Community Mental Health Nurse - MHSOP

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust we are looking for people to join us who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered please take part on our online values questionnaire, which you can find below. When you have finished you will be sent a 'completion code' by email, which will be valid for 6 months and required to submit your application form.

http://hpft.recruitforvalues.co

Job overview

We are delighted to offer an opportunity for a Band 6 Mental Health Nurse to join our Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People in East Hertfordshire.

As part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, you will provide holistic, person-centred assessment and care for older adults living with functional mental illness, dementia, frailty and complex mental health needs. The role includes mental health and risk assessment, care planning, care coordination, multidisciplinary working and supporting service users and carers through periods of acute or complex mental ill health.

We welcome applicants with experience from across mental health services and value the transferable skills, knowledge and perspectives they can bring to the team. You will need to work confidently and autonomously while contributing positively to collaborative clinical decision-making and effective partnership working.

The post covers both Oxford House in Bishop’s Stortford and Rosanne House in Welwyn Garden City, with flexible shift and weekend working required in response to service needs.

You will work alongside Clinical Psychologists, Consultant Psychiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Mental Health Nurses, with access to regular supervision, reflective practice, professional development and training opportunities.

If you are passionate about high-quality care for older adults and want to make a meaningful difference, we would love to hear from you.

Advert

As a Band 6 CPN within the Crisis Function Team, you will provide rapid assessment, intervention and support to older adults experiencing acute mental health crises in the community. You will undertake urgent mental health, risk and needs assessments, developing, implementing and evaluating person-centred care plans that promote recovery, maintain independence and reduce hospital admission. You will act as Care Coordinator for a defined caseload, ensuring care is delivered, reviewed and updated in line with Trust standards and CPA requirements.

Working autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will deliver community-based interventions and work closely with the MDT, primary care services and partner agencies to ensure seamless care pathways. You will maintain effective communication with service users, carers and families, supporting collaborative decision-making and positive outcomes.

The post holder will be responsible for medication management, monitoring effectiveness and side effects, maintaining accurate clinical records and ensuring compliance with Trust policies, safeguarding procedures, professional standards and relevant legislation. You will undertake complex risk assessments, implement risk management plans and respond effectively to mental health crises. You will also support students and junior staff, contribute to audit and quality improvement activity, and help deliver a safe, responsive and recovery-focused service.

Working for our organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Band 6 Community Mental Health Nurse will support the delivery of a high-quality Crisis Function Team (CFT) service for older adults experiencing acute mental health difficulties. The post holder will work autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to provide rapid assessment, care coordination, risk management and evidence-based interventions to service users and their carers.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive mental health, risk and needs assessments for individuals presenting in crisis, ensuring timely intervention and formulation of effective care plans.
• Develop, implement and evaluate person-centred programmes of care for service users with acute and complex mental health needs.
• Act as Care Coordinator for a defined caseload, ensuring care plans are regularly reviewed and delivered in accordance with identified needs and recovery goals.
• Provide intensive community-based interventions to support individuals to remain safely in their own homes and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Monitor, administer and evaluate prescribed medication in accordance with Trust policies, NMC standards and best practice guidance.
• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive clinical records, care plans and risk assessments using electronic patient record systems.

Communication and Partnership Working

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with service users, carers, families, fellow professionals and partner agencies.
• Liaise effectively with inpatient units, community teams, primary care services, social care and voluntary sector organisations to ensure seamless care pathways.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, case reviews, safeguarding processes and care planning discussions.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance regarding the role and interventions of the Crisis Function Team.

Risk Management and Clinical Decision Making

• Undertake complex risk assessments and implement robust risk management plans to promote safety and positive outcomes.
• Exercise professional judgement in crisis situations, making autonomous decisions within Trust policies and professional frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding procedures and Care Programme Approach requirements.

Leadership, Supervision and Service Development

• Provide clinical leadership and act as a role model within the multidisciplinary team.
• Support the induction, supervision, development and assessment of junior staff and student nurses.
• Participate in clinical supervision, appraisal, continuing professional development and reflective practice activities.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives, audits, quality assurance activities and implementation of evidence-based practice.
• Assist in the day-to-day operational functioning of the team, including supporting workload management, rota coordination and service delivery requirements.

General Responsibilities

• Work flexibly across service locations and community settings to meet service needs.
• Maintain professional registration and adhere to the NMC Code of Conduct and Trust policies at all times.
• Participate in data collection, audit and reporting processes to support service performance and governance requirements.
• Promote recovery-focused, strengths-based and person-centred care that improves outcomes for older adults and their carers.

The post holder will be expected to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, demonstrating excellent communication skills, sound clinical judgement and a commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality mental health care to older adults in the community.

Please note, we do not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. Please see the Trust careers vacancy webpage and Trac as the only authorised routes for recruitment communications, applications and verification of job offers.