Mental Health Practitioner - North East Essex Dementia Service in Colchester

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Band 6

Main area Dementia Care Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 364-B-539

Site King's Wood Centre Town Colchester Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 29/10/2026 23:59

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Community Mental Health Practitioner to join the North East Essex (NEE) Dementia Service. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who is committed to improving the lives of people living with dementia and memory difficulties.

This is a full-time post working across various teams within the NEE Dementia Service. We are committed to delivering a responsive, flexible, and evidence-based specialist service to individuals undergoing assessment for memory problems, as well as those who have received a diagnosis of dementia within their home, care home settings or other appropriate community environments. Our service provides comprehensive assessment, treatment, and support tailored to each person's individual needs and complex presentations.

We are looking for a compassionate, dedicated, and conscientious practitioner who is committed to making a positive difference to the lives of adults experiencing dementia or memory difficulties. The successful applicant will contribute to the continued development of the service through innovation, quality improvement initiatives, and collaborative working with health and social care partners. The role will focus on supporting individuals to remain in their communities wherever possible, reducing avoidable admissions.

If you are passionate about delivering high-quality dementia care and would like to be part of a dynamic and supportive multidisciplinary team, we welcome your application.

Main duties of the job

As part of the ongoing transformation of services in line with the NHS Long Term Plan, development of services for dementia have been working over the past year in developing an intensive responsive service to manage the needs of these patients. The role is a Band 6 Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner within the Dementia Service which includes the Memory Assessment Service, Dementia Intensive Support Team (DIST) and the Dementia Support Team (DST).

The Memory Assessment Service offers age inclusive memory assessments and diagnosis. The DIST provides short-term intensive treatment in the person’s place of residence working towards admission avoidance. The remaining community teams provide support in enabling people with dementia of all ages to maintain their independence in their preferred place of residence looking at a complete holistic assessment leading to better health outcomes. This includes access to other community services that include assistive technology, advice about environment, and healthy living. Providing education for their families, friends and carers so they are better equipped to understand and support their loved ones with dementia

Working in close co-operation with hospital, community services, primary care staff, social care professionals and third sector organisations e.g. Alzheimer’s Society, Age Well East.

The post holder will work with a range of professionals and have some link into other professional services within the area.

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us (subject to terms and conditions)
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for full details on the responsibilities and requirements of the role.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• Registration Mental Health Nurse RMN Part 3
• Evidence of appropriate CPD post-qualification

Skills/Experience

• Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
• Experience of working within mental health community services

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email epunft.recruitment.adverts@nhs.net and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre-employment checks.

Please note -staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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.

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