Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Community Mental Health Nurse
The closing date is 23 November 2026

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled and enthusiastic Mental Health Practitioner to join our Community Mental Health Service. We are looking for a registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker who is passionate about delivering high-quality, recovery-focused care to people experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties.

Working within a progressive community service, you will provide comprehensive assessments, evidence-based interventions and care coordination to individuals with complex mental health needs. You will work collaboratively with service users, carers, colleagues and partner agencies, promoting strengths-based approaches that support recovery, independence and wellbeing.

As a senior member of the team, you will also contribute to clinical leadership, supervision, service development and continuous quality improvement, helping to shape and enhance community mental health services across Somerset.

Main duties of the job

• Manage a caseload of individuals with severe and enduring mental health needs, delivering assessment, care planning and evidence-based interventions.
• Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with service users, carers and families, using a recovery-focused and strengths-based approach.
• Undertake comprehensive risk assessments and develop recovery and risk management plans in partnership with service users and other professionals.
• Deliver psychosocial interventions and support engagement with psychological therapies and wider recovery services.
• Work closely with a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community organisations to ensure coordinated care and positive outcomes.
• Provide supervision, mentorship and support to Band 5 colleagues, unregistered staff and students as appropriate.
• Contribute to service development, audit, clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives.
• Act as a professional role model, promoting excellence in clinical practice and patient-centred care.

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset?
Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 184-OL-GR-6274
Job locations: Glanville House, Church Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 5AT, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will play a key role in supporting adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties within the community. You will undertake assessments, coordinate care and deliver evidence-based interventions that promote recovery, resilience and independence.

The role requires close partnership working with service users, carers, primary care services, inpatient teams, voluntary sector organisations and other agencies to ensure seamless, person-centred care. You will communicate highly complex and sensitive information, manage risk effectively and support individuals through periods of crisis and recovery.

As a senior practitioner within the team, you will contribute to clinical leadership by providing supervision, mentoring colleagues and supporting service development activities. You will help maintain high professional standards, participate in audit and quality improvement work and champion best practice across the service.

We are looking for a compassionate and motivated professional with excellent communication, assessment and organisational skills. The successful candidate will be committed to collaborative working, passionate about recovery-focused practice and dedicated to improving outcomes for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapy Qualification
• Current registration with relevant professional body
• Evidence of post qualifying professional development in an acute setting.

Experience
Essential

• Significant post registration experience in multi-disciplinary community mental health services.
• Good knowledge of resources and working practices across health and social care.
• Ability to be innovative in practice.
• Experience of managing risk of clients in crisis.
• Experience of assessment, care-plan, development and evaluation in conjunction with clients and carers.
• Experience and knowledge of working with people with mental health problems.

Desirable

• Experience of mental health difficulties.

Additional Criteria
Essential

• Must have a valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

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: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Employer's website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Hiring Manager, Julie Rainforth, julie.rainforth@somersetft.nhs.uk, 01278720220

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