Community mental health nurse jobs

Community Mental Health Nurse jobs: frequently asked questions

(Updated Dec 2024)

Welcome to our Community Mental Health Nurse jobs page, featuring all the latest jobs throughout the UK, as well as frequently asked questions below.

What does a Community Mental Health Nurse do?

Community Mental Health Nurses work within communities – which could be in a community health centre, residential care facility or in someone’s home.

Your role is to build relationships and trust with people who use mental health services, as well as their relatives or carers.

Your goal is to help these people to live independent and fulfilling lives, and to aid in their recovery.

In many cases, you will work within a wider, multi-disciplinary team which could include psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and many other specialists.

What are the daily duties of a Community Mental Health Nurse?

Broadly, a Community Mental Health Nurse’s responsibilities will include:

• Managing a case load of individuals requiring mental health support

• Encouraging patients to take part in therapies

• Assisting with physical care requirements

• Administering medication where relevant

• Offering practical advice and support

However, the duties vary widely according to the setting in which you work, and the type of people you support.

What qualifications do you need to become a Community Mental Health Nurse?

To become a Community Mental Health Nurse you will need to complete a mental health nursing degree. Courses typically last three years and are available at universities all over the UK.

Historically, anyone wanting to become a Community Mental Health Nurse might need to work in a hospital setting first, but that is no longer the case. With a huge shortage of Community Mental Health Nurses, you can apply for community roles as soon as you qualify.

However, it is advantageous to gain some community placements during your studies.

How much do Community Mental Health Nurses get paid?

Community Mental Health Nurses are paid on the same NHS bandings as General Nurses – so normally start at band 5, earning £29,969 a year to begin with. From there, more experience and qualifications can help you to work your way up into higher bandings. Band 6 and 7 salaries can head towards £45,000 a year and beyond.

Beyond this, your career could go in many directions. You could move into a more senior role within the community, or you could head into a research career. With further studying and experience you could also become an Advanced Nursing Practitioner or a manager of a community team.

You also have the option to work privately, where salaries can sometimes be higher.

Equally, once you have enough experience you may be able to earn a good pay rate by working through an agency.

Find your next Community Mental Health Nurse job today

View our latest roles above, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, create an account and register your CV here and we’ll send you the latest roles as soon as they arise.