Charge Nurse - Seward Lodge

NHS; Hertford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Hertford is seeking a Charge Nurse to lead a dedicated team in providing high standard care for older people with mental health needs. The ideal candidate will have RMN/RLDN or equivalent qualifications and experience at Band 5. Responsibilities include managing care plans, leading clinical initiatives, and supporting junior staff. The role offers a competitive salary of £40,617 to £48,778 per annum, with opportunities for career development.

Qualifications

• Must have post registration experience at Band 5.
• Experience of working in other clinical settings is required.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide local clinical leadership to the team.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for service users.
• Teach other nursing and non-nursing personnel.

Skills

Effective communication

Leadership skills

Clinical standards maintenance

Risk assessment and management

Education

RMN/RLDN or Dip/Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health/Learning Disability Nursing

Job description

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Charge Nurse - Seward Lodge

The closing date is 27 December 2025

Seward Lodge is a 16 bedded unit, we are dedicated at providing care and treatment for older people with dementia and mental health needs. This is an opportunity for you to join a team that is providing high standard person-centered care. Leadership skills, effective time management and intergrated working skills are essential, as are excellent communication skills and a commitment to the principles of effective team working.

The post holder will be responsible for the supervision of junior staff and students, as well as contributing to departmental projects and Trust improvement projects.

We will support you in developing your clinical skills. We are committed to developing staff through regular supervision, appraisals, support in CPD and opportunities for career progression.

Main duties of the job

The Charge Nurses' key role is to provide local clinical leadership to the team under the direction of the team leader.

The Charge nurse will:Be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation andevaluation of care for service users.Be required to teach other nursing and non-nursing personnel.Be a role model through their own good practise.Be responsible for maintaining clinical standards, and team systems under the direction of the team leader.Assist the team leader in maintaining effective team working processes, including outcome measures.Be expected to deputise for the Team Leader in their absence.To manage the ward/unit resources and clinical environment duringtheir shift.

All staff should comply with the Trust's Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

Key Relationships:

The post holder must foster good working relationship with all grades of staff within the MDT and the wider Trust.The post holder should be friendly but maintain professional approach and behaviour.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 4500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Job responsibilities

In addition to managing the clinical aspects of being a Band 6 Charge Nurse, the post holder will take an active part in the assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for service users in collaboration with inpatient multi-disciplinary services. Liaising with colleagues and carers, ensuring they are fully aware of all aspects of a service users care and treatment.

You will have effective communication skills and be able to contribute towards patient recovery and wellbeing.

You will be able to identify individuals' care needs. Planning, implementing and evaluating care plans and risk assessments in collaboration with other teams and professionals. Maintaining lines of communication with all departments and staff involved in a service users care. Reporting on progress and effectiveness to the appropriate MDT.

Participating in ward rounds and handovers, etc. Preparing reports as required. Acting as deputy manager to junior staff providing leadership and support.

For a More in-depth Person and Job Description please read attached before applying

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RMN/RLDN or Dip/ Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health/ Learning Disability Nursing ENB 998 / Preceptorship and Mentorship. ENB.

Experience

• Post registration experience at Band 5.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of working in other clinical settings.

Job related aptitude and skills

• Ability to communicate effectively within a multiprofessional team
• Confidence to work autonomously, use own initiative, and make decisions in complex situations.
• Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or reassuring skills are required
• Ability to deal with distressing circumstances and challenging behaviour.
• Experience of risk assessment and management
• Ability to cope with an unpredictable work pattern and frequent interruptions
• Understanding of legal framework MHA, MCA, DoL, safeguarding and social factors involved in care.
• Specific clinical skills applicable e.g. brief therapy, cognitive therapy and anxiety management.
• Implementing quality improvement initiatives.

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 a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£40,617 to £48,778 a yearper annum, pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS)