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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
354-PC-20735-1
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Wentworth House
Town
Crawley
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust logo

Community Nurse Dual Practitioner

NHS AfC: Band 6

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.

Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

Op Courage Veterans Mental Health Service

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Are you passionate about supporting veterans, transitioning military personnel and reservists experiencing substance misuse, addictive behaviours, and mental health difficulties?

Op Courage - South East offers support to Veterans and Reservists within the geographical regions of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.  A veteran is an individual who has service one or more days in the British Military, and it is this group of people that Op Courage works with on a holistic level.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated practitioner to lead on substance misuse within the Op Courage Veterans Mental Health Service. This is an exciting opportunity to join a specialist multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of those who have served in the Armed Forces.

This post offers the Trust's £2,000 Golden Hello or Relocation Incentive for Band 6 Nurses & Practitioners, (pro rata and subject to terms and conditions; please see attached Protocol Document for full details).

Main duties of the job

About the Role

As the Specialist Substance Misuse Practitioner, you will provide expert assessment, formulation, and psychosocial interventions for veterans presenting with substance misuse and addictive behaviours alongside complex mental health and social care needs.

You will act as the service lead for substance misuse, supporting colleagues through consultation, training, and the development of best practice across the team. Working autonomously and collaboratively, you will manage a defined caseload, undertake comprehensive assessments, formulate risk management plans, and deliver evidence-based interventions tailored to individual needs.

You will work closely with families, carers, statutory services, and third-sector organisations to ensure veterans receive holistic, person-centred care and support throughout their recovery journey.

Working for our organisation

We are an expanding and exciting specialist service within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, working regionally in the south east and nationally as part of the NHS Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead on substance misuse and addictive behaviour interventions across Op Courage.
  • Complete comprehensive mental health, substance misuse, risk, and social care assessments.
  • Develop and review person-centred care and recovery plans.
  • Deliver specialist psychosocial interventions, including individual and group work.
  • Provide consultation, advice, and training to multidisciplinary colleagues.
  • Assess and manage clinical risk, including safeguarding concerns.
  • Work collaboratively with partner agencies to coordinate care and support.
  • Support service development, quality improvement, audit, and clinical governance activities.
  • Provide supervision, mentorship, and support to junior staff and students.
  • Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and outcome measures.

Person Specification

We are looking for an enthusiastic clinician who:

  • Is a Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC).
  • Has significant experience working with individuals experiencing substance misuse and co-occurring mental health difficulties.
  • Demonstrates strong assessment, formulation, and risk management skills.
  • Has experience delivering evidence-based psychosocial interventions.
  • Is confident working autonomously while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Has excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
  • Is passionate about improving outcomes for veterans and military communities.
  • Evidence of supervising staff.

    Disclosure and Barring Service Check

    This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

    UK Registration

    Applicants must have current UK Professional Registration.

    Employer Details

    This post will be based in Sussex, however there will be an expectation to travel across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Registered Nurse with current registration [mental health/LD/Adult], appropriate to the job role
  • Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge/Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant post qualifying experience in the relevant care group
  • Experience of working alongside people with complex health problems in the designated care group
  • Experience of supervising staff
  • Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
  • Experience of working consultatively with professionals
  • Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments
  • Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non statutory teams and agencies
  • Experience of working within the CPA process
  • Understanding of clinical governance
  • Previous experience of working in the community

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

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
Jane Bray
Job title
Clinical Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]