Assertive Outreach Team Community Mental Health Nurse / Practitioner

Assertive Outreach Team Community Mental Health Nurse / Practitioner Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Are you looking for a new opportunity? Would you like to be part of a service which enables you to work alongside people with severe and enduring mental illness, using your skills to build trust and relationships with them, with the goal of enhancing their quality of life?

We are currently looking for a Mental Health Nurse or suitably qualified allied health professional to join the Assertive Outreach Team East (AOT) based at Hahnemann House, Bournemouth. Following a comprehensive service review of complex care, Assertive Outreach Team has received significant reinvestment in order to further develop our existing service. The successful candidate will work alongside a full MDT consisting of Mental Health Nurses / Practitioners, Social Workers, Support Time Recovery Workers, an Occupational Therapist, Psychology and a dedicated Consultant Psychiatrist.

Assertive Outreach Team is a busy, friendly service providing support and on-going care for people with severe mental illness who have multiple and complex needs and historically may have found it difficult to work with traditional services such as CMHT's. Practitioners within Assertive Outreach Team act as Care Coordinators for a caseload of 10 patients. The service employs a whole team approach where patients on caseload are discussed regularly and known to most, if not all, team members.

Main duties of the job

The approach allows us to share ideas and the responsibility for care, treatment and support planning and, importantly, risk management. At the same time individual practitioners have the opportunity to develop trusted relationships with patients as this is an essential component of the model and is at the core of what we do.

To be personally responsible and professionally accountable for a patient caseload within the community working with people with severe mental illness who have multiple and complex needs.

To provide high quality nursing care and treatment in conjunction with other professionals through the Trust's agreed multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment/care programmes.

To participate as an active member of the Assertive Outreach Team in developing high quality and innovative Community Mental Health Services to people with severe mental illness.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact

The service covers the geographical area of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and the ability to drive your own vehicle is essential. You may also be expected to transport patients on occasions.

The post is full-time and the service operates Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00. Occasionally Practitioners will need to work outside of these hours; however, there are no plans to extend the service to 7 days per week.

Person Specification Knowledge, skills and training

• Registered Mental Health Nurse or other professional qualification and registration
• PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION: Current NMC or equivalent
• Further evidence of professional development and training
• Learning & Assessing in the Practice Environment unit/998
• Understanding of medication management issues

Job specific experience

• Experience at Band 5/6 of working within a Community Mental Health Team
• Experience of ICPA and Risk Assessment and Management

Managerial / supervisory experience

• Experiencing providing clinical and managerial supervision to junior staff

Information Technology

• Experience using an electronic service user record
• Basic IT skills, normally obtained through practice or practical training

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.