Job summary

As part of the continued development of the health service for hard to reach and homeless people in Reading, the post holder will be required to have initiative and enthusiasm for innovative thinking about meeting the health needs of hard to reach and homeless people. Regardless of service provision there are individuals in Reading who currently fall through these services. The Hard to Reach / Homeless Health Team is a response to this need, and will improve access to health and social care services for those who currently do not access services, forging excellent links with external agencies to ensure a seamless delivery for the client.

The team will develop and support a nurse led primary health care service providing pathways into mainstream health for hard to reach client groups. These services will be provided from a range of outreach venues within the Reading area.

You will work alongside an RGN, an Clinical Support Practitioner (MH) and 2 x Senior Support Workers.

This post will include a rota of 1 in four early morning starts, and flexible working shifts 5pm-7pm on a Monday and Thursday as required. You will be required to work set hours with some flexibility to meet the needs of the service.

  • Working as an autonomous practitioner.
  • Engaging hard to reach and homeless people who have long-term health issues that are unaddressed, provide short-term interventions in a variety of settings

Main duties of the job

  • Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis, supporting traditional/mainstream healthcare providers to be able to respond appropriately
  • Work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments.
  • Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions.
  • Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective mental or physical programme.
  • Integrating both drug and non-drug based treatment methods into a management plan.
  • Take responsibility for the initial holistic assessment of complex health and nursing needs and refer to services where appropriate.
  • Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care.
  • Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
  • Deliver health promotion workshops for clients where required (smoking cessation, sexual health, healthy eating and first aid).
  • Developing protocols and referral pathways for hard to reach /homeless people, in conjunction with primary care teams, secondary care, local authority and the voluntary sector

About us

  • Promote good health amongst hard to reach groups and be active in preventing ill health in line with the client’s needs and circumstances
  • Promote harm reduction and harm minimisation initiatives.
  • Refer patients to the relevant professional/agency in response to identified need and evaluate its effectiveness.
  • Reduce the incidents of admission and re-admission by supporting and educating both patients and carers to seek early intervention for potential debilitating conditions.
  • Plan and negotiate with appropriate organisations and individuals to develop health action plans.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rates ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.

The trust employs almost 5,000 people over more than 100 sites and community settings across Windsor & Maidenhead, Slough, Bracknell Forest, Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire.

As an inclusive employer, we value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall 100 Top Employer. Whatever your background or individual needs, at Berkshire Healthcare you’ll be supported by friendly and professional managers to succeed.

Date posted

20 April 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£27,055 to £32,934 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

371-MHW1350

Job locations

Prospect Park Hospital

Reading

RG30 4EJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

These are the values that we live by at Berkshire Healthcare:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days annual leave with service + opportunity to buy and sell leave
  • Generous NHS pension scheme employer contribution
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • Advanced IT enablement
  • Cycle to Work and car leasing scheme
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants via the Blue Light Card
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities and more to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave and access to our three staff nurseries
  • Free Parking/Digital Parking Permit

The must haves for this role:

  1. Physical health experience.
  2. Desire to work with a complex client group who need support.
  3. Compassion and offer trust to our homeless and vulnerably homed clients in Reading and West Berkshire.
  4. Ability to think on your feet and adapt to the situation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

These are the values that we live by at Berkshire Healthcare:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days annual leave with service + opportunity to buy and sell leave
  • Generous NHS pension scheme employer contribution
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • Advanced IT enablement
  • Cycle to Work and car leasing scheme
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants via the Blue Light Card
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities and more to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave and access to our three staff nurseries
  • Free Parking/Digital Parking Permit

The must haves for this role:

  1. Physical health experience.
  2. Desire to work with a complex client group who need support.
  3. Compassion and offer trust to our homeless and vulnerably homed clients in Reading and West Berkshire.
  4. Ability to think on your feet and adapt to the situation.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Registered Nurse
  • Recent experience of working in a primary care setting
  • Health Promotion Experience

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Willingness to undertake further training and development
  • Evidence of on-going professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Post registration experience
  • Working with minority groups, homeless/mental health/substance misuse settings
  • Computer skills / report writing
  • Knowledge of primary care
  • Chronic disease management experience

Desirable

  • Audit knowledge
  • Family planning experience
  • Teaching / assessing qualification

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Enthusiasm to engage with and meet the needs of this client group
  • meet the needs of this client group Adaptable to situations and non-judgemental towards clients displaying challenging behaviours
  • Strategic Vision
  • Motivating and enabling skills
  • Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships within and across organisations
  • Communication Skills
  • Able to demonstrate knowledge of public health and promotion of self-care
  • Able to demonstrate use of own initiative and ability to work alone

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Able to drive to multiple sites
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Registered Nurse
  • Recent experience of working in a primary care setting
  • Health Promotion Experience

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Willingness to undertake further training and development
  • Evidence of on-going professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Post registration experience
  • Working with minority groups, homeless/mental health/substance misuse settings
  • Computer skills / report writing
  • Knowledge of primary care
  • Chronic disease management experience

Desirable

  • Audit knowledge
  • Family planning experience
  • Teaching / assessing qualification

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Enthusiasm to engage with and meet the needs of this client group
  • meet the needs of this client group Adaptable to situations and non-judgemental towards clients displaying challenging behaviours
  • Strategic Vision
  • Motivating and enabling skills
  • Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships within and across organisations
  • Communication Skills
  • Able to demonstrate knowledge of public health and promotion of self-care
  • Able to demonstrate use of own initiative and ability to work alone

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Able to drive to multiple sites

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Certificate of Sponsorship

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) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).