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Job summary

Main area
Nursing
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Three 12 hour shifts per week - days/nights)
Job ref
364-A-9784
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The St Aubyn Centre
Town
Colchester
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/03/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

CAMHS Staff Nurse

Band 5

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. 

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive. 

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years. 

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.  

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

Staff Nurse - Band 5 (CAMHS Inpatient) 

The St Aubyn Centre, Colchester
37.5 hours per week | Agenda for Change | Permanent

Are you a compassionate, motivated Mental Health Nurse looking to make a real difference to the lives of young people? Join our dedicated team at the St Aubyn Centre and help shape the future of high‑quality CAMHS inpatient care.

About the role 

As a Band 5 Staff Nurse, you will play a key role within our multidisciplinary team, delivering safe, evidence‑based, and holistic nursing care to young people experiencing mental health difficulties. Working collaboratively with partners, careers, clinicians and service users, you will support a 24/7 service that puts patient wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.

You will contribute to the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of personalised care, ensuring that every young person receives the support, respect, and therapeutic intervention they deserve.

This role also offers opportunities to develop leadership skills by supporting junior colleagues and taking charge of the ward when required.

Main duties of the job

What you will be doing

  • Delivering high quality, person centered and recovery focused care
  • Acting as a key worker for a designated group of young people
  • Supporting the assessment and formulation of care and risk management plans
  • Building therapeutic, professional relationships with young people, families and careers
  • Observing and recording changes in physical and mental health
  • Promoting independence and self care
  • Participating in therapeutic and social activities
  • Supervising junior staff and mentoring student nurses
  • Supporting safe discharge planning in line with CPA and relevant legislation
  • Ensuring confidentiality, professionalism and adherence to NMC standards
  • Contributing to a calm, safe and positive ward environment. 

What we are looking for

  • Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC)
  • Passion for working with young people in a mental health setting
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Commitment to the NHS values and our Trust values: We Care, We Learn, We Empower
  • Ability to work flexibly as part of a 24‑hour service

Working for our organisation

Why join us?

  • A supportive and experienced team
  • Opportunities for professional development and clinical supervision
  • Involvement in service development and quality improvement
  • A role that truly makes an impact on young lives

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you. 

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further details.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Mental Health Nurse at degree / diploma level
  • Current NMC Registration

Desirable

  • Degree level qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of mental disorder, child development, mental health law and legislation and the nursing process

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a mental health setting post- registration
  • Basic counselling skills

Special Aptitudes/Abilities

Essential

  • Demonstrates an understanding of and empathy to the needs of children & young people
  • Ability to effectively communicate with children, young people and their parents
  • Ability to effectively communicate with other professionals, in person and on the phone

Desirable

  • Ability to understand and work with challenging behaviour

Personal Characteristics:

Essential

  • A genuine interest in working within this specialism.
  • Excellent professional attitude
  • Available to work shifts, days, nights and weekends, Monday to Sunday across all inpatient units

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Registered Mental Health Nurse registered with the NMC
  • Knowledge of mental disorder, child development, mental health law and legislation and the nursing process
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of continued professional development in mental health related field
  • Evidence of working with young people

Special Aptitudes/Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrates an understanding of and empathy to the needs of children & young people
  • Ability to effectively communicate with professionals, children, young people and their parents
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to understand and work with challenging behaviour

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sharon Cox
Job title
Ward Manager
Email address
[email protected]