Job summary
The post holder will deliver a high quality, comprehensive mental health service for older adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties both in Older Persons Mental Health Specialist Care Settings, the Community and those in Memory Assessment Service. The role involves managing a defined caseload with a focus on working with individuals and their significant others who experience a complex range of needs and difficulties. Acting as a key member of the multi-disciplinary Team, the post holder will provide assessment, psychosocial, evidence-based interventions using a collaborative, recovery approach and will be skilled at positive risk management. Liaison with a wide range of agencies is central to the role.

Main duties of the job
The Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) for older people work with adults aged 65 and over who are experiencing moderate or severe mental illness. The CMHT's assess, treat, monitor, and support patients and their families predominately in their own homes and, where necessary, can refer to other teams such as the Intensive Dementia Support Service (IDSS) or Home Treatment Team. They can also arrange admissions to hospital when necessary. The CMHT's also provide an 'in-reach service', providing specialist support and assessments for patients admitted to Community Hospitals. The CMHT's consist of Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Support, Time and Recovery Workers, Assistant Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, and administration support. The CMHT's are also part of a bigger team known as the Integrated Team which brings together CMHT's, District Nursing Teams and Integrated Rehabilitation Teams.

Job responsibilities

• Responsibilities of a defined caseload focusing on work with people experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties and other complex needs and difficulties mainly in care settings but also the community.
• Liaising and working in partnership with acute inpatient services, in-patient and community medical staff, pharmacy practitioners, psychological therapists, and a range of community mental health teams within and outside the organisation, including primary care, out of hours GP service, Emergency Duty Team, Community Directorate, housing providers, voluntary agencies, Adult Social Care, PCT, substance misuse services, the police, other emergency services, the Probation Service, NHS Direct and the Safeguarding Children Team.
• Working with carers and significant others and members of the community with connections to people who use the service.

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we are 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 will 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.

Person Specification
Qualifications (Essential)

• Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered Occupational Therapist or Registered Social Worker
• Appropriately registered with the NMC or HPCP as per post requirements

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working in a mental health setting
• Experience of working with families, carers and significant others
• Ability to carry out assessments and psycho-social interventions

Desirable

• Experience of working in community mental health setting
• Experience of Recovery focused practice

Additional Criteria (Essential)

• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Apply through our website.