the service to ensure that the appropriate people are accepted. Working in conjunction with families is a large part of the role. Some home visits and assessments in care homes with adjustments to the full assessment process is expected, as is support to the prescribers in the team by undertaking physical health checks for those on medication initiated by the service.

Main duties of this role include:

• Screening and triage of referred people under supervision of senior practitioners.
• Involvement in MDT meetings including presenting findings from individual cases.
• Physical health monitoring for people on medication initiated by the service.
• Attending weekly team governance meetings, regular reflective practice sessions and case formulations
• Supporting the Team with enquiry calls.
• Conducting home visits and assessments under the instruction of senior practitioners.

About us
Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing their experiences and learning from each other and are looking forward to welcoming you!

Benefits
Benefits included with this role are:-

• NHS pension
• a comprehensive in house & external training programmes
• career progression
• starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
• staff physio service
• NHS discounts and many more.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year gross per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 246-WSU8407306
Job locations: F Block, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3NR, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

This role requires the ability to travel to various locations to meet service needs. Access to a vehicle for work purposes is necessary, as some office sites and client care bases may not be easily reached by public transport.

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Candidates may only be given a minimum of 3 days notice, please note this date is provisional and may be subject to change. You will be contacted via email and invited to book a time. These emails may go to your SPAM, so please keep checking all your emails if applying.

Person Specification
Qualifications (Essential): Valid registration with NMC; Mentorship qualification or willingness to undertake mentorship training
Knowledge (Essential): General principles of Health & Safety at Work Act
Other (Essential): Ability to travel independently
Experience (Essential): Experience of personal development through appraisal

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
Address: F Block, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3NR, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Community Matron, Vanessa Cotter, vanessa.cotter@nsft.nhs.uk, 07884117206

Supporting documents
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