Clinical Charge Nurse (National Psychosis Unit) | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 01 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £46,419 - £55,046 per annum inclusive of HCAS |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 31 October 2025 |
| Location: | Beckenham, BR3 3BX |
| Company: | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7520787/334-NUR-7475815-LF-A |
Summary
The National Psychosis Unit is looking for a highly skilledandmotivatednurse to join oursenior nursing team and wider MDT as aClinical Charge Nurse (Band 6).We are looking for a nurse that is driven to provide and role modelhighstandardsof qualityofnursingcare to patients suffering with complex mental illness, comorbid physicalhealthand psychosocial difficulties. The post holder will need to be equipped witha strong foundationof core nursing skills, an interest in psychosisand physical health,be passionate about service improvement andbe able todemonstratea dynamic and creative approach the role, team working andservice delivery.
The Clinical Charge Nurse role is suitable for Registered Nurses who have successfully completed preceptorship and have registered as an approved NMC Practice Assessor.
The post holder will deliver and advise on the delivery of, high quality safe nursing care, ensuring consistentlyhigh standardsof practice and clinical excellence whichcomply withthe Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of professional conduct.
As a Clinical Charge Nurse,you will promote and develop clinical leadership and clinical practice and be a positive role model to junior members of the team through the practice of evidence-based care and consistentlyhigh standardsof professionalism.
You will be expected to support professional development through clinical appraisal and supervision and contribute to the ongoing educational programme for staff, fostering a positive learning environment. Your professional and personal development will include further postgraduate study, and you will be encouraged and supported by your line manager to undertakecontinued professional development.
The National Psychosis Unit is an 18 bedded, mixed gender ward, based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital and is for adults (over the aged of 18). NPU forms part of the National Psychosis Service, which is a clinical-academic tertiary inpatient and outpatient service offering innovative individualised evidence-based care to help those people with complex psychosis, where standard treatment guidelines have proven ineffective or have not been tolerated. The service aims to enhance quality of life through tailored treatments and promotion of recovery thus reducing the need for high intensity placements and the risk of readmission.
We accept referrals from patients living across the UK and can also accept international patients.The multidisciplinary team of dedicated clinicians offering comprehensive bio-psycho-social reviews alongside innovative,bespokeand varied treatment approaches. Themes include complex co-morbid physical health conditions which directly affect psychiatric treatment options; clozapine re-challenge after a significant adverse reaction; clozapine non-response and specialist psychological interventions for psychosis.
With average length of stay being between 6-12 months and with our patientspossibly being a long way from home, we aim to make admissions as short as possible and communicate regularly with carers, the referring team and commissioner to plan care andfacilitatetimelydischarge.
Clinical
Leading in the assessment,admissionand management of service user care needs.
Ensuring that service user’s fundamentals of care needs are met-including nutrition, hydration, hygiene, and comfort
To be aware of, and ensure that, the care team support the holistic needs of all service users, such as psychological, social, physical,recreationaland spiritual needs.
Co-ordinating and evaluating collaborative patient centred care, gettingfeedbackand improving plans with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
Bed management andcoordination of patient flowin: monitoring waiting lists, liaising with health and social care teams, collating background information, complete nursing assessments, provide recommendations to referring teamsand coordinating admissions.
Bed management and coordination of patient flow(discharge): support with discharge processes,identifyingbarriers to discharge at point of admission,maintainingregular communication with health and social care teamsand actively involve MDT and external professionals in discharge planning.
Complete monthly reports on patient’s progress and treatment updatethat are to be shared with local Integrated Care Boards as part of the ongoing commissioning of inpatient treatment.
Carrying out nursing procedures that give safe and effective care, observations of physical and mentalstate, andensuring escalation of concerns asappropriate ifdeterioration isobserved.
Administering andmonitoringthe side-effects of medication and monitoring service user compliance.
Undertaking and interpreting physical health care assessments, on-going physical healthmonitoringand reviews of service users. Recording any changes in the service user’s physical health and acting appropriately. Promoting healthy lifestyles and giving health promotion advice and support.
Providingaccurateinformation about care in an accessible format to patients and their relatives and carers.
Liaising and working positively with members of the multi- disciplinary team and partner organisations.
Working safely to ensure safe custody of medicines, sharps, and clinical equipment, and reporting of all incidents following trust policy.
Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance ofmaintainingrespect and dignity at all times and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.
Encouraging and empowering service users to havean optimumlevel of responsibility for their individual programme of care and with their consent, whereappropriate, seek the cooperation of friends, relatives and carers, following ‘recovery’ principles and approaches.
Maintainingaccuratepatient written and electronic records, in line with Trust Policy, procedure and protocols. Use and complete care plans, pathwaydocumentsand progress notes appropriately andin a timely manner.
Contributing towards the on-going quality of service and care, toidentifyany risk issues in relation to the service users’ health and social care and responding appropriately if there are any changes, significant factors relevant or incidents related to the service user.
Understanding and ensuring adherence to the Trust risk assessment policy, including being aware of the need to follow all safeguarding procedures, reporting concerns, makingreferralsand documenting clearly. Being aware of the necessity to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adultsat all timeswhen working with service users.
Helpingmaintaina clean, safe environment andassistservice users inmaintainingtheir own rooms (as necessary andappropriate). Ensure that Trust policy is followed in respect of care and custody of service user’s valuables andpersonal property.
Demonstrating an awareness and understanding of relevant and up-to-date Mental Health Lawand other legislation (e.g. MCA);always ensuring adherence to legislation.
Engaging in practice reflection through the utilisation of clinical supervision and reflective practice groups, and to contribute to the delivery of clinical supervision to junior staff whereappropriate.
Leadership andManagement
Acting as a point of contact for all enquiries, working in partnership with the team manager and the wider MDT to coordinate the activities of the unit.
Deputising for the team manager in their absence and be accountable for the nursing care and management of the unit, includingmaintainingcommunication with the modern matron and senior nursing staff.
Assistingthe team manager in ensuring the unit is safely staffed, prioritising and deploying resources within budgetary parameters and escalating concerns to senior nursing staff where appropriatein accordance withHR policies and procedures.
Have oversight of staffing numbers to ensure they are in line with safe staffing requirementsby reviewing and managing Health Rosters,addressingand/or escalating any issues.
Managing and supporting the team through difficult and challenging situations.
Supporting the team manager to investigate incidents and complaints: compile reports anddisseminatethis information to senior management.
Practice in a way that encourages openness towards incident reporting and support individuals and the team when incidents do occur.
Recognising nursing practice that needs improvement and to work in partnership with the team manager to ensureappropriate actionis taken to address it.
Promoting a high standard of written communication and record keepingin accordance withlocal and national policies.
Communication
Maintaining confidentiality of information,in accordance withTrust Policy.
Contributing to effective communication process with service users, carers, family,friendsand staff colleagues.
Communicatingappropriateandaccurateinformation to and from other departments / service lines asrequired.
Leading andparticipatingin team meetings and contributing ideas to multi-professional team discussions. Support shared responsibility within the team,demonstratingrespect and courtesy towards colleagues.
Ensuring that all complaints or compliments received are dealt within accordance withTrust policy.
Work across the team and organisation in a way thatdemonstratesKindness, Respect and Togetherness.
Role modelhigh standardsof communication and holdtoaccount and supportotherswhenconcerns in communication arise.
EducationandTraining
Working within the remit of the trusts knowledge skills framework and national policy, professional and legal frameworks.
UndertakeCompetency Assessments for Band 2-5 nursing staff as part ofall nursing staffs annual and bi-annualtraining.
Identifyand address learning needs throughprovidingshadowing opportunities, informal teaching, bitesize teaching sessions or signposting to Trust provided training.
Linking with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to ensure delivery of care is in line with current teaching standards for both pre-registration and post registration nursing.
Demonstrating awareness and engagement with the SLMH&CP programme to develop the band 2-5 clinical workforce. This will include support of junior staff to undertake and complete apprenticeships as part of their career progression and development.
Facilitating the induction ofnew staffand students.
Supporting the team manager to ensure all newly qualified band 5 registered nurses have undertaken their preceptorship.
Supporting the team manager to ensure all registered nurses are engaged with the revalidation process.
Overseeing the formal and informal supervision and appraisal of clinical work in group settings and individually.
Supporting the team manager to ensure mandatory and statutory training are up to date for all staff.
Maintaining your status as aPractice Assessorandparticipatein training of student nurses.
Attending andparticipatingin regular personal development, ensuring compliance with all mandatory training requirements. Maintaining a work development portfolio andcomplying withall requirements of NMC revalidation.
Demonstrating own role to others andacting as role model to others at all timesin accordance withTrust values.
Attendingappropriate trainingcourses and keeping up to date with developments within the practice area, including evidence-based practice.
Delivering Personal and Development Reviews / Appraisal process for Healthcare Support Workers, Nursing Associates and Registered Nurses (Band 5) whereappropriateand act as a supervisor for designated staff.
Research and Quality
Measuring and developing standards of care through collection of benchmarking data whereappropriateand undertake audits to ensure care meets the requirements of the CQC and Service Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Actively contribute to clinical or governance reviews of the team’s activity and the monitoring of performance in line with trust directives and audit programs.
Contributing to the strategic targets of the trust directorate and wider workforce development.
Participating and encouraging research within the clinical environment and ensure knowledge of it is widelydisseminatedthroughout the team,trustand wider stakeholders.
Contributing to service development through awareness and engagement with trust policy and wider national standards of care.
Contributing to service improvement (Quality Improvement and Innovation) and developments, benchmarking exercises.
Contributing to research and audit activities,disseminatingknowledge andresultsand contributing to relevant audit practice development and research activity that may be taking place in the work area.
This advert closes on Tuesday 14 Oct 2025