Charge Nurse

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking healthcare provider as a Charge Nurse in a dynamic mental health ward. This role offers the opportunity to develop your leadership skills while working in a supportive environment focused on improving patient care. You will be responsible for supervising junior staff, maintaining patient dignity, and collaborating with a dedicated team to achieve excellence in mental health services. With flexible working options and a commitment to professional development, this position is ideal for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of older adults facing mental health challenges. Embrace the chance to grow your career in a compassionate and thriving community.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days' annual leave

Career development opportunities

'Cycle to Work' scheme

Access to wellbeing tools

Discounts at retailers

Staff networks for diversity

Generous maternity and paternity leave

Free parking

Qualifications

• Must be a UK NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse with substantial experience.
• Desire for leadership development and excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coach junior staff in an acute mental health setting.
• Ensure patient dignity is maintained and collaborate with the team.

Skills

Mental Health Nursing

Leadership Skills

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Clinical Governance

Policy Development

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse

Management Qualification

Post Qualification Work Experience

Tools

IT Literacy

Job description

Are you ready to take the next step in your mental health career? Orchid Ward offers you a supportive and dynamic environment where you can expand your skills, knowledge, and confidence as a Charge Nurse. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we offer flexible shift patterns, including short days (7.5 hours), long days (12 hours), and night shifts (10.75 hours).

About Orchid Ward:

Orchid Ward, based at Prospect Park Hospital in Reading, is an acute admission mental health ward for older adults experiencing the acute phase of functional mental illnesses such as bipolar affective disorder, depression, and psychosis. We actively participate in the national Culture of Care initiative, ensuring a compassionate, healing environment where dignity is maintained, lived experience is valued, and individuals regain a sense of purpose in their lives. The hospital is conveniently located near Reading town centre, with excellent public transport links and on-site parking.

Who We're Looking For:

We're seeking an experienced Mental Health Nurse with previous experience in an acute mental health setting, preferably working with older adults. If you have leadership experience or a strong desire to develop in this area, along with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications for this role will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as vacancies may close early.

Main duties of the job

• You will already have substantial experience of working as a mental health nurse in acute setting with the ability to supervise and coach junior staff.
• You will have a passion for developing your leadership skills and to have a wider range of responsibilities to develop your skillset further.
• You have a passion for caring, a warm personality, wanting to be part of a team and the resilience to help us transform our patients' lives.
• With great communication and people skills, you will ensure that patient dignity is always maintained.
• Collaborating with our warm, friendly and enthusiastic team, you can play your part in helping us achieve our ambitions to become a 'Centre of Excellence'.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.

We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer. We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you'll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

Benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance.
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
• Free parking across Trust sites

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

• UK NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse.
• Significant experience in a mental health setting.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and portfolio of evidence available.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Gugu Nkomo on 01189605336 or email [e-mail] who will be delighted to help.

Please note, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• Registered Mental Health Nurse
• Evidence of continuing professional development and portfolio of evidence available
• IT literate
• Post qualification work experience
• Management/leadership qualification

Continuous Professional Development

• Desire to undertake further training and self-improvement to support patient experience

Previous Experience

• A minimum of two years post-registration experience within a mental health setting
• Previous experience working in a mental health care setting
• Clinical Governance understanding
• Policy development and review experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Good oral and written communication skills
• Ability to take on and complete tasks designated by Ward Managers such as ward audits
• Understanding Mental Health legislation, which includes the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and DOLs
• The supervision, development, appraisal and capability management of junior staff
• Report writing and presentations
• Resource and budget management
• Team-working and the ability to play an effective part in a wider MDT
• Able to work effectively with colleagues
• Able to work under pressure and in a stressful environment
• Role-modelling, networking, mentoring, chairing, group work and facilitation and driving clinical practice.
• Understanding of quality improvement methodology

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel to multiple sites
• Honest, trustworthy, reliable
• Understand the limits of your abilities

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.