Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 354-PC-20703
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Avalon House, The Heathside Wayside
- Town
- Maidstone
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/11/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Community Mental Health Nurse
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 AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.
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
Are you passionate about ensuring our British Armed Forces Veterans and Reservists have access to excellent mental health care?
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 served 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 looking for an experienced mental health practitioner to join our lively and passionate mental health team. Are you skilled at supporting clients who may struggle to engage, present with complex mental health and social difficulties, and manage dynamic risks. Some of our team have a personal connection to veteran's, either with a military background or holding a close relationship with someone who does.
We cover Kent, Surrey and Sussex and deliver assessments, support and psychological therapy within our Op Courage team. This post will be based in and cover the Kent region with some travel expected to Surrey and Sussex as well when required.
Main duties of the job
· To provide comprehensive assessments of veterans with identified, complex needs.
· To manage a caseload of veterans with complex mental health needs, and undertake case management/lead professional role as needed.
· Offer psychoeducational, coping skills and support through a period of stabilisation as needed
· This is a community based service, providing a high intensity support package of care to veterans in times of crisis, across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
· To be able to communicate with and meet the needs of veteran's families and carers, as well as providing professional advice and support to other agencies including crisis teams and secondary care teams.
· To have experience of and specialist knowledge of interventions for veterans, and to be able to lead on clinical initiatives with an emphasis on continual improvement.
· To receive management supervision from the Clinical Nurse Specialist or equivalent.
· To demonstrate excellent communication skills.
· This role works to enhance already existing services such as community mental health teams, crisis services and charitable organisations rather than replace them - the aim is to improve Veteran service engagement and ensure that Veterans are able to fairly access the appropriate support they require, and are not disadvantaged due to their veteran status.
Working for our organisation
Support the Trust's visions and values and in particular the promotion of a positive approach to diversity, equality, rights, and treating others with dignity and respect; to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support or comply by adhering to the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy.
To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID
We are an expanding and exciting specialist service within SPFT, working regionally in the south east and nationally as part of the NHS armed forces networks for Op Courage.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The role of the nurse in the Op Courage works in partnership with service users with complex health presentations, developing their care plans and recovery plans to enable them to lead fulfilling lives.
You will demonstrate an understanding of clinical interventions relevant to a veteran population to include education, care plans and discharge planning, working closely with carers, families and partner agencies to facilitate this.
The post holder will work at all times to promote the safety and the wellbeing of service users and their families/carers. The post holder will assess, plan and implement care, and provide specialist nursing advice and carry out specialist nursing procedures.
You will provide clinical supervision to staff and students.
Essential
- 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
- 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
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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
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
- Jane Bray
- Job title
- Clinical Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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