• Job Description

  Req#: C9371-25-0437?language=en&page=134&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Interviews are due to be held on 29 May 2025.

  This is a very rewarding role within the Older Adults team at East Berkshire Psychological Medicine, based at Wexham Park Hospital. The role would suit an experienced practitioner from a mental health nursing background or similar profession with older adult mental health experience.

  The post holder will be joining a well-established and supportive team working with older adults admitted to Wexham Park Hospital, Slough. The team supports patients on all medical wards across the hospital as well as A&E, and is patient centred. Patients present with mental health or cognitive difficulties in the context of declining physical health and/or neurological or neurodegenerative conditions.

  The post is within a supportive multidisciplinary team of mental health practitioners, including mental health nurses, psychologists, and a full-time consultant psychiatrist. The older adult service (65+) is a small team and works alongside the adult team within the East Berkshire Psychological Medicine Service at WPH.

  We are looking for someone who is passionate about providing mental health care for older people and has approach that displays compassion. A strong interest in mental health in the context of physical health in old age is essential for this role.

  An informal visit to the service is encouraged. The working hours are Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm and are office based.

  Main duties of the job

  • The role will be to provide specialist mental health care to patients who are in Wexham Park Hospital.

  • You will undertake initial assessments of older adults who have been referred by Wexham Park Hospital and will focus on their mental health needs but adopting a holistic approach.

  • The cases will be complex at times, and you will participate in and lead professionals meetings.

  • A collaborative approach will be used included the view of the patients, family, and carers.

  About us

  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

  Details

  Date posted

  13 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 7

  Salary

  £48,270 to £54,931 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  371-MHS741-A

  Job locations

  Wexham Park Hospital

  Wexham Street

  Slough

  SL2 4HL

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  The must haves for this role:

  • RMN, Social work or equivalent Professional Qualification
  • Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years , acquired by caring for older people with mental health needs in a range of community/inpatient settings
  • Minimum 2 years as Band 6 grade in older peoples mental health services
  • Evidence of on-going professional development

  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.

  Were 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 dont hesitate to call: Sue Barclay on 07890 606956, or email: Suzanne.barclay@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl 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.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  The must haves for this role:

  • RMN, Social work or equivalent Professional Qualification
  • Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years , acquired by caring for older people with mental health needs in a range of community/inpatient settings
  • Minimum 2 years as Band 6 grade in older peoples mental health services
  • Evidence of on-going professional development

  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.

  Were 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 dont hesitate to call: Sue Barclay on 07890 606956, or email: Suzanne.barclay@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl 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

  Essential

  • RMN or equivalent Professional Qualification with mental health experience

  Desirable

  • RGN (ie dual qualified)

  Continuous Professional Development

  Essential

  • Evidence of on-going professional development
  • Student mentorship

  Desirable

  • Completion of a range of post-graduate courses related to specialism eg Advance Dementia Care, Nurse Prescribing, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Communicating and caregiving in Dementia, or Masters Degree
  • Specialist training in liaison psychiatry

  Previous Experience

  Essential

  • Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years , acquired by caring for older people with mental health needs in a range of community/inpatient settings
  • Minimum 2 years as Band 6 grade in older peoples mental health services
  • Involvement in service development projects and policy reviews
  • Support and empowerment of carers
  • Supervision of others

  Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  Essential

  • Advanced assessment and clinical reasoning skills
  • Skilled in identifying and differentiating between a wide range of diagnoses
  • Confident to recommend to non mental health staff treatment approaches and/or medication for a patient's psychological needs
  • Thorough knowledge of the network of support services for patients and carers, and the means of accessing them

  Additional Requirements

  Essential

  • Time management and identifying priorities
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Mental Health Legislation
  • Experience of conducting staff supervision/appraisals
  • Risk assessment and management skills
  • Good IT skills
  • Ability to manage stress
  • Able to work unsocial hours

  Desirable

  • Teaching and facilitating group work
  • Experience of conducting audit/research
  • Car driver with use of a vehicle for work purposes

  Person Specification

  Education/Qualifications/Training

  Essential

  • RMN or equivalent Professional Qualification with mental health experience

  Desirable

  • RGN (ie dual qualified)

  Continuous Professional Development

  Essential

  • Evidence of on-going professional development
  • Student mentorship

  Desirable

  • Completion of a range of post-graduate courses related to specialism eg Advance Dementia Care, Nurse Prescribing, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Communicating and caregiving in Dementia, or Masters Degree
  • Specialist training in liaison psychiatry

  Previous Experience

  Essential

  • Broad experience gained over a minimum of two years , acquired by caring for older people with mental health needs in a range of community/inpatient settings
  • Minimum 2 years as Band 6 grade in older peoples mental health services
  • Involvement in service development projects and policy reviews
  • Support and empowerment of carers
  • Supervision of others

  Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  Essential

  • Advanced assessment and clinical reasoning skills
  • Skilled in identifying and differentiating between a wide range of diagnoses
  • Confident to recommend to non mental health staff treatment approaches and/or medication for a patient's psychological needs
  • Thorough knowledge of the network of support services for patients and carers, and the means of accessing them

  Additional Requirements

  Essential

  • Time management and identifying priorities
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Mental Health Legislation
  • Experience of conducting staff supervision/appraisals
  • Risk assessment and management skills
  • Good IT skills
  • Ability to manage stress
  • Able to work unsocial hours

  Desirable

  • Teaching and facilitating group work
  • Experience of conducting audit/research
  • Car driver with use of a vehicle for work purposes

  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.

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  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.

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

  Address

  Wexham Park Hospital

  Wexham Street

  Slough

  SL2 4HL

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

  Address

  Wexham Park Hospital

  Wexham Street

  Slough

  SL2 4HL

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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