Job Summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner to join the Suffolk Forensic Community Mental Health Team. The successful candidate will be joining a highly motivated multidisciplinary team to support service users who are under forensic mental health services. We support service users aged 18+ and support them on their transition from inpatient forensic services to the community.
The team is based at Cedar House at the Old St Clements Hospital site in Ipswich and as a community post, all staff members are required to travel around the county on a daily basis to meet the needs of the service.
If you have experience of working with people who live with mental health difficulties we would love to hear from you. Applications will only be accepted from candidates who have completed their preceptorship .
Main duties of the job
The post holder will undertake the planning and delivery of direct patient care with appropriate supervision, ensuring continuity of practice and working within a multi-disciplinary and multiagency environment.
- Managing a caseload and the provision of Mental Health Care services to service users with mental health care needs and a forensic history.
- To work flexibly across the week according to service user needs and priorities.
- Working times from 08:00 – 20:00 with need for some hours on weekends according to service user need.
- Support and advice to other health care professionals.
- Daily independent travel across the County.
- To support aspects of service development.
- Maintaining positive relations with external agencies including MAPPA, MOJ and Police services.
- Provide an appropriate learning environment for relevant University students.
- To be responsible for accurate mental health documentation according to Trust policy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Nursing degree (Mental Health) or equivalent, Occupational Therapy degree or equivalent
- Mentorship signoff
- Completion of preceptorship
Experience
Essential
- Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous experience
- Demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience
- Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions
- Experience working in a team delivering person centred treatment packages
Desirable
- Experience in supporting service development
- Previous experience working in a community team setting
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, including good verbal and written language skills
- Care planning skills, Risk assessment knowledge and skills
- Competent and effective treatment skills
- Able to effectively prioritise own work load
- Basic computer skills including use of email/internet
- Ability to travel independently around County
Desirable
- Reflective on clinical practice
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of medication and the monitoring of its effects
- Knowledge of psychosocial interventions
- An understanding of the policies and guidelines both local and national e.g. National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines
Desirable
- Developing knowledge of local wider systems and networks
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 29 June 2026
