Medway Community Mental Health, Gillingham

Medway Community Mental Health Services in Gillingham is part of Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, delivering specialist mental health services to the local community.

Medway Community Mental Health Services encompass assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for mental health conditions. As an organisation it is committed to delivering person-centred care, tailoring services to the unique needs of each individual. Additionally, the service will collaborate with local authorities, charities, and other healthcare providers to create a network of support for the community across Gillingham and Medway.

Types of care offered at Medway Community Mental Health

• Assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for mental health conditions
• Specialist care for older people with mental health needs
• Support for people of any age with dementia-related needs
• Partnership-based support network
• “Mental Health Together” initiative

The services are primarily for older people with mental health needs, as well as people of any age who are presenting with needs related to dementia. Care plans are made in partnership with each patient, and healthcare professionals then agree future steps together with the patient - for instance, therapy and neuropsychological assessments.

Mental Health Together - growing the service

Launching later in 2023 is a new initiative and service, developed by Medway Community Mental Health, to provide support to people with complex mental health needs. This is part of the wider NHS community mental health transformation initiative - a large-scale national NHS programme to transform mental health services for adults and older adults.As explained on their website: “Representatives from NHS Kent and Medway NHS Social Care Partnership Trust, and people with lived experience, are working together with a number of other partners and organisations, including the voluntary sector, to create a new way to improve how people are supported with their mental health."

Find a job working for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Browse our nursing jobs

Browse our support worker and social worker jobs

Browse our clinical / medical jobs

Find out more about Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Visit our company page

Careers at Medway Community Mental Health

The multidisciplinary team (MDT) framework in Gillingham consists of Nurses, OTs, Healthcare Workers (Support Workers), Psychiatrists and Psychologists.

From your first days with us we will do our best to help you develop a career pathway that fits your ambitions.So, from day 1 KMPT is committed to supporting you and this includes a comprehensive induction programme. The programme's duration depends on your role and can be from 2 days to 4 weeks. This induction programme provides an excellent opportunity for you to meet and engage with KMPT’s diverse range of subject specialists and it will include the required training for your specific role.

Mental Health Nurses

Mental health nurses lead shifts, coordinating quality patient care, implementing therapeutic interventions and administering medication if required. Nurses will be considering the medical requirements of patients and monitoring physical as well as mental health. Our RMNs develop strong communication skills so that they can work successfully within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) of psychiatrists, psychologists and healthcare workers, as well as within the multi-agency team where required (police, social care colleagues, KMPT discharge coordinators and others).

Support Workers

Day-to-day Support Workers will be working with patients and observing patients. They will have a good deal of interaction with patients, and be able to provide them with therapeutic activities too. Where a patient is at risk to themselves Support Workers may be asked to provide 1-2-1 support and observation, monitor and complete the necessary forms.

Support Workers are there to support patients with their personal care, daily living and from time-to-time will be required to accompany them on escorted leave.They work alongside their nursing colleagues, occupational therapists (working together to design therapeutic activities), psychiatrists and psychologists. They support all of the team!

Occupational Therapists

The O.T provides assessment & therapeutic interventions. These may include cooking, creative, physical activities among others. OTs will plan and implement therapeutic activities. For instance, they might help them in the kitchen, assist them with rehabilitating their cooking skills or join them in artwork therapy. They’ll work closely with the healthcare workers to design therapeutic activities. As an OT, you’ll be helping to treat patients by building their independence, teaching them new skills, and rehabilitating them.

Psychologists & Psychiatrists

Psychologists provide psychotherapy, therapeutic intervention and talking with patients about their mental health needs.

Psychiatrists are responsible for taking decisions about the patients, meeting patients, advising on treatment and care and diagnosing. Each of the Psychiatrists work within the MDT, but are there to also authorise the legal aspects of each person’s care, working within the mental health framework and making decisions around discharge. This is a clinical and ward leadership role with considerable responsibility.

Practical information about working here

Gillingham is located on the River Medway, Kent, in South East England. It is part of the Medway conurbation, alongside Chatham and Rochester, and is about 35 miles southeast of London. Commuting into Gillingham for work at Medway Community Mental Health can be made via the A2 and A289 are the primary roads connecting Gillingham to nearby towns like Chatham and Rochester. The M2 motorway provides access to London (west) and the Kent coast (east). Gillingham Railway Station is on the Chatham Main Line and the North Kent Line. It offers regular services to London.

Trains from Gillingham to London St Pancras International via the high-speed Southeastern service take around 40-50 minutes. Standard services to London Victoria or London Bridge take about 60-70 minutes.Gillingham has a high street with a mix of independent shops, chain stores, and supermarkets.

The nearby Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre offers additional retail options. There’s a swimming and sports complex, as well as the historic Dockside Outlet Centre and Riverside County Park. For those moving to the area for work with a young family, there are several primary and secondary schools to choose from including The Howard School and Rainham School for Girls. MidKent College offers further education opportunities.