Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 213-CORP-7826320
- Employer
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- King's College Hospital
- Town
- Camberwell
- Salary
- £64,156 - £71,148 per annum, including high cost allowance
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Mental Health Matron and ETOC Service Lead
NHS AfC: Band 8a
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.
We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements.
Job overview
King’s is one of the UK’S largest and busiest teaching Trusts and has a unique profile of local services and focused tertiary specialities, together with an international reputation for its work in liver disease and transplantation, neurosciences, fetal medicine, cardiac and blood cell cancer and major trauma.
We are seeking an exceptional individual to join us as Mental Health Matron and ETOC Service Lead. The postholder will play a pivotal role in the development of an enhanced care service at our Denmark Hill site, and will additionally support ongoing strategic and operational work ensuring that patients presenting to any King's site with co-morbid mental health needs receive the very best care available.
Main duties of the job
To provide in-house support with mental health care to multi-disciplinary staff teams across the inpatient wards and across all divisions; to improve the quality of mental health care provided to patients admitted with mental health and physical health needs; to oversee the development of, and act as service lead for an ETOC team; and, under the direction of the Associate Director of Nursing for Mental Health, support the Trust’s wider strategic and operational improvement aims.
- Leadership of ETOC for patients with mental health needs, neurodiversity, cognitive impairment or other forms of behaviour that challenges
- On hand clinical support for frontline staff supporting patients with mental health, social, emotional and behavioural needs
- Assure the pathway of care for patients with emotional, psychiatric, social or behavioural needs is timely, appropriate and well supported
- Work closely with ward matrons to ensure that mental health related educational needs of MDT staff teams are met, training is evaluated and responses to needs are creative and flexible
- Act as a point of contact for external and internal teams seeking up to date information on patients requiring ongoing mental health care
- Support with the assessment and implementation of trauma-informed approaches across the Trust, in line with national guidance
Working for our organisation
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Management and assessment of risk related to mental health, challenging behaviour and mental capacity, acting as an advocate for patients, families and staff where required.
- To support staff with the on-going risk assessment of patients including the need for enhanced therapeutic observations and care (ETOC) and where it can be stepped down or an alternative provided.
- To manage an ETOC service targeting Emergency Care and Acute Specialty Medicine at Denmark Hill initially and providing input as required to the development of a wider Trust wide service.
- To provide on the floor senior clinical support with urgent situations ensuring close work with the Trust’s Liaison Psychiatry services.
- To act as a member of the Relational Care Team providing specialist advice and expertise relating to the management of challenging behaviour on inpatient ward areas and in the Emergency Departments.
- Support with and oversee the development of effective and individualised care plans for patients presenting with significant mental health needs, or who are presenting with challenging behaviour, in coordination with liaison psychiatry, medical, and nursing teams.
- Support patients experiencing delirium, PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, or psychosis in the context of physical illness.
- Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with Trust policies.
- Support the MDT with complex discharge planning where mental health concerns are involved.
- Liaise with Adult and Children’s Social Care teams as required to address safeguarding concerns and coordinate care transitions.
- Collaborate with third-sector organisations and community mental health teams to facilitate smooth discharge planning where required.
- Respond to and escalate domestic abuse concerns following Trust safeguarding protocols.
- To support the Associate Director of Nursing for Mental Health with the Trust’s operational and strategic goals, meeting regularly to monitor clinical care, finance/resources and HR issues, ensuring clear communication pathways.
Person specification
Education, qualifcations, knowledge and experience
Essential criteria
- Current NMC Registration Mental Health Nurse
- Educated to postgraduate diploma/degree level or equivalent experience
- Management certificate or equivalent experience
- Extensive post-qualification experience, including time spent working at a senior level within mental health
- Extensive experience in mental health nursing within a hospital setting
- Experience of leading and developing a team
Desirable criteria
- NMC Registered Adult Nurse
- Project management experience
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Kieran Quirke
- Job title
- Associate Director of Nursing for Mental Health
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0203 299 7146
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