Physical Health Nurse for Severe Mental Illness (Community)
Band 6
Main area: Mental Health
Directors Grade: Band 6
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 371-MHS701
Site: Prospect Park Hospital
Town: Reading
Salary: £37,338 - £44,962 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 09/03/2025 23:59
Interviews are due to be held on 24 March 2025.
The role of the community physical health nurse for serious mental illness is to undertake the holistic assessment of physical health care needs and clinical management of individuals who are receiving care from the community mental health teams (CMHT). The primary purpose of this role is to coordinate a patient-focused programme of work to improve the physical health of people with a serious mental illness (SMI) under the care of Consultant Psychiatrists, Senior Physical Health Nurse & the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT).
The work is underpinned by national guidance and Berkshire Healthcare’s Physical Health in Serious Mental Illness Strategy using Quality Improvement methodologies to drive targets and report metrics.
The role has the following priorities:
1. Providing a nurse-led physical health service working Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, providing clinics and home visits predominantly across all areas of west Berkshire with support into east when needed.
2. Personal professional development and supporting the education and training of others regarding physical health in mental illness.
3. Close collaboration and liaison with CMHT colleagues, as well as external partners, primarily GPs / primary care colleagues, other health providers, health promotion and voluntary sector organisations.
4. Developing a culture that recognises and gives equal importance to physical and mental illness whilst striving for quality improvement.
Main duties of the job
* This is a post for a registered nurse who has a significant level of knowledge, skills, and experience of working with adults with physical and mental health needs.
* Delivering care in clinics or home visits across the county as part of this role, although will primarily support the three teams in the east of Berkshire places. The post holder will at times also provide support to the clozapine service as needed.
* Provide professional and clinical leadership in line with the changing service developments within the service.
* Take responsibility for ensuring that evidence-based ways of working are carried out.
* To provide professional training, teaching, and support (on an MDT basis) in relation to physical health within a multi-disciplinary team.
* The role requires close collaboration and liaison with CMHT colleagues, as well as external partners, primarily GPs / primary care colleagues, other health providers, health promotion and voluntary sector organisations. The post holder will also liaise closely with the Physical Health Clinical Lead within mental health inpatients and provide inpatient physical health support to cover leave.
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
* Caring for and about you is our top priority.
* Committed to providing good quality, safe services.
* Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions.
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
* Flexible working options to support work-life balance.
* 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell.
* Excellent learning and career development opportunities.
* ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles.
* Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services.
* Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants.
* Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality.
* Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
* Free parking across Trust sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The 4 “must haves” for you to be considered for this role:
1. A passion for physical health care that matches our desire to provide excellent healthcare for people with serious mental illness.
2. Either a Registered General Nurse or Registered Mental Health Nurse with experience of working with people with mental illness and physical health conditions.
3. You will be comfortable working in a busy environment and proficient at engaging with people who experience health inequalities or difficulty accessing services.
4. You will be required to have access to your own vehicle and a valid driving licence enabling you to travel to clinics and patients’ homes.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Charlotte Lister on 07976 652914 or email: charlotte.lister@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
* Relevant professional degree level qualification for own discipline.
* RGN or RMN or Dip/BSc Nursing.
* Continuing registration with Nursing and Midwifery Council.
* Qualification to master’s degree level or equivalent experience/study at this level.
Continuous Professional Development
* Basic life support.
* Additional qualification in related subject e.g. Physical health management.
* Health promotion.
* Psychosocial interventions.
* Motivational Interviewing training.
* Solution focused brief therapy.
* Practice Placement qualification /Preceptorship and Mentorship.
* Training in Leadership skills.
Previous Experience
* Experience of working in a range of settings relevant to the post.
* Post-registration experience of working with patients with physical or mental health needs i.e. acute hospital / community.
* Experience of working in emotionally demanding environments.
* Experience and knowledge of safeguarding process.
* Experience of delivering evidence-based care.
* Experience of teaching, training, and supervision.
* Experience of collaboration with multi-agencies.
* Experience of working in acute mental health inpatient/community services or community physical health with interest in mental health.
* Experience of effective supervision to professionally qualified staff.
* Experience/training in motivational interviewing.
* Experience in research and or audit.
* Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-ethnic community.
* Experience of team leadership.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
* Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, ethical issues, strategic frameworks, and current guidelines regarding the range of presenting problems in adult mental health, their implications for both practices and clinical management in relation to physical health care delivery.
* Knowledge of physical health care conditions, the role of monitoring, treatment, prevention, and interventions for the client group.
* Adhere to NMC Professional Code of Conduct and standards appropriate to discipline.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Experience of Clinical risk assessment and management in a community setting.
* Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration.
* Aware of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures.
* Aware of current NHS initiatives and Developments.
* Knowledge of legislation and the national agenda in relation to Adult Physical Care for Serious Mental Illness.
* Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
* Able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing– complex, technical, and/or clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and professionals within and outside the NHS/HCC.
* Ability to teach and train others using multi-media materials suitable for presentation.
Additional Requirements
* Skills in engagement of people with complex needs.
* Ability to communicate effectively within a multi-professional team.
* Ability to work with diverse communities in a wide variety of contexts.
* Skills in relation to physical health care checks and interventions.
* Able to undertake venepuncture competently.
* Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information where persuasive, empathic and reassuring skills are required.
* Ability to deal sensitively with stressful situations.
* Ability to cope with verbal abuse and to recognise and diffuse potential physical abuse from service users.
* Ability to use outcome measures to evaluate progress.
* Keyboard skills and working knowledge of all MS office applications.
* Ability to work flexibly across service boundaries.
* Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to hold the stress of others.
* Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals.
* Ability to engage with service users including where engagement is difficult and those from diverse backgrounds.
* Ability to maintain high standards of record keeping, including data entry and recording.
* Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals in accordance with professional, ethical guidelines and Trust policies.
* Disclosure and Barring approval (formally CRB check).
* Confident to work autonomously in the community and use own initiative to make decisions in complex situations.
* Able to travel independently locally and outside Berkshire as required.
* Experience of audits/evaluations of interventions and implementation of any subsequent changes to practice.
These are the values that we live by atBerkshire Healthcare:
* Caring for and about you is our top priority.
* Committed to providing good quality, safe services.
* working Together with you to develop innovative solutions.
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Please find attached the behaviour framework that underpins these values for this job role.
At Berkshire Healthcare, we foster an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs.
We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.
Please note we may close positions before the advertised date.
Once you have applied, please check your email regularly for updates. All appointments are subject to NHS Employment Checks, and false information may result in withdrawal of offers. For information on how we store your information, please review our privacy statement.
No agencies, please.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.
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