A Vacancy at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
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-focussed 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:
• 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
• Personal professional development and supporting the education and training of others regarding physical health in mental illness
• 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
• Developing a culture that recognises and gives equal importance to physical and mental illness whilst striving for quality improvement
• 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 in patient physical health support to cover leave.
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
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• 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
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
This advert closes on Sunday 9 Mar 2025
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