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Job summary

Main area
Specialist Community Forensic Service
Grade
Band 8b
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
364-A-9925
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Heath Close
Town
Billericay
Salary
£66,582 - £77,368 Per Annum + 5% High Cost Allowance
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Community Forensic Team Clinical Lead

Band 8b

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

The post holder will provide operational and management responsibility for the Specialist Community Forensic Mental Health Team (SCFT) covering Essex. The post holder will be providing effective leadership and standards of clinical practice and services. This will include effective management of the multi-disciplinary team and financial budgets.

All SCFT staff are provided with training and development, supported by NHS England, including the opportunity to attend training days on a roughly monthly basis. We will support candidates working as Approved Mental Health Professionals and Best Interest Assessors to work sufficient shifts in these roles to maintain their status. 

Main duties of the job

The  post holder will contribute to the continued development and provision of SCFT to meet the needs of the service users with complex mental health and social needs within Essex  working in collaboration with Phoenix Futures (PF); a third sector organization, to deliver the core components of the service model. The post holder will be an experienced clinician with extensive experience of working in the community setting with service users with a forensic background and will be part working as part of the management team. They will play a key role in supporting, inspiring and guiding the clinical work of their team, with a focus on continuing service improvement.

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.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% 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
  • 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

  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work closely with other Senior Managers within the Specialist Services Care Group and the East of England Collaborative participating in strategic development and transformation of services. Ensuring the delivery of high quality services to meet the demand and needs of the service users within the local communities.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria
  • Registered Professional Qualification in either of the following disciplines: RGN/ RMN (NMC) Social Work (HCPC) Occupational Therapy (HCPC) Psychology (BPS)
  • Specialist training to Postgraduate/ Master’s Level, or equivalent experience
  • Specialist knowledge to a high standard with evidence of both supported theory and evidence
Desirable criteria
  • Leadership or management Qualification
  • Specialist risk assessment skills e.g. HCR 20 & SARA v3

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Extensive post qualification / post graduate experience.
  • Able to demonstrate leadership experience in an MDT environment.
  • Experience of MDT working within a Community Setting, including liaison with external stakeholders and agencies
  • Experience in managing change and problem solving both clinically and within employee relationships.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in other NHS or local authority adult services.
  • Experience in offender mental health setting
  • Able to manage projects from inception to completion within deadlines and evaluate
  • Knowledge of Ministry of justice requirements as they relate to offenders for mental health

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to contain the emotional impact of work with adults’ mental health problems.
  • Ability to prioritise large and conflicting workload, use own initiative and work autonomously.
  • Ability to deal with frequent exposure to highly distressing situations and family breakdown and provide support to staff in these situations.
  • Advanced communication skills including ability to negotiate and influence at all levels
  • Understand the need for compassion in working within colleagues, service users and families.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Rachel Laverty
Job title
Secure Services HR Business Partner
Email address
[email protected]
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