Charge Nurse - Ardleigh Ward

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Colchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£8K relocation package

Staff discounts

Excellent pension up to 14.5%

27 days holiday + bank holidays

Staff wellbeing services

Job summary

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Charge Nurse for Ardleigh Ward, Colchester. You will lead the female acute mental health unit, drive care planning, safety, and team development to deliver compassionate, effective care.

The role requires RMN registration with leadership experience, ability to coordinate assessments, and work within a multidisciplinary team to implement recovery-focused care plans.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Nurse with leadership experience in psychiatry.
• Experience in assessing care needs and developing/evaluating care plans.
• Ability to ensure safe staffing across wards.
• First responder to emergencies.
• Understanding of Recovery Model in a multidisciplinary setting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee assessments of care needs and develop, implement and evaluate care plans.
• Ensure safe staffing across Ardleigh Ward.
• Be a first responder to emergencies.
• Lead and supervise nursing staff and learners.
• Deliver high-quality care while maintaining patient safety and dignity.

Skills

Leadership

Risk assessment

Communication

Recovery model

6C of care

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Staff supervision

Education

RMN registration

NMC registration

Job description

Job Overview

Are you an experienced Mental Health Nurse looking for the next step in your career? If so, we might just have the role for you! We have an exciting opportunity for a Charge Nurse at Ardleigh Ward who can bring fresh ideas, determination and commitment to join us in taking our service forward in new and innovative ways. The role is based in our Ardleigh mental health female acute ward at The Lakes, Colchester.

The Successful Candidate Will Be

• A competent practitioner with a proven record of leadership skills as a RMH Nurse
• Able to take responsibility for the overseeing assessments of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care for client requiring treatment.
• Responsible for ensuring safe staffing across the wards
• Be a first responder to emergencies

At EPUT we offer you Training and development opportunities to support through regular supervision and Appraisals to assist you in setting realistic objectives.

Main duties of the job

You Will Be Able To Demonstrate

• Excellent risk assessment skills
• Communicate effectively, both written and verbally
• Demonstrate compassion, understanding, commitment, enthusiasm, and above all be highly motivated
• An understanding of the Recovery Model approach is essential, taking into account the needs of families and carer’s, and become part of an established multidisciplinary team
• A high level of knowledge and philosophy of the 6 C’s of care
• Active participation will be required in the training and education of learners allocated to the Mental Health Service, and to encourage integration between the Ward Team and the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team
• Delivery of the highest quality care for all our patients with acute mental health issues; with a positive attitude and a commitment to maintain EPUT’s excellent customer care

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Important note: please ensure that as part of your application, you include professional references with business contact information covering your last three years of employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email [e-mail] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre‑employment checks.

Please note - staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.