Job summary
- Main area
- Mental health
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (09:00hrs-19:00hrs Monday to Friday and 09:00hrs-17:00hrs Saturday and Sunday)
- Job ref
- 364-A-8122-A
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Open Road
- Town
- Colchester
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Senior Community Nurse
Band 6
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
To work as part of a friendly, nurse-led team offering assessment, prescribing and support for adults with substance misuse issues. Providing operational leadership for the nursing team of band 5, band 4 nurses and administrative staff.
You will have your own case load but will also be involved in operationally managing the team, providing leadership and training support to staff and students.
Main duties of the job
You will be working as a key member of the team, to provide high quality, evidence-based, holistic care to patients in line with your professional code of conduct and Trust policies. You will assess, plan, implement and evaluate packages of care based upon individual service user needs, under the guidance of Independent Non Medical Prescribers and our Consultant Psychiatrist.
As required by your manager, you will have responsibility for the day-to-day supervision and management of junior team members within your professional group and team locality. This will include the management of these staff in line with agreed Trust HR processes.
Working for our organisation
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
- Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Flexible approach to work and to be able to respond and act in crisis situations.
- Knowledge of substance misuse and an understanding of addiction
- Think family approach and a sound understanding of safeguarding
- Ability to prioritize according to presenting risks
-
Understanding of / and the ability to conduct assessments, Risk assessments, care plans and implement them in partnership with Open Road and our other partners.
-
Experience in the performance management and supervision of lower banded staff
-
Excellent IT skills i.e. Word and Outlook
- Current UK driving license and access to a car for work purposes is desirable. Ability to travel across sites and across Trust boundaries to attend meetings, etc
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Registered Mental health Nurse
- Registered General Nurse
- Good standard of written and spoken English.
- Good standard of education
Desirable criteria
- Post graduate qualification or commitment to work towards this Non-medical prescribing qualification
Skills
Essential criteria
- Literate in IT/Computer Skills
- Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
- Ability to manage and coordinate multi-disciplinary meetings i.e. referral / review / business / handover
- Undertake a range of clinical duties e.g. providing practical support and guidance to service users
Desirable criteria
- Undertake physical health checks of services users and act on the findings appropriately
- Plan and prioritise own and team workload as required
- Experience of working in the Mental Health environment
- Experience of working with system one or Paris
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Understanding of / and the ability to conduct assessments and review of care in line with the requirements of the mental health care clusters
- Knowledge and understanding of health legislation, principles of CPA and Care Management, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act 1983 and safeguarding, the NHS Constitution, and risk assessment / management
- Understanding of the nature of mental health conditions and how they can affect people’s day to day life and impact upon recovery
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of current best practice and models within nursing practice in mental health
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Current UK driving licence, and access to a car for work purposes
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Gareth Thomason
- Job title
- Team Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07583125114
- Additional information
This post is open to registered mental health nurses or registered general nurses
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