Community Mental Health Nurse

Job summary

Mental health care works best when people are seen, heard, and supported.
As a Band 5 Nurse in MHWT South, you will work alongside service users, families, and communities to support recovery, reduce inequality, and strengthen wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

Undertake comprehensive assessments of service users' needs.
Develop and review person centred care plans in partnership with service users wherever possible.
Promote recovery, wellbeing, independence, and hope through therapeutic interventions.
Participate in multidisciplinary assessments, clinical reviews, case conferences, ward reviews, community reviews, and CPA meetings.
Ensure the appropriate application and administration of the Mental Health Act.
Employ professional curiosity in all aspects of practice and take appropriate action where concerns are identified.

About us

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.

Job responsibilities

The Band 5 Registered Mental Health Nurse within the Mental Health and Wellness Team (MHWT) South provides high quality, recovery focused nursing care to adults experiencing a range of mental health needs within the community. Working across Waltham Forest, primarily covering Leyton and Leytonstone, the post holder will deliver evidence based interventions that promote mental wellbeing, reduce risk, prevent relapse, and support individuals to remain safe and independent within their local communities.

The post holder will undertake comprehensive mental and physical health assessments, develop and review person centred care plans, coordinate care, and deliver therapeutic interventions in collaboration with service users, carers, multidisciplinary colleagues, and partner agencies. They will manage a defined caseload under the supervision of senior clinicians, ensuring that care is delivered in accordance with professional standards, Trust policies, and relevant legislation.

The Band 5 Nurse will be responsible for monitoring mental state, assessing and managing risk, administering and reviewing medication, supporting physical healthcare needs, and promoting recovery through strengths based and trauma informed approaches. The post holder will contribute to safeguarding processes, crisis management, service development, and quality improvement initiatives, while maintaining accurate and timely clinical records.

As an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will work collaboratively to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care, supporting positive outcomes for service users and contributing to the delivery of high quality community mental health services.es the post holder to manage a delegated caseload, work flexibly across community and clinic settings, and contribute to a duty rota operating from 9am to 5pm. The post holder will work in partnership with service users, carers, families, and a wide range of agencies to promote recovery, social inclusion, and improved outcomes, while adhering to trust policies, professional standards, and the NMC Code.

CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION DELIVERY The post holder will undertake comprehensive mental health nursing assessments including mental state, risk, psycho social, and functional assessments, under the guidance of senior clinicians where required. They will deliver a range of nursing interventions appropriate to Band 5 competence, including recovery oriented support, brief interventions, relapse prevention work, and ongoing monitoring.

The post holder will work with service users who may present with multiple diagnoses and complex mental health needs, taking into account physical, cognitive, emotional, and perceptual abilities in order to identify strengths, difficulties, and areas requiring support.

CARE PLANNING, RECOVERY, AND SOCIAL INCLUSION The post holder will develop and implement person centred, outcome focused care plans that reflect service user goals, strengths, cultural needs, and recovery priorities. They will embed the NELFT and local authority Recovery and Social Inclusion agenda into everyday practice and support smooth transitions between services, ensuring service users, families, and carers are actively involved.

DUTY ROTA AND OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES The post holder will participate in the MHWT South duty rota between 9am and 5pm. This includes responding to incoming referrals, urgent queries, task allocation, and supporting team coordination under the direction of senior staff.

MEDICINES SUPPORT, CLINICS, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE The post holder will support the delivery of depot clinics and Clozapine clinics as required, in line with training and competency. They will undertake physical health checks, monitor medication effects and side effects, and escalate concerns appropriately. The post holder will promote physical health screening, health education, and engagement with primary care services.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND SAFEGUARDING The post holder will complete and review risk assessments and risk management plans, contributing to crisis prevention and maintaining safety. They will recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns for adults and children, raising concerns in line with local and trust safeguarding procedures and seeking guidance from senior staff when needed.

TEAM WORKING, LEARNING, AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE The post holder will work collaboratively within the multi disciplinary team and provide informal leadership within their area of practice or developing specialism. They will actively engage in supervision, appraisal, training, and continuous professional development, maintaining professional competence and contributing to a positive learning culture.

HEALTH, SAFETY, AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS The post holder will adhere to health and safety policies, lone working procedures, and personal safety guidance relevant to community practice. They will maintain accurate and timely documentation, uphold confidentiality, and act in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Standards at all times.

Probationary Period This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

 

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).