This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly motivated team working with the homeless, hard to reach and difficult to engage clients in Reading. The team provides a range of services via drop-in clinics to clients at a variety of venues including hostels, specific women’s services, health screening at probation (offenders), and work closely with the Reading Street Outreach team (St Mungo’s) actively going out on the street to engage people rough sleeping. This job will require one morning a week, in a two to four week rotation with the team, working the early morning outreach shift and flexible working shifts 5pm-7pm on a Monday and Thursday as required. Excellent communication skills are essential and a background working within mental health is desirable but not essential.
Apart from client contact the role includes office-based functions such as IT skills and the ability to use local electronic systems such as RIO to document client information. Good organisation skills, the ability to work independently as well as working as a team player is essential.
Establish effective therapeutic relationships with Clients that enables assessment, communication and the sharing of complex and sensitive information.
Liaise with NHS and other agencies to obtain relevant medical information on clients to ensure continuity of care; this can involve communicating with clients, staff, hostel managers, key workers support workers and other professions
To ensure services are delivered in a manner that is appropriate , relevant and respectful to all communities, recognising the diversity of ethnicity, culture, belief, privilege and capacity of service users and carers
To share information within the team and to accept support when required and to respond to advice given.
Respond to any changes in presenting or service need and can organise own work as appropriate or when directed by senior staff
Demonstrate knowledge, awareness and skill in the management of crisis situations.
To undertake early morning outreach with St Mungo’s, one morning a week on a one in two to four week rotation with the other members of the team, and flexible working shifts 5pm-7pm on a Monday and Thursday as required .
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Physical and mental health experience (both areas can be developed).
Desire to work with a complex client group who need support.
Compassion and offer trust to our homeless and vulnerably homed clients in Reading and West Berkshire.
Ability to ‘think on your feet and adapt to the situation’.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Amanda Magee on 07827 255931 or email:  amanda.magee@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible