Charge Nurse

Sussex Partnership Nhs Foundation Trust; Brighton; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Charge Nurse for Regency Ward at Mill View Hospital, Hove. You will provide patient‑centred care, lead a multidisciplinary team and oversee clinical governance and risk management.

The role involves administering and monitoring medications, developing care plans with the team and supporting discharge planning within a 24‑hour service. Flexibility is required to cover evenings, nights and weekends, with opportunities for professional

Qualifications

• Professional qualification/Diploma in Mental Health Nursing.
• 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; NHS experience may help placement on pay scale.
• UK professional registration is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership on the ward and supervise junior staff.
• Administer and monitor medication for service users.
• Carry out detailed assessments and develop care plans with the multi-disciplinary team.
• Lead on risk assessment and CPA-compliant care planning.
• Support discharge planning and liaise with other teams to ensure safe transitions.
• Act as nurse in charge of the ward and deputise for the Ward Manager when required.

Skills

Communication

Clinical leadership

Medication administration

Risk assessment

Care planning

Discharge planning

Team supervision

Education

NMC registration (Mental Health Nursing)

Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Job description

As a Charge Nurse you will have opportunities to deliver patient‑centred care supporting patients in their recovery. You will be a vital part of our multi‑disciplinary team undertaking detailed assessments of patients with complex mental health needs. You will be expected to administer and monitor medication. You will provide clinical and managerial leadership on the ward, supervising junior staff and trainees and regularly taking charge of the clinical environment over a span of duty. We work closely with other teams and professionals to ensure the effective discharge of patients. We work flexibly in order to meet the needs of our 24‑hour service, to include evenings, nights and weekends.

Main duties of the job

• To communicate effectively with service users, family and carers; demonstrating an ability to be adaptable in the way they provide information which is sensitive to their ethic and cultural background and ensures that they are understood.
• To initiate and develop ways of working that reflects the gender specific needs of service users.
• To provide clinical leadership to the team, being knowledgeable about and where appropriate lead decisions about the care of all of the patients admitted to the ward.
• To act as primary nurse for service users within the in patient setting.
• To work within the CPA framework, taking a proactive approach consistent with clinical and service need.
• To carry out detailed assessment and risk assessment of the service users needs through the utilisation of a range of assessment and interviewing techniques and gathering of information from a wide range of sources.
• To develop care plans in conjunction with the multi‑disciplinary team that are based around the service users individual need, that is recovery focused and builds on their strengths and are outcome based.
• Plan and implement interventions with the service user that is responsive to the service user's needs that are applied in a stepped approach which will lead to a therapeutic outcome.
• Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in conjunction with the multi‑disciplinary team in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of the intervention.
• To have the ability to deal with service users and their relatives in times of distress.
• Liaise with and work alongside other teams and professionals to ensure the effective discharge of the service user from the inpatient setting.
• To administer and monitor medication prescribed to individual service users, providing information and advice as required and complying with Trust and Nursing and Midwifery Council Policy on the administration of medication.
• Inform the Ward Manager and other appropriate senior managers when circumstances threaten the health and safety of patients or staff; or threaten the reputation or assets of the Trust.
• Work with the Ward Manager and other members of the multidisciplinary team to establish an effective therapeutic environment in which care can be delivered.
• Ensure that they maintain an up to date knowledge of mental health legislation and code of practice, and the Mental Capacity Act both to inform their practice but also to ensure that other members of the ward team are executing their responsibilities within the legal framework.
• Assist the Ward Manager in the effective running of the ward in accordance with Trust and local policies and procedures.
• Promote effective communication between junior staff, the Ward Manager, other members of the multi‑disciplinary team and senior managers within the Trust.
• Inform the Ward Manager when the conduct or performance of any member of staff allegedly falls below the standards expected of staff within the Trust.
• Regularly act as the nurse in charge of the ward.
• Participate in the staff recruitment process as and when required.
• To deputise for the Ward Manager as and when required.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification/Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
• 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, Significant post qualifying experience relevant to the care group, Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.
• You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Regency Ward is a 19 bedded male acute mental health ward. We primarily work with individuals who are aged 18-65 and we are located within Mill View Hospital in Hove.

We value diversity and opportunity for everyone that works here and we are incredibly proud to have won the Equality and Diversity award at the Positive Practice Awards 2021 and Team of the Year Award in 2019.